Does length increase as size goes up? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does length increase as size goes up?

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

I am trying to learn to be a better online shopper. I am often between sizes with 50% of my wardrobe at one size and about 50% at another. In store I will often take two sizes to the changing room, and sometimes the larger size has more length.

My fit challenges are often around shoulder and upper arm breadth, and length. I am short waisted so a number of my dresses have been tailored to make them better fits in the bodice. These three dresses have been purchased at the larger size and tailored in the bodice.

In NZ, Petites and talls are less commonly available aside from in jeans. Goodness knows how some people cope.

Is there a general policy that as you move up the sizes that the length increases or (like everything sizing related) is it variable?

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think the length does tend to increase to some degree as sizes go up, although that makes no sense to me from a consumer perspective. I imagine it is some sort of scaling shortcut but actually have no idea.

Lisa

Veteran

I have no idea but it's a great question! I know when going down a size, everything gets smaller (length, width, etc) so I'd assume as you go up a size, everything gets larger and longer too.

Roberta

Veteran

This is one thing I have always appreciated about Boden, that they give not only waist, bust, and hip measurements, but also list the length of garments, and sometimes the sleeve lengths too. Clothing models are generally tall and a size two, so I have no idea how it's going to look on me at an average height in a 14. One more reason to be appreciative when a brand shows a garment on multiple size women.

April

Veteran

As a fellow very-short-waisted shopper with short legs and wider shoulders, I can confirm that length does go up with size.

In petite sizing, all bets are off. While a petite length is always shorter, sometimes length is the only difference and sometimes the rise is shorter, shoulders narrower, sleeves shorter.

Suntiger

I only tested this once. When I bought my green pants, the original size I tried fit fine, but the length was shorter than I wanted. I tried a size up, and the length was just right!

Olive Green

Veteran

Wide shoulders short torso petite here, and if fitting the shoulders, the top is quite long, or the dress is ankle length.
Pants almost always need a shorter hem, as I take those in a regular size because I have a regular rise.
Petite tops I buy a size up for the wide, short torso, but to my joy, the tops hit at the right place on the hips, rather than try to be a tunic.
Never had a bodice adjusted, those are really pretty.
It is a crap shoot, isn’t it?

Ginger

Veteran

Per grading standards, the length usually does increase slightly, but it's like 1/8" - 1/4", or 1/2" at most depending on the garment. It should not be enough to notice. A garment may feel longer, but for myself, that's probably because in the smaller size the material was hugging my body closer instead of falling straighter down. A straight line is the shortest distance between two points, so a drapier fit may be a bit longer than a smaller size that does not fit in such a drapey fashion and has to follow the curves.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I sometimes try — and end up buying — a size up in pants to get more length. It’s usually simple enough to alter a too-big waist, which is usually where I find extra room. But sometimes the rise is longer too, and it gives the cut too much fabric in that area.

I’ve sized up to get more length in dresses but it often doesn’t work because the torso is cut longer too, so the whole dress sits too low and long on me. But I do think sometimes garments have a little extra length in a larger size, sometimes simply because they sit looser on the curves of the body. Just like when my pants hang lower when I lose weight because they’re sitting lower on my hips.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A bigger size often has more length. That’s how the sizes are graded. Sometimes it’s very noticeable. Other times hardly noticeable.

Irina

Veteran

Out of my two sizes, I now buy the smaller because it is slightly shorter. I like my tops now a bit shorter than before.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Angie said. It varies by manufacturer and item, in my experience. Because I shop online a lot, I always look at the variation in length as well as width, when they give that info. Typically there is some difference, and then, as Ginger said, the larger sized item might seem even longer simply because it hangs more loosely on the body.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks - interesting. I often buy the larger size and get tailoring done - my jeans were actually my smaller size but got them taken in at the waist. I am factoring the cost into purchases now.

I should look more closely at size charts - I haven’t had the best of luck with some but I hope they are getting better as online shopping is more important.

I think there are fit and size challenges for most of us - all of us. And when times are tough retailers can skimp on fabric and allowances and tailoring. A decent seam allowance on pants and skirts is wonderful for me.

It us no surprise that leggings, stretch denim skinnies and baggy sweats and joggers are so popular - they are easy to fit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Very true, Sal, about joggers and articles with stretch.

I don't know if the NZ and Australian makers are doing this, but in addition to the size charts, it can help to look at the item measurements (when these are given). They are not always available but where they are, can be extremely informative.

I also correspond with customer service and ask questions, especially if I already own something from that maker -- I tell them what size and how it fits and ask "Is the fit of this item similar?". Their guesstimates are not always perfect, but they have been helpful on occasion.

Sal

Veteran

I think that's a good idea Suz. I need to be more engaged with fit and getting it right. My biggest mistakes are when I don't listen to my gut regarding fit (too short, too wide, too low cut etc)

I actually called in to look at a dress I had been eyeing up online today and am having a session with an instore stylist at a boutique on Saturday. I am sure I will have some pressure to purchase but looking at the offerings I don't think it will be hard..... The sales assistant has a good eye for what works on me too.