How to work the peplum trend

Local designer collections and custom jobs offer plenty of peplum; from jackets, blouses, skirts to dresses to celebrate the fine female form. Wambui Mukenyi’s first collection of the year, ‘Simplicity of Love’, features peplum jackets and dresses in a colourful range of colours (red and turquoise) and patterns (animal prints).

“The peplum trend is pretty popular. It was a major hit last year and has fallen over to the better part of this year,” says Wambui.

For some time now the belts — slim, wide and obi — gave women the converted hourglass figure. A fashion trend should never be assumed as something new. The peplum first came to the fashion scene in the 19th century. Back then, instead of it being part of the garment, it was an extra piece of fabric sewn on skirts and tops. The trend made a comeback in the 1940s and 1980s before reappearing on international runways last year.

“Our dress with a peplum skirt is one of our more popular styles. It gives the wearer a beautiful hourglass silhouette. It emphasises the waist and gives volume to the hips,” says Annika Ostman, the designer of Njema Helena.

Olive Gachara, a fashion stylist and image consultant (Image with Olive Consultancy), agrees that it adds much needed character to an otherwise plain dress, jacket, or skirt. To her, the trend and any other that gives the wearer a feminine silhouette is here to stay.

“Women now, especially in the workplace, are trying to embrace their femininity and move away from the typical skirt and trouser suit. As the peplum cut features a lot in formal wear, it is fast becoming a trend that is here to stay,” she says.

The power suit is no longer in vogue and boring charcoal black and dark blue has given way to bright colours, partly influenced by Hillary Clinton. A peplum top or dress looks professional, yet sophisticated and chic.

Olive explains that the peplum is a very classic look and should be worn in its simplicity. One should not try and add to it or layer it too much. It is unnecessary.  The peplum generally adds weight around the hips, you definitely want to avoid it if you are bottom heavy. It is, however, perfect for adding visual weight around the hips if you have a larger bust.

This elegant style of the garment can be easily distorted if one does not know how to wear it the right way to flatter the body. Depending on the shape of your body, length, cut, and style of the material, here is how to wear peplum:

Athletic — Pick a flare peplum that sits at the waist line to create fuller hips.

Pear shaped — A sharply-structured short peplum at the waist line with a slight flare will flatter as well.

Inverted triangle — select one that sits just below the waist and hangs to the hips. This draws the attention to the bottom as it gives an illusion of fuller hips.

Hourglass — described as the perfect body type, really any peplum style works. It just adds a bit of spank to the dress.

“It’s a confident look for the wearer who wants to achieve that trendy, yet effortlessly stylish look

The peplum tops/dresses emphasis your waistline, downplaying any tummy you might have to create that perfect look,” says Wambui.