YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Can we talk about disproportionality?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Can we talk about disproportionality? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:08:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Stagiaire Fash on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160711 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:45:34 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2160711@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Irina, what a great husband! Irina on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160705 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:35:18 +0000 Irina 2160705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gigi, thanks! Unfortunately, I don’t buy anything from “curvy” lines - My hips are too narrow for it to fit. I celebrate if an item I bought doesn’t require alterations :)  I remember once I complained to DH about paying for alterations on top of price of a garment. He said “You could roll up sleeves on your tops or ignore that a top a bit too long. But it’s not you to ignore details. So, you have to pay a bit more for staying true to yourself. Accept it, it is not a big price to pay to feel comfortable “. And this is what I do Gigi on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160624 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 07:44:35 +0000 Gigi 2160624@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Irina, yes, I agree that blazers are tough! I'm glad that my bust is of average size or I would have hardly anything to wear. In case you're interested, I have noticed some "curvy-fit" petite tops at J. Crew and I think Madewell lately. I ordered a button-down from J. Crew in the petite curvy cut to see what it would be like, and it was way too huge in the bust for me (I am a D cup). I am glad they are making an effort to accommodate more people in the sizing, although they have a long way to go. Irina, I am really tired of the boring petite selections too. The only place I can find anything interesting is Anthropologie. But it gets old shopping the same place over and over. And alterations to tops can be expensive, and you never know if it's going to look good once it's done. ophelia on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160398 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:24:05 +0000 ophelia 2160398@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have the same fit issues as Gigi mentions. I am happy w/ my size but get aggravated by always having to shop petites as selections are so limited. I get stuck w/ the same brands over & over. Even certain department stores (such as Nordstrom) which supposedly carry a "size inclusive" range have such a paltry selection of petite sizes that I don't bother looking. Skirts are the only item I can buy in non-petite sizes because I wear a variety of lengths. I fault the stores though & not my body. Irina on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160356 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:28:38 +0000 Irina 2160356@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gigi, I have the same issues with tops. Finding a blazer that fit of the rack is mission impossible. I also have to size up to accommodate the chest area and shoulders are always too big, even if I shop petite sizes. April on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160354 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:13:05 +0000 April 2160354@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jacquez - we are totally opposite in our larger/smaller areas.  Maybe we could cut garments in two and trade halves...  Gigi on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160292 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 04:34:02 +0000 Gigi 2160292@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Interesting thread. I have plenty of fit issues, but I don't think of myself as disproportional. That might be due to having watched a lot of online videos about Kibbe's body types, which seem to me to embrace more diversity than what we see in off-the-rack clothes. I have heard that clothes are generally cut very straight because it is much more difficult to sew curves--and therefore more expensive. So in short it is cheaper to produce clothing that is made for a straighter body. Finding tops that fit is a huge challenge for me because my waist is so short and my shoulders so narrow. So inevitably excess fabric ends up at my armpits, and I feel the shoulder seams on the outside of my shoulder (not a comfortable feeling). The waist, which is the smallest part of the garment width, will hit me at my high hip, which is one of my widest spots due to my figure 8 shape. Nothing will make me look frumpier than a misses'-cut top!  My solution is to shop petites' as much as possible, though that can be pretty boring. I have had success buying some form-fitting *knit* tops (turtlenecks, tees) in misses' sizes, as long as the sizing runs small. I have some turtlenecks from Club Monaco and some tops from Reformation that fit me well. Anything woven and tailored is likely to be a disaster unless specifically cut for a petite.  When I'm shopping misses', high crew necks and turtlenecks are good styles, because they help hold the shirt in place (if it's a little too wide in the shoulders, it can shift around). I avoid V-necks and scoop necks, because the neckline will be scandalously low. When shopping online, I have also recently started looking at the back view of the model, to see roughly where the shoulder seams hit her and whether she is an inverted triangle (many models are). If she is an IT and the shoulder seams are accommodating her nicely, I just assume that the top will not work for me and I pass on it. The struggle is real! cindysmith on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality/page/2#post-2160229 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:40:35 +0000 cindysmith 2160229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've always been larger on top than on bottom, but it has become much more noticeable in the last 15 years due to the nature of my work. I've discovered that knits are my friends for my top half, as wovens wind up being so constricting (even with stretch!). Rather than try and minimize my top half and maximize my bottom, I've learned to just roll with it and embrace strong shouldered looks (as long as no shoulder pads are involved because then I look like a linebacker LOL) Firecracker (Sharan) on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160184 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 19:06:10 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2160184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>In reading through this thread, I realize I do think of myself as disproportional, even though I like the way I am proportioned. It makes me a little sad to realize that even though I wouldn't trade my proportions for different ones, I think of mine as "off" in comparison to an (unattainable) ideal. Wow. </div><div>Fashintern, I am impressed with how sensible you were about your body as a teen. Your sports gave you an alternative to the aesthetic system that your trainer was so oddly and inappropriately using, to assess your body's strengths. </div> jacquez on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160178 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:40:52 +0000 jacquez 