Rethinking the 'cut you in half' theory

Anonymous

The theory goes that if you have a long torso/short leg combo, you shouldn't wear tunics because they cut you in half.

But, really, is this true?

It seems to me that if you're wearing a tunic that hides where your hips are, and also hides where your legs join, then people can't tell where your legs begin, and will imagine your legs as being longer.

Similarly, if you have a short torso and long legs, people will imagine your legs as shorter.

So I guess what I'm saying is: The tunic look will even out both long-legged and short-legged individuals.

Thoughts?

8 years ago

Body Type

24 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Tanya

Veteran

So, I have the long torso/short legs body type and wear tunic/skinnies combo fairly often, especially in winter. I agree with the thought that it hides where my legs begin. However, I do know of forum members with very similar body type who claim that tunics don't work for them. I don't know if the difference is subjective perception or subtle differences in the body types due to different modifiers.

8 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I think all this about body proportions is actually an individual thing. there is a lot more to it than just torso and leg lengths. Widths have to be considered, your actual height, weight to height ratio, and a lot more. AND I also think it depends on the outfit, like monocromatic patterns, etc. Gotta look at the whole picture, and the whole you!

8 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Like Tanya and always trying said, I think there are a lot of things in play, and that things like coat, bag and footwear can provide balance and change the journey of the eye. For example an outfit with a long tunic and wider leg pants might give a cut in half look but it also could be fashion forward and JFE. Also with leggings or skinnies on the bottom half, you have structure (because they follow the contours of actual legs). I've noticed a lot of the tunics/long knitwear Angie uses in her ensembles are asymmetrical or have a curved or shark-bite hem, which breaks up the join between the top and bottom.

And yeah, I've sometimes felt the illusion of longer legs with a top that covers my rise than with one that is tucked, cropped, or semi-tucked. (I have a long waist, not very long legs)

8 years ago

shaz

Active Member

I'd say it depends on the overall body for instance I'm all legs crazy short kinda blocky body and short necked so I look like a water tower. My legs are also to thin so skinny jeans and legging do not really work unless I want to look like a stork. Then I have to take my big feet into account so I don't look like I'm standing in canoes. Also different necklines for example v neck would add length to your body where a higher neck could shorten the body so mostly it's just playing around to make a look work for you

8 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree that it can actually work really well and depends on lots of other factors. I think the shorter rectangle and IT ladies here rock the tunic look way better than my long-legged but pear-ish figure does. Tunics are not great on me unless there is an asymmetrical hem, vents or something else to break up the horizontal expanse across my hips and legs.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Your opinions are all very interesting! Thank you for posting your comments. I'm still relatively new to proportions so it's nice to have some forum wisdom on this subject.

I guess looking good in tunics is more than just hiding the rise, it also seems to be about the cut of the tunic.

For example, Shaz, it seems to me like if you were to find a tunic that hit you mid-thigh, that this type of tunic would look good on you. Whereas something that was just below the seat might emphasize your long legs (not a bad thing in my book!)

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I'm thinking tunics work for the long waisted but not for the actually short-legged... unless one is at peace with reality. Or the tunic is not as long as it could be. I'm thinking the short legged would have the opposite of my problem (legs branching from my neck) - so they'd look like knees right above the ankles.

8 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

Coming from someone long bodied and short legged, it also depends on your hip shape. I would think an IT could benefit more from the camouflage effect. It almost never works on me, because my hips fill out the tunics and it's obvious how short my legs are/how long my torso is pretty much no matter what.

I still love to wear tunics, and I so wish I could wear them with leggings because it's so darn comfortable regardless of proportions, but I have a heck of a time even finding a tunic that covers me at all (5'6.5" all torso).

8 years ago

Anonymous

Rachy - So, my thinking is, if you have short legs and regular sized torso, then you're just plain short (you're proportions are ok though).

You pretty much have to have a long torso to qualify as someone with short legs. That's my theory anyway

Liz A. -- good point about the importance of thigh width.

8 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I am so long of torso, long of waist, and short of leg that even long tops and jackets that fall quite short of tunic length cut me in half; cropped jackets give me the best proportions. Tunics make me look like I am walking on my knees; same with cropped pants. Raising my perceived waist helps a little, but my girls are too full and low to do this more than a little.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Donna, I could see a cropped jacket giving you a 2/3 golden proportion. Do you pair it with a dress? Or some sort of column of colour?

8 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I have a very long torso and short legs and a tunic with a skinny bottom is my favorite silhouette. I also tend to put a shorter jacket/cardigan over it as well.

