Wow, thanks guys! You're doing wonders for my body dysmorphia, hee hee.
There was something I read *somewhere* on the web (can't remember where now - for all I know it was this site?) that talked about vertical proportions. You measure your body in zones - I think the zones are:
1) Top of head to shoulder
2) Top of shoulder to waist
3) Waist to seat (i.e., sit in a chair and measure from the waist down to the seat of the chair).
4) Seat to knee
5) Knee to floor
The goal is to balance out your proportions - using clothing and where it hits - so each of these zones look more proportionate. So for example, if you are shorter in zone 2, you probably want to steer away from empire and high waists. If you are longer in this zone, empire and high waists can look particularly good.
If you are shorter in zone 3, you can probably get away with longer tops - to elongate the illusion of this zone. If you are longer in zone 3, you probably want to keep your tops shorter. Apply same idea to zone 4 & 5, for where skirt hems should fall.
I'm not sure how it works out in theory, because when I did the measurements, I was roughly equal in all the zones, which really surprised me, since as I mentioned, I've always thought I had short stubby legs compared, proportionately, to my torso. Stubby legs run in my family - I even have an Uncle "Stub."
The exercise did teach me that it's a good exercise to actually measure yourself - vertically, not just horizontally - because often our mind tricks us and we think we have certain shape or proportions, but we don't!! For the longest time I thought I was an inverted triangle (shoulders like linebackers! no hips!!) or a rectangle (shapeless waist!!).... and it turns out I'm actually an hourglass. Go figure.
