Help with sewing term...?

Question

When you have a skirt or a dress, like a babydoll dress, and the fabric is sort of bunched at the top so that it flows out......??? What is that called?

this dress has it right under the bust.....its very common, I just want to know what it's called:

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=dress&product%5Fid=2047370616&Page=2

Answer 1

that particular dress has an elasticized gathering - the elastic is giving it the shape - so an elasticized empire waist line as explained in the overview to the right of the picture or in the case of a skirt an elasticized waist.

Answer 2

gathered.