https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:10:09 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3341 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:47:16 +0000 Ana 3341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, do you think you could find that article online again? I'd be very interested in reading it. I've been wondering about vertical proportions lately and have been looking for information on it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3338 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:02:14 +0000 shiny 3338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, thanks guys! You're doing wonders for my body dysmorphia, hee hee. ;-)</p> <p>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:</p> <p>1) Top of head to shoulder<br /> 2) Top of shoulder to waist<br /> 3) Waist to seat (i.e., sit in a chair and measure from the waist down to the seat of the chair).<br /> 4) Seat to knee<br /> 5) Knee to floor </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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 &#38; 5, for where skirt hems should fall. </p> <p>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." ;-)</p> <p>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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3314 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:08:39 +0000 Ana 3314@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Nicole, Shiny. You really know how to dress your petite frame. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3313 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:07:40 +0000 Nicole 3313@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, you have a great way of elongating yourself. I was surprised to read that you are 5' after seeing your pictures. You look much taller! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3251 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:54:02 +0000 shiny 3251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think it depends on the length of your legs, compared to your torso. I tend to think I have relatively short legs, so I find that if I'm wearing flats, the top needs to hit at high hip - no longer than the hip bone. But if I'm wearing high heels, I can go as long as just above the crotch. Anything longer than that, looks funny - like I'm wearing a too-short dress. </p> <p>As general rule of thumb, just trust your instincts! The eyeball test is the best. Most regular sized tops are too long on me and they just look off. I don't have that trouble with petite sized tops - no matter what the style, the scale is more appropriate. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3239 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:37:23 +0000 Maya 3239@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like tunics because I'm the opposite of everyone here--long legs, short torso. I like my tops to be longer for that reason, but they look funny with skirts. I am short but sometimes I like to wear tops that are not so fitted because then it looks like the top is doing that and not my rectanglish upper half As a very general rule for people of all shapes and sizes, I would say a top has to be long enough to cover your tummy but short enough that it doesn't hit the widest part of you. If you have low rise jeans, your top should go past the waistband. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3220 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:13:48 +0000 Becky 3220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tanya, I have also felt that shorter tops have worked for me with pants. I would say I usually go 2-3 inches below hipbone. I have avoided tunic tops altogether because I feel I need something more fitted and less voluminous (though there are probably some out there that are fitted and not voluminous). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3083 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:28:42 +0000 Tanya 3083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I'm 5'6" but with very short legs and extremely long torso, and otherwise I would describe my figure exactly the same as you do Becky. I find that for me shorter tops ( hipbone or a bit longer) work for pants as well. In general tunic lengths in all the variations look very bad: make my short legs even shorter and accentuate my saddle bags The longest length I can get away with is about an inch above the crotch. Otherwise, a tunic that's more of a mini dress ( just above the knees) works the second best. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3082 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:18:47 +0000 Becky 3082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ana, I'm short (5'0") with short legs. I'm a pear with a strong shoulder line, small bust, defined waist, and generous hips/booty. I am leery of anything that's not somewhat fitted since I am so short. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3080 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:05:42 +0000 Ana 3080@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What is your body type, Becky?</p> <p>I think how much longer to go is dependent on your body type, and height, and length of your legs. For me, since I have short legs, if I were to wear a tunic length top, I would probably want it to hit me between just below my crotch (where my hips start to taper down to my legs--below the widest part) and mid-thigh. Anything longer and my legs might stick out the bottom and look stumpy. I might be able to get away with a longer (maybe almost knee length) tunic length top if it had a very high, defined waist, and then flowed out, like a clean, empire style. In this way, visually, it would lengthen the area covered by the tunic, because you wouldn't be able to tell where my legs started, and they might appear longer than they really are. This is why A line dresses are great for short legged people as well. </p> <p>For someone who is a tall, inverted triangle, they might be able to so something longer, or shorter than what is ideal for me, Pear shaped, something different, etc. Many tunic tops can be altered like dresses to achieve the perfect length for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/length-of-tops-worn-with-pants#post-3077 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:55:30 +0000 Becky 3077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In recent discussions Angie has made recommendations to choose tops to wear with skirts at hip length, and tops to wear with pants/jeans a bit longer. How does one decide how much longer to go? Obviously, you won't want the top to hit at the widest point of the hip. Maybe there is an acceptable "range" rather than a target point? </p>