body proportion question

Barbara Diane

Hi. I know that I have a shorter than average rise, but at least in the stores I shop at the most, the belt loops on dresses are significantly higher than my waist. I was wondering how that is described, as it might help me understand my body better. Thanks.

8 months ago

Body Type

9 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

Dee

Veteran

Hmm... perhaps you might be described as long waisted.

8 months ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I agree with Dee somewhat, and I also find almost every dress too shirt in the waist if they have one. But I think there’s more to it, as I believe from looking at how dresses are modeled and seen on the street there’s a skew toward setting the waist higher than “ natural “ waist.

Whether it’s us fashion, or changing waistlines ( “ waist” being defined as narrowest part), or production geared to avoid too- long waist at all costs, because that’s harder to work around, I don’t know.

8 months ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Like others have suggested, it sounds like you are long in the waist, Barbara Diane.

Tanya who is regular height at 5 ft 6, is long in the waist too. She sometimes buys TALL dresses to get a better fit.

YES! You can be short in the rise and long in the waist, AND vice versa

8 months ago

Star

Veteran

I also find that dress belt loops are significantly higher than my waist and I never imagined I was long waisted... I learn something on YLF everyday :). I remove the belt loops and either wear the dress beltless or with one of my other belts that I prefer and let it fall where I want it to.

8 months ago

Jules

Veteran

I think they can sometimes end up a little high on a larger busted body (because some of the torso length is taken up by the bust). I’m actually short waisted and they are rarely low on me…. Very generally speaking I think a well-designed garment probably avoids such loops so that the wearer can figure out the best (or no) belt placement. Some are just there to keep the belt in place before sale and are meant to be cut off, something I learned late in life

8 months ago

Val

Active Member

Yes, I’d call that being long-waisted. It means a longer than average distance from shoulders to waist. As a short-waisted person, dress waistlines (and belt loops) tend to fall too low on my body.

8 months ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm the opposite -- short waisted but long in the rise!

What Jules says is probably relevant also -- so many variables!

8 months ago

April

Veteran

I'm like Suz, only probably even more extreme. My "waist' is about an inch below my last rib, and "ultra high rise" jeans on me are often just about right. Dis-proportion makes shopping MUCH harder, no doubt.

8 months ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Oh my goodness I must have forgotten to hit submit when I thanked you all.
Thanks Dee, unfrumed, Angie, Star, Jules, Val, Suz, and April.
It helps to have a label and the information you shared.

8 months ago

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