short legs, long legs and the body shape - YouLookFab Forum

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short legs, long legs and the body shape

Itari

(website)

Sorry to bother you again.

How to determine if a person has long or short legs? What is the average leg length? Trinny & Susannah in their body shape bible state that bottom-heavy types have short legs, while the top-heavy women have long legs, I've seen similar statements in another sources too. Since I'm a pear, I'm probably short-legged.

The next thing to worry about. Can't I just look normal?

Body Type

21 replies

Latest reply was from Itari

lady-rach

I have short legs and a short waist but I make the most of it as I often get away with more things than taller people hehe!! I'm sure you're as normal as can be:)

Queen Mum

Veteran

Isn't the crotch point supposed to cut your body in half... so if your measurement from floor to crotch is more than half your height, then you would have longer legs, if your measurement from floor to crotch is less than half your height then you would be considered to have short legs. you can fool the eye with heel height and top length often.

Susan

(website)

I think Queenie is right on. I thought it was waist height but it's actually the crotch point or your "true" inseam. My total height in inches is 67.5, but my inseam is a whopping 31"! So I am definitely longer in the waist, but since I am taller than average, I have "average" length legs (most pants are cut for a 32" inseam, which is perfect for me with a pair of flat shoes). I tend towards pear shaped, and I carry my weight in my hips. That said, almost no one thinks that I'm "short legged" since I tuck in tops, wear a lot of skirts and dresses, and know how to use heels (2" are best for me, because that balances out the difference).

Itari

(website)

hmm...

just found this:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......ained.html

...and Imogen says that it's the leg break that is supposed to be in the middle:

"What is most important if you measure your proportions is to find out if you have a longer or shorter body as compared to your legs (so top of head to leg break compared to leg break to foot)."

but, on the other hand, she also states that:
"So, for all those A/pear shaped women, if you measured your proportions, you'd find that you are short in your thigh proportion, thus appear to have hips/bigger thighs, and it's much harder to lose weight from this area, as you are more compacted in this area, yet you may have a long waist and flat stomach as this is where you are proportionally longer."

Definitely not true. I'm a short-waisted pear.

I measured myself once again.
87 cm inseam, 170 cm tall - does that mean that my legs are longer than average...? 32" pants (standard length) are too short for me, 34" are good for flats.

Odd thing. The more I read, the less I understand.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You tend to put weight on the shorter areas of your body first- that's what they are referring to in the Body Shape Bible. So, as a pear you may not have a short inseam (crotch to floor), but your thigh may be shorter than average. (Conversely, if you're an apple- your waist to crotch measurement may be shorter than average) How do pants normally fit you? Do they tend to be too long?

Itari

(website)

I don't know if my thighs are shorter than average. I don't know what length is average.

And funny thing about the body shape bible, since their hourglassy types are all short-waisted.

And no, my pants don't tend to be too long. Actually, it's the other way around - standard length pants tend to be too short. I think it could be related to my height - an average Polish woman is 166 cm tall and I'm a bit bigger.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I think the main idea to think about, rather than worry about the measurements and exact ratios and what is "average" is to think about overall proportions. I took a frontal picture of myself in form fitting clothes and digitally filled my shape in with black. Then it's easier to see what needs to be balanced. Honestly I think the most important thing is to highlight the parts you like - if you are hourglass this could be your waist. If you just concentrate on dressing to highlight the things you like I think the other things will naturally become less of an issue.

Here is a link to the analysis I did (way back in 2008 - how time flies!)
http://outfitdiary.blogspot.co.....lysis.html

cciele

Veteran

The academichic gals do a nice tutorial on proportion:
http://www.academichic.com/200.....oned-body/

Taffy

Itari,

It almost seems like you are doing what I often do by analyzing an idea to death, which then leads to perfection paralysis for me. Basically, it all comes down to fit and balance right? I'm not sure that legs really play that much weight in the body shape equation....I'm a pear, but I'm 6 feet tall. I need at least a 34" inseam to wear flats.

Maybe you could just try on lots of different things and find the measurements that work best for you. I also know that I like a rise of 9-10" in the front and 14" in the back on my jeans. So when shopping online I look for that...and have sometimes taken a tape measure with me shopping.

Besides, doesn't everyone have something difficult to dress? I'm sure that your no different than anyone else...you just don't hear what they say to themselves in their heads!

taylor

Veteran

You are 6 feet and take a 34 inseam...I am almost 5'4 and take a 33 inseam...I am really out of whack!!!

Maya

Veteran

Taylor, do you take a 33" inseam with flats or with your 4" heels?

I assure you no one here has a "normal" body, itari. You're in good company!

taylor

Veteran

Maya, a 33 in. inseam is perfect for me with skinnies or boot cut...I wear both with heels . In the early 80's I only bought Guess jeans because they had a 33 in. inseam and I wore them with flats..SAHM back then.

marianna

Veteran

Taylor, I'm 5'10" and wear a 33.5" inseam with flats. You have LOOONG legs! Lucky lady.

taylor

Veteran

ALL my height is in my legs. I don't know how lucky that, is but people always think I am like 5'10 .

some people my height still look somewhat short in heels... not me , I have gotten used to people thinking I am VERY tall.

Maya

Veteran

Do you think your inseam would be shorter with flats? I am just curious. I am all legs too. Sometimes I feel like a baby deer...only more awkward and less adorable.

taylor

Veteran

I don't like to go shorter than a 32, that would probably be perfect for flats. My husband is just shy of 6 ft...we have the same inseam.

Mac

Veteran

A bit off-topic but... wouldn't it be great if a store or two had some EXPERT, Professionally-trained measurers on staff? Just like when you go bra shopping at a good lingerie store, someone can properly measure you and give you all your correct dimensions so you know what size you should truly take. I'd love it if the Gap or Banana Republic had someone who could measure me and tell me my definitive inseam length, waist width, shoulder circumference, etc. I'd write it all down and use it for future clothes shopping.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I'm 5' 6 1/2 inches (66.5 inches) and my leg break is at 34 inches so have just slightly longer legs in proportion. a 32 inch inseam is fine for me with flats, but I can't wear heels with that.

Itari

(website)

Thanks, gals!

Taylor - you're lucky!

I looked at myself. Then I asked my mom and my sister about my proportions. Mummy thinks that my secondary body type is a hourglass, btw

The next thing (and probably the best) was a pseudo-computer analysis I opened a picture of myself in Photoshop, then I took my tablet pen and drew an outline of my body and I was finally able to see my proportions.

To my surprise, my legs are long. My leg break is at 94 cm (37"), while my total height is 170 cm (5'7"). That would explain everything On the other hand, my big saddlebags make my legs look shorter.

Mac - I like your idea. This reminds me of a conversation I had few years ago when shopping for jeans - I found a good pair with 32" legs (too short).

Me: Hello, do you have similar jeans with 34" inseam?
The Clueless Store Employee: No, but maybe you should try 32"?
Me: I did and the jeans were too short. I always wear 34".
TCSE: But you're not THAT tall!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Just a though Itari but do you think being a pretty pear possibly creates the illusion of having shorter legs rather than pears actually having a shorter inseam.

Itari

(website)

Yes, that's what I thought. As I wrote, excess fat on my thighs makes them look short. On the other hand, skinny legs usually look longer. For example, Keira Knightley has really short legs, her torso is much longer. However, she's so skinny that her legs don't really look short. Does it make sense?

I guess that female body shape is affected by hormones and that's why some women tend to store weight on proportionally longer body parts.