2160178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have started making a lot of my own shirts due to being quite busty. Most clothes are cut for people with bosoms not as large relative to their ribcage as mine! It's been something to do during the months at home, and I've learned a lot about altering patterns. I now have a couple patterns that fit me very well through the shoulders and bust, and I cut them to skim down to my hips because of my waspwaist. The waist causes a lot of fit problems on the bottom, as you might guess! I have a small waist, flat stomach, wide hips and a rounded bum. Finding anything that can fit at the bum & waist is a TRIAL, and it's not an easy alteration to make at home (pre-pandemic it was easier -- buy up for the hips & have the waist altered). I'm plus-sized, which means that items are even more likely than smaller sizes to be cut to accommodate a tummy. I have my best luck with fabrics with a bit of stretch. One reason I like Warp + Weft so much is that their Oneder fabric has enough stretch that I can go down a size to get better front & waist fit, while still having enough room for my hips & bum! Anonymous on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160174 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:18:23 +0000 Anonymous 2160174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Echo - 35 lbs is a lot of weight to lose, and  difficult to do too. I applaud you for this as it's a health benefit too, and I'm sure you are feeling great.  Good for you , xo.  The t-rex arms expression made me laugh - because I think I have this issue too !  What the heck?   Suz on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160160 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 17:18:58 +0000 Suz 2160160@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suntiger...I feel your footwear woe! Same here, though my feet are not as narrow. But the difference between forefoot and heel is similar, as is the high arch issue. Sigh.... Anonymous on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160117 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:53:33 +0000 Anonymous 2160117@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's not you- it's the clothes! Or the shoes in my case... The front of my feel are AA but my heels are 6A. Plus high arches. Sandals work, and often boots, but transitional shoes are nearly impossible. They don't stay on my feet. Inserts only work so well- tried them all. Luckily boots and sandals work 90% of the year here! And the acceptability of Birkies with socks fills in that transitional time- though not for work of course. Stagiaire Fash on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160095 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:07 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2160095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ April, given your clarification, I really agree with you. I often look at size charts & think the waist column has shifted so they’re all bigger than makes sense, or the chest column is all too small for the rest of the measurements for that size. And I don’t even have a big chest! I thought it was humorous & interesting when I said something to a SA in a lingerie shop about breasts having various shapes, she immediately agreed & said that when English women have large breasts, it’s like more piled on top, but when German womens’ are large, the lagniappe goes out to the sides. I’m used to seeing different sizes & shapes in showers at the pool, but have never analyzed for ethnicity. I’m going to have a hard time averting my eyes whenever pools open again, lol. Greyscale on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160084 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 07:04:42 +0000 Greyscale 2160084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I happen to have easy-to-fit proportions in most ways, but my legs are very short. Though, all things considered, that's one of the easiest fit concerns to accommodate. I'm medium height - just over 5'4", exactly average for US women - but my jeans inseam is only 26". My old roommate was 5'10" and I was taller than her sitting down. Anyway, the consequence is that I am hopeless at judging how long pants and skirts should be on me! And an extra $10 for hemming, but that's not a big obstacle. That's not to say I don't have other fit challenges, since all of us are three dimensional and trying to fit into clothing that varies along only one or two dimensions, but the leg length is the one that I just keep getting wrong! Suz on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160072 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:46:28 +0000 Suz 2160072@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't think of myself as "disproportioned" -- even though, technically, I guess I am. But aren't we all?  I think more in terms of "fit challenges." And yes -- I've got a bunch of those. It's really helped to be on the forum and learn about different fit models and get Angie's and forum members' advice when I run into difficulty.  Jaime on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160046 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:11:28 +0000 Jaime 2160046@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I appreciate what LBD and others said about not seeing disproportion as a flaw but a feature. That said, my waist is large in relation to my hips and thighs, which makes high waisted jeans very hard to fit.  Echo on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160031 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:16:25 +0000 Echo 2160031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a very long waist on a rather short body, so the waist in most garments is in the wrong place and one piece swimwear is almost always too short. I also have t-rex arms, and short legs, so sleeves are always too long. And I have a similar issue to Lisa, actually. I had gained weight for a while, but my body proportions never fit into larger sizes. The arm holes would be in the wrong place, the neckline would gap, and I had a whole host of other fit issues. I am on a journey towards getting healthier now (I've lost 35 lb so far or 2-1/2 stone), but that won't change the length of my limbs or waist! And yes, this IS the fault of off-the-rack clothing. In the past, when clothing lasted longer, people had less of it, and it was sewn for the person in question, there weren't so many people who felt there were issues with their body. Indeed, a lot of clothing in the past could more easily accommodate weight fluctuations and gave the illusion of the desired silhouette, so it put less pressure on the wearer to conform to some outside standard. So while I wouldn't want to go back to the past, there are some lessons we could learn from it. slim cat on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2160017 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 23:45:26 +0000 slim cat 2160017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My body never developed in a way they expect women's body should - small in bust, straight in hips and no waist to talk about . In addition I'm often sized out of some brands. Oversized clothes/trends almost killed my mood to shop - there is nowhere to size down in some garments. High rise is another problem for my short waist/rise. Recently I risked asking a seamstress to lower the waist in my velvet cropped pants ( mid rise - always sliding on me ) - the results exceeded my expectations. The price is high but it beats out waiting for the trend to change. Anonymous on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159997 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 21:41:42 +0000 Anonymous 2159997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Small boobs are a problem too. Some brands I no longer even look at like Lands End and LL Bean. If you don’t fill out a garment arm holes become low and sloppy, whether their are sleeves or not. Does anyone else remember darts? They were always in the wrong place, usually way too low. When they were right they were flattering and slimmed the torso. Don’t even get me started with the problems of slim calves and arms. Janet on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159994 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 21:32:34 +0000 Janet 2159994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jenava, you're right. I had less trouble finding good fit in rises when lower rises were trending. Now a correct fit in pants from crotch to waist is much harder for me to achieve unless I find a rare mid rise. Add that to the difficulty I have in finding pants with sufficient length that aren't cropped, and wide enough in the thighs, and it's a real effort.  Jenava on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159990 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 21:05:41 +0000 Jenava 2159990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think for me this depends a lot on the current trends.  I used to have a heck of a time finding pants high enough in the rise, and now that's not an issue AT ALL.  HOORAY for me, sad for folks with a shorter rise, right? I find that my boobs are bigger than most other people out there - somewhere around 34HH to 32J (that's 9D and 10D in US sizes), so I have to be careful about a couple things there - I don't like when a certain kind of drape tents out from my boobs - this is very subjective and it really depends on both the fabric drape AND the garment construction, and I don't mind certain tenting looks wear as others drive me crazy..  Second of course is simply is there enough fabric to go over my chest.  Some cuts this matters more than others. Unless the top is custom made there really aren't tops that are actually cut for my chest size. celia on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159986 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:53:10 +0000 celia 2159986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For me it depends on the brand . Generally speaking my hip/waist ratio is the hardest to accommodate but it is usually a easy fix. The difficulty comes from garments that seem to assume certain body proportions, like ' if your shoulders are these wide it means that your waist is this thick/thin', and although I tend to go for brands I know usually fit sometimes that doesn't work. For example I know that RW&co( a Canadian brand) regular pants fit my proportions, however when high waisted pants appeared in the same brand not only they assumed I was taller than I was before and the waist was really high but also that (for the same size) my hips tapered much faster to a smaller waist then before.   Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159974 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:49:14 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 2159974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As someone who’s been a cusp size her entire adult life. I’ve definitely dealt with this. The easy/quick way to grade something up to a bigger size is just to enlarge every dimension equally. But of course, that doesn’t map to real human bodies very well - plus size people aren’t always taller than misses size people, for example. I think it’s a lot better in recent years, with specialty brands focusing on a particular market and the internet increasing availability. April on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159967 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:29:02 +0000 April 2159967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you all for your thoughtful words.  I should have been clearer -- I don't thing there's anything wrong or off or unattractive about having a body part that's sized differently from your other parts.  I just note that clothing tends to fit a body that's smaller/shorter all over, or larger/longer all over, rather than a mix of those things. nemosmom on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159964 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:21:24 +0000 nemosmom 2159964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love LBD's comment above!!  I have a handful of fit challenges off the rack - broad shoulders, small bust, long torso, narrow waist, long-but-not-long-enough-to-be-TALL inseam, thick ankles... jacket stances and sleeves are almost always "off", once I fit the shoulder properly; pants almost always have to be taken in at the waist, and I have to cut elastic in the ankles of most joggers.  A tailor is my best accessory!! Irina on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159963 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:18:05 +0000 Irina 2159963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don’t feel I’m disproportionate, I know I am I don’t fault retailers, it would be impossible to cater to everyone individually. My answer is alterations. Button up shirts and blazers that fit me in the shoulders will be unavoidably tight in the chest area. Oversized and dropped shoulders styles is a way to go. Finding a tailor to have some hard to fit items custom made would be ideal. I don’t have one right now. But I have a very, very good tailor to alter clothes. It’s not cheap but I’m annoyed if sleeves are too long or some other issues, so I pay Angie on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159962 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 19:12:29 +0000 Angie 2159962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What cat2 said. April, if I can help you find items that fit in a better way, let me know.  Like Style Fan, I hone in on brands that tend to fit my body better. I also have the backs of waists and the hips of pants that are almost right altered. It's a $22 alteration I gladly pay for.  The hardest parts of my body to fit in a great way are my feet and head. That means shoes, socks, hats and eyewear. I just keep on trying until I find the right items. Anonymous on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159940 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:14:44 +0000 Anonymous 2159940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sure . I often , well almost always , feel disproportionate . And it’s absolutely a product of the media images I’ve fed my brain since I was 12 or 13 years old . I’m quite petite in bone structure but have a propensity to pack on weight in areas that make clothes difficult to fit . I’m a size 2 in a size 8 body . I’ve lost the plot here - sorry . State of mind these days . always trying on "Can we talk about disproportionality?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-we-talk-about-disproportionality#post-2159938 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:10:35 +0000 always trying 2159938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have broad shoulders so sometimes I have to get larger sizes  in tops that are fitted like blazers.  Then it looks too big around my middle and have to get sleeves altered.  Hate this.