Suz's compelling post on proportions leads to amazing discoveries! :) - YouLookFab Forum

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Suz's compelling post on proportions leads to amazing discoveries! :)

Mochi

Veteran

I just re-watched the video ( http://www.insideoutstyleblog......tions.html ) and tried measuring my proportions from head to toe. Results were not what I expected.

I should preface that I consider myself one of the less well-proportioned people out there. Short-waisted and overall fairly short (but my bust and large head make me look shorter, IMO).

I also considered myself a leggy type of short person, seeing that I am definitely short on top. Always had a feeling that at least proportion-wise, my legs were long.

The video and measurements, with my head length as the base unit, revealed that my chin-to-bust ratio is exactly spot-on. The bust-to-waist ratio is slightly short, which I had expected, but not off more than an inch perhaps, so not too far off.

Waist-to-crease-of-leg, off by another inch, so a bit short but not a huge amount.

Then the leg-crease to knee was way off! Two head lengths took me well down my calf! I was really shocked. This is NOT where I expect my disproportionate body to really show itself. The knee-to-floor proportion was also "perfect."

Then dividing my body, I was about equal in both halves from the leg crease up or down.

I did not expect all these balanced proportions. And the upper leg's severe off-balance either!

It seems that this description from Imogen would fit me to a T:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-body.html

Now I have to take some time to digest the info (and double-check it, since part of me is disbelieving the results) and figure out how to make it work for me, with my own style goals.

Thanks again, Suz. That was really eye-opening!

(ETA one thing: because of my very large bust, the empire waists that Imogen recommended is a horrible look for me.)

Body Type

33 replies

Latest reply was from Hopsie

Claudia

Veteran

I found doing this exercise and reading Imogen's description and guidelines to be VERY helpful, too. It validated what I felt about certain clothing styles on me -- both what works and what doesn't, and I was surprised about my body's actual proportions. I thought it was my thighs that were long, but it's all in my calves.

rosee

Veteran

I too need to do this, but my flash player isn't working right now so no video. But darn! Am I ever curious about this.

Happy "rebalancing" day!

Parsley

Veteran

OK, you've got me intrigued, too! I can't wait to watch the video and do the calculations after work today.

Very interesting!

lyn67

Veteran

This all can be true, but IMO the contradiction has to do with differrences between science and aestetics...theory and practice...or maybe the golden rule is changing with time...or that our eyes are so distorted by the aestetics of the models on the runway that we cannot accept the old rule anymore...so on...
-just my 2 cents here:-))

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mochi, I'm really glad it was interesting and helpful! I, too, was surprised at what I discovered.

Back on my thread, Jonesy asked me if my discoveries were likely to lead to practical results, i.e. would I be dressing differently. In my case, I don't really think so, but it did really explain a lot.

It sounds as if it might be a good idea to do your leg measurement again. This was another place where I think Imogen could have been a bit clearer; where, exactly, does that leg break start? Outer hip or on the inside rise? That would make a big difference in measures, right?

Claudia, I envy you your long calves. Janet has long calves, too, and I think it is this, more than anything, that gives a woman a long legline! Sadly...it's what I lack.

Mochi

Veteran

I've heard that too, Suz. There are clinics where very specific cases can go for bone-lengthening. One doctor said that it's the lower leg that gives the perception of length and height, not so much the upper leg. Interesting. I'm starting to think my lower legs are rather average in length!

I'm not sure what to do with this info yet. Another question that came to mind: two people with same exact proportions, but different builds (large/small frame, curvaceous/"boyish")...what would stay the sane in their ideal silhouettes and choices, and how would they diverge?

Of course, personal aesthetics also factors in...

Complicated!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, this is where body type definitely becomes important. The overall vertical proportions remain the same, but they will LOOK quite different depending on where a person is carrying her weight, whether or not she has a large bust, etc.

For example: one reason I didn't really notice that I was short-waisted is that I have a small bust, and a small waist. If my bust were larger and/or my shape tended more towards apple, then I would never have been in the least doubt. As it is, most people probably wouldn't notice my short waist, even though it is 4 inches shorter than "ideal." Of course my long rise also balances out the torso length.

Example 2: in years past, I tended very much towards a pear body type. Recently I lost weight and in particular lost a lot of fat in the hip and thigh area. The result is that I look longer-legged. Which in my case, admittedly, isn't saying a whole lot! It just makes it less glaringly obvious that I am disproportionate there! But still, it's significant.

So body type/body shape definitely plays a huge role in how we dress and what looks good on us. Now that I am less pear shaped on the bottom, I feel more free to experiment with looks such as booties with a dress, that I formerly ran from as completely unflattering to my short legs. These looks are still very risky for me, but less so than they once were. Note: booties with a skirt can look GREAT on pears (witness Janet and Sveta!!) But they are long-legged, unlike me.

So it's all a dance between proportions and body type.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Mochi, and I'll be getting a ribbon or measuring tape out to check my proportions. As someone who has yet to do my body type, this will definitely get me started. I do have one question for you and Suz. I thought I understood from where to measure, but on second viewing, she said to adjust the starting point. So, do I measure from the actual waistline and hip bend rather than my own personal proportions? Thanks.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

It's interesting, isn't