The proportions are important too. I just got a tunic form H&M+ that is lust too long for me, I look totally stumpy in it. I love everything else about it so I'm going to shorten it.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Desmo - where do you think the tunic needs to hit in order for it to be flattering? One of the things I've noticed on myself is that skirts/dresses look better a little shorter on me---maybe mid-thigh. And oddly, I don't think this looks any sexier than a longer skirt. It just looks a bit better.

8 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Smittie;
Yeah, I often wear a column of color. I have a super hard time getting dresses to fit and flatter; skirts are much easier. I also think tunics don't work for me is because I have heavy legs from thighs to knees to calves so I don't have a tunic sweet spot. Skinny pants don't work for me either because they highlight my bow legs and are too tight in the calves.

One exception: I have my mom's old kimono jacket which is like a real kimono, sleeves and all, but on me hits at fingertip/mid-thigh. I haven't worn it yet, and I would probably wear it over a column of color. It is slightly too big but was the smallest of her collection. It may work because the volume on top balances my heavy legs, and maybe feels okay because it is culturally appropriate.

8 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I am in the long torso/shorter legs team and I wear tunics all the time (with skinnies, flares and fitted skirts). As you say, I like the way they hide the crotch and give the illusion of longer legs. Or create one long line. My sweet spot for length is mid thigh or longer. I have some that are almost knee length. But I suspect my preference for a longer tunic is mostly about hiding the widest part of my thighs (and not so much about proportions).

8 years ago

Meow

Veteran

I think the tunic needs to hit the "sweet spot" or maybe for some a "sweet range" in length - which varies from person to person. For me, it's just below the upper thigh bulge This makes finding a tunic incredibly hard as I'm finding out. I have exactly one tunic. I'm not sure it's worth the effort to pursue this silhouette for me.

On an aside note. I just got back from visiting my son at University. Most of the College girls seem to be wearing leggings without tunics. Not a good look IMO!

8 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

After I posted about my mom's kimono jacket, I realized DOH! Since it is not a tunic but only tunic length, it is not a mass of fabric but something I can wear open so as to give me a column of color. I wear longer tops and sweaters half tucked in the middle or side to give me a longer leg line BTW.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

Another here on with long torso/ short legs and I do wear tunics. I'm not sure they are my MOST flattering outfit ever - but to your point - no trouser outfit ever will be if it reveals the crotch point.

But sometimes I want the comfort etc of a tunic

Here's a great blog post by Imogen on this very topic

8 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, DonnaF, actually, the 3/4 jacket is my favorite silhouette. I've never had a soft shell at this length, but maybe I should try on some cardigans.

Brooklyn, sounds like we have the same tunic sweet spot

8 years ago

Anonymous

This in an interesting thread - and I have to admit i am now a little unsure of myself. Well, that's nothing new, but with regards to proportion and tunics. I find tunics hard to wear - some are too short, which is odd, since I am longer legged and shorter waisted (and neither tall nor short at 5'5") - and some hit me at exactly the wrong place on my thighs. Also, if the tunic has any flow and volume at all, I think they make me look trianglish and fat. The only ones that seem to work well for me have an asymmetric hem, or are very silky and not bulky. Forget the a-line shapes, or the heavy sweatery ones. Now I'm wondering if maybe I'm not as short -waisted as I thought, and that it's simply boobs and extra midsection fat making me feel short-waisted. The way tunics don't work on me leads me to believe maybe I'm trying the wrong ones.

8 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Well, I only really know how they work on my evenly proportioned but small and short frame -- and the answer is, they make my legs look short. Actually it's not so much even that -- it's that they just plain make me look short. OK, well, I am short, but tunics make it worse. I think it's because the point at which my legs appear to begin is made to look much lower when I'm wearing a tunic.

I wear them anyway with skinny jeans, but only if (a) the tunic is close in colour to the jeans and (b) it's a drapey fabric with an open neckline. It also helps to have a small heel, although sometimes I don't do this.

To address your question, though, it seems to me that if you've already got long legs, you can "get away" with a tunic more easily, because tunics just plain make your torso look longer by "taking away" the tops of your legs. If you've already got a long torso, wouldn't they just make it look even longer -- and make your legs look even shorter?

8 years ago

Anonymous

Ah Anne, I get a 404 not found error on that link but I'll google it later, thx.

8 years ago

deb

Veteran

My theory is rules are meant to be broken.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......inish.html
That might help

8 years ago

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