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Body Proportion Question

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Another strange-ish question from me LOL

I've been thinking a lot about my proportions in relation to fit of clothes, and I think I'm finally working out why I have fit issues.

According to the "hands under the bust" test, I am short waisted and I would probably agree that from bust-waist is short - I've had people comment that I have a short torso when I'm wearing belts on my waist... And there really isn't much gap between my rib cage and waist.

I also have short legs - courtesy of my Dad - he has funny little stumpy legs LOL A 29" inseam when standing flat footed - at 5'4" total height.

But, I feel like a lot of tops are a bit short for me and I think its because I am longer between shoulders and bust, and then also from waist to leg break (is that rise?).

So, here's a pic I took a while ago, and have been just playing with in Paint drawing lines on it (complete novice so feel free to giggle!).

http://i294.photobucket.com/al.....otions.jpg

When I look at it like this, I realise why I prefer to wear pants/skirts below my waist and often with a belt - to kind of break up the gap between waist and legs...

And, coupled with a longer area from shoulders to bust, I end up actually needing longer tops if I'm going to tuck them in.

I'm not really sure what I'm asking now LOL

I think I just want some clarification that I'm getting my head around it all... I REALLY want to wear well fitted clothes, and think I have stuck to knits and very casual clothes because well-fitted is a difficult thing for me to acheive without a lot of tailoring. But I think if I can work out some rough guidelines for clothing, I can probably reduce the amount of tailoring required. IYKWIM.

Any ideas most greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Body Type

14 replies

Latest reply was from Louise

Queen Mum

Veteran

ah yes, you do seem to be long between waist and crotch. not sure how to advise you other than keep wearing those dresses

Anonymous

I have the exact same issues as you. I am long from shoulder to bust and always have been! HaHa! I'm sure time does this no good either. Anyway I've always needed the longest bra straps, and have never been able to wear a one piece bathing suit..
Everyone used to tell me how long waisted I am, but through YLF I have found out how short waited I am, but very long from waist to crotch. This makes fitting pants very aggrivating, they always want to reach the most narrow point which pulls them right up the butt. Ofcourse that was more in the day of the terrible mom jeans that had a waist and hips cut into the pattern as if all women are built exactly like the pattern.
I am so happy for spandex in my life these days.

Maya

Veteran

Ha, I love your little diagram! So cute.

I am also long from waist-crotch but I am very short waisted. It makes pants and jeans a nightmare. Nothing will ever reach my natural waist and thus my waistbands always shift around. I've gotten used to it but I wish I didn't have to.

I also used to wear predominantly knits because they are just easier, but I have amassed quite a collection of unaltered wovens in recent times, and with my bust-to-waist ratio and miniature shoulders, that is no easy feat, so if I can do it anyone can!

Honestly, I don't like wearing knits anymore unless they are layered somehow. I wore a knit top today and even though it was under a jacket I was somewhat disgusted and hugely self conscious of how huge and "in your face" my bust looked. It looked so tarty and I found myself constantly trying to cover up with my jacket every time I got up from my desk. I realize this is not a problem for everyone though, but it is *a* problem nonetheless. Knits that have some structure,like Sweet Peas, are a-ok with me though.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

I'm so glad others are the same!!! Thanks Maya and San!

This is making all my odd clothes and orphans make so much more sense now LOL

I'll have to be on the hunt for well fitting wovens, and I probably will stick to dresses till then I think.

Interesting about the waistbands shifting Maya - I ALWAYS wear a belt with pants/skirts for that very reason - to keep them in place as best I can But I do think there is hope for me because I don't have your bust issues - and I can always have bust area taken in at least.

San I think this must be why I have never worn a one-piece swimming as well - they were always uncomfy!

AJ

Veteran

I think you have similar proportions to A. from academichic.com:
http://www.academichic.com/200.....oportions/
(she's the one in the middle)

I thought you might be interested in looking through her outfit photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a.....076085623/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a.....530819347/

Notice where most of her tops end on her and her placement of belts.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

My goodness girl, you are so far ahead of me! I never realised that there could be so much to think about! Well done you, getting your head around it all.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Just remember Theresa, that all of those body parts make a rather fab whole ;0).

I'm also loving your methodical almost mathematical approach to fit.

JuliaInGermany

Theresa, I just read this post a couple of days ago and it opened my eyes: http://www.insideoutstyleblog......ained.html Imelda also has tipps on how to dress for your proportions if you look up the category "Body proportions explained".

I found out that like you I'm long between my chin and my bust. That explains why I like big necklaces and collars but always have trouble finding button downs that fit properly. I think that knowing about my proportions will help me select better fitting clothes in future.

rute

Veteran

I'm not an expert but you seem long waisted (normally short legs = long waist)..

Susan

(website)

I have a somewhat similar lengthwise proportions, although I carry my weight differently than you. My waist is pretty high (less than two hand widths below my bust) but then the length between my waist and my leg break (the rise) is long. I also have a long neck, which makes the top half of my body look very long. I think these kinds of figures look best in higher waisted skirts and cinched long cardigans and tunics over pants,because they draws attention to the waist and not the leg break. I have the worst luck with jeans and mostly just wear hip high jeans with longer tops to not have to fuss with fitting my waist (so impossible). I could go the tailor route though.
I like to focus on the positive. Since I am long in the rise, I tend to gain little weight there.

anne

Veteran

I think susan is right that you both have long torsos, with more length in the bottom half of the torso. My inseam is nearly the same as yours, and height the same too, but I have a longer waist. ( I suspect, like you that my shoulder to bust area is longer too)
So you can see that you aren't the only one who does these type of diagram; here is one I did early on in my YLF days. Much messier than yours (and something weird going on with my then postpartum bust) and actually for a post devoted to working out terminology!
http://s297.photobucket.com/al.....6141-1.jpg

I don't think you look particularly short waisted, BTW

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

It is amazing how we are all so different.

I am the same height as you, but short in the torso between the shoulders and the bust (I always have to shorten straps) and I am short waisted. All of my height is in my legs, but I am also long in the rise too - so trousers and in particularly jeans can be an issue.

Incidentially, there seem to be a lot of us who are 5'4"!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

We really are a unique bunch of gals aren't we?!?!

Its interesting to read how so many of us are a similar height, and even similar proportions, but still have our own bodies and carry our weight differently - I really enjoyed reading your variances on mine.

Anne I just love your little pic! So glad I'm not the only one to do odd things like this LOL

Julie - this methodical/mathematical approach works best for me in everything I do... but it does tend to make me a little obsessive until I get it sorted LOL I always like to understand stuff cos I think once I have the full picture, its easier to work out what I need to do.

AJ - thanks so much for those links - I think I am similar to A. I will have a good time looking through those album's I'm sure.

PM - I read that blog post of Imogen's a while ago, but thanks for reminding me of it - I suspect it will make more sense to me now!

Interestingly, I made another discovery today. My "good" bra's are essential because they help keep the girls up higher and reduce the expanse between chin and chest - today I have a slightly less supportive bra on, and they are sitting a bit lower, and the gap looks much longer and a bit odd, and they are not half as nice as usual (I like my boobs in my good bra's!)

You know what, though, the more I really work this out, the more I'm realising there are some bits of my body that I really do like and want to emphasise - the only bit I'm really not thrilled about is from hip bone to knees - so that leaves an awful lot of me to feel good about!

Thanks for all your comments and thoughts - really really appreciate them!

Louise

Veteran

Theresa well done on the positive thinking, hopefully you'll be loving the bit from hip to knee soon too, it took me a while but i'm loving my curvy bits now x