Ask Angie and everyone! short waisted and short

jen321

So I just did the test to see if I am short waisted, and it looks like I am. (Test: Put two hands under bust, if they don't fit between bust and waist, then short waisted.) I am only 5' 3 1/2'' tall. Are there looks I can't pull off because of all this shortness? I feel like maybe tunics don't enhance me, and I feel like ballet flats just look ridiculous on me. So do I follow the trends, or drag my feet? Should I shop in the petites just for shirts? Petite pants are usually a little too short for me. It doesn't help that I am carrying an extra 14lbs. of baby weight. Which seems to have settled quite a bit in the thigh and butt area, and some in the tummy. So I guess I feel lost and am looking for some direction over here! Any help is greatly appriciated!

14 years ago

Body Type

16 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

(website)

Veteran

Let me know what you find! I am quite short waisted as well - either that or my small bust hangs too low ha ha ha. I am just now realizing I may be petite in tops but am at a loss in tunic land for sure.

14 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I don't know what looks you can't wear but there are lots you can! There are several short-waisted folk on the forum. Kari, Shana, Maya, crwilson come to mind. It might be worth looking through their posts for ideas.

Do you know your body type?

14 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Jen, I'm 5'3" and short waisted, and petite pants (and skirts and dresses) are too short for me. Sometimes even petite tops are too short when I sit down and move around, but I still check out the petite selection anyway. It's very much a case by case basis.

I think figuring out your body type (if you haven't already) will be very helpful, and then we can adjust from there.

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

To add to the questions above, do you know if you are short-waisted/long legged or short-waisted with a long torso/short legs?

If petite pants are a little short on you, it sounds like you may be leggy -- which means you can get away with stuff the latter cannot. I'm a hair taller than you (5'4) and in group "latter" and thus cannot wear petite tops (hello belly-baring!) or pants (waaaay too short in the rise).

You are in the right place for help!

14 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Vix it sounds like we could almost be twins!

I'm 5'4", short waisted, short legged, long in the rise too! I'd be very interested to hear if you have any brands you find work well for your proportions - I'm just getting brave enough to think about ordering from the US!

Jen I agree that working out your body shape will probably be the first port of call to get a better idea of what may/may not work.

14 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Vix and Theresa, put me in your group, only I'm 5'1". As far as I can tell, I'm short-waisted, short legs, long rise - and I have really broad shoulders. Some days I feel like an inverted slice of pizza.

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

The first thing you need to do is get a bra fitting if you haven't already.

14 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I have broad shoulders too Alaskagirl! I actually like the idea of a slice of pizza, much yummier than an inverted triangle!

14 years ago

crwilson

Veteran

I'm short-waisted with a full bust, and I can't wear petite pants or tops, even though I have to get most of my pants hemmed. In terms of things I can't wear (or don't) is tucked in shirts or belts. I know that, theoretically, belts should be able to work somehow, but I just don't do it because there's just not enough room on my short torso.

What you can wear will probably depend a lot on your overall body type, though. Have you posted pics yet?

14 years ago

jen321

Active Member

Thanks for the advice, I will post a pic to figure out my body type!

14 years ago

lynne

Veteran

Yay!!! It's so nice to find others of my body type. I'm also short waisted, short legged, long rise. It seems like all my height (5'6") is in my abdomen. Charming.

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

This has me wondering if 'regular waisted' people's waists are at their navels. Mine is a whole lot higher than that. If I wore my pants *at* my waist they would be only a few inches below the bra.

14 years ago

Irene

Veteran

How many inches from the bra is the waist supposed to be to be considered 'average'? :S Mine is only a few inches from the bra as well.

14 years ago

andie

Active Member

I am 5'6" and am also short-waisted, long rise, and short legs. At some stores, the salesperson had me try petite tops on for a better fit. A lot of tops would look better on me if I could remove a few inches from the shoulder/neck drop portion. I hope I am making sense. Tops seem to hang down too low on me, showing too much skin.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I am just under 5'4" and also short waisted. I do have a long rise, but normal (I think) length legs. I take a 31" inseam normally which is generally too long for petite pants. At many stores, I can wear both petite and tops though. I am a pear/hourglass, and I feel like the petite tops sometimes fit better (particularly wovens, which have less give) because the waist and hip shaping is at the right place; sometimes I find petite tops too short though. Like Andie, I also find that a lot of tops are too long in the armhole/shoulder region. If they're sleeveless, I will often take up an inch or so of the shoulder strap for a better fit.

I love to wear things like tucked-in, full, short skirts and belts at my natural waist. These types of looks DO accentuate the short-waisted look, but I don't mind and in fact I rather like the look. They make my legs look miles long! I do find I have to be careful with my belts though - the really wide ones (and most elastic ones) always feel like they are crushing my ribs (since basically my natural waist is immediately below my ribs), so I generally stick to 2" and narrower. If you're not as pear shaped as me, I think you have more leeway because you can wear your belts a little lower.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like you have a few body doubles, Jen. I was going to suggest a bra fitting first too.

13 years ago

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