Long torso vs. Short legs

Ashley

I measured my torso and got a 58-59" measurement. I'm 5'1 and a half inches tall and usually an inseam of 28-29" would do me good. How do I know if I'm a shorter leg person or longer torso person?

16 years ago

Body Type

9 replies

Latest reply was from Sassy

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I think this might be a question for Shiny, she's very good at body proportions and measurements.

16 years ago

anne

Veteran

I think you might have made a typo. This would leave you with only 2 to 3 inch leg length!

16 years ago

Ashley

Active Member

Anne--I meant to say I measured "around" my torso and it was 58-59". I didn't measure from the top of my shoulder down to my crotch so I just measured around my torso.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think what you need to do is measure from neck to the point where you bend when you sit, then from that point all the way to the floor.

I'm 5'0" and when I've measured my torso like you've done here (how you're supposed to do it for buying bathing suits) I get 60 inches. Which seems to imply my legs are short compared to my torso, but it's not true, because measuring this way, you get added inches because of the width of your body (it's not flat).

My legs by the above measurement technique are 31 inches, and torso is 22 inches. If you include my head (not sure if you're supposed to?), I'm 60 inches tall. So legs are just 1 inch longer than my upper body.

But they do look short to me anyway! Sigh.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Incidentally... my DH is 5'10" and when he's sitting, it appears he's only a smidge taller than me. It's bizarre. But it's what my mom has always called good "hip to lip ratio" ... hee hee. Anyway, his legs are SUPER long!

As are my DD16's legs. She is only 5'3, but she is ALL leg. She needs petites for her upper body, and even then, she struggles and often has to alter straps and such. But she can't possibly wear petites for jeans because she's got a comparatively long inseam for her height.

DD14 meanwhile is also 5'3" and her torso is exactly the same as mine, but she has an extra 2 inches in her legs compared to me. If only I also had an extra 2 inches - I wouldn't need heels!

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

You can check J Crew's swimwear size chart for a start. They have measurements there. It depends on your size. Really, the easiest way to find out is to just look at yourself, or have someone else look at you.

If you:

-have trouble wearing waist-cinching styles like belts and wraps
-don't have a very defined waistline
-have a long inseam for your height
-find many tops to be too long
-don't have a lot of space between the bottom of your ribcage and your hipbone

you're probably have a short torso

If you:

-like waist-accentuating details like belts
-have a defined, gently curving waist
-find many tops too short
-wear a short inseam for your height
-have lots of space between your ribcage and hip bone

you probably have a long torso

BUT...but but but...

Not everyone has a long or short torso. Many people are well-balanced and fall somewhere between the two or have a combination of long and short torso issues (for lack of a better word).

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Right. But even if you are well balanced and actually proportioned, if you are petite, you probably prefer dressing in a way that makes your legs look longer.

Here's the thing: when you're short, the entire world is looking down at you. This skews the perspective. For example, when my DH takes my photo for YLF, I have to have him crouch down a bit, so he's more at my level. If he stands up, the camera is pointed down, and my legs look like little stumps!!!

Unfortunately, this is just the angle at which the world is viewing me. Bring on the heels and the cropped cardis and other leg-elongating tricks....

16 years ago

Erin

Member

I am 5'3" and my measurements are roughly 26" torso and 27-28" inseam. I always assumed I had an extremely long torso. Shirts are often too short for me (it is the bain of my existence!). Ankle, short, or petite length pants are good if I'm wearing flats, but I alway have to get regular length if I want to wear heels (and still end up having to hem them a little bit).

16 years ago

Sassy

Active Member

Using Shiny's measurement suggestions, I got 25" from the back of my neck down to where i sit, and I have a 29" inseam. I'm 5'2". Not sure whether that means I'm long or short, but there's some comparison for you ;). I do usually get regular length jeans and have them hemmed, though.

16 years ago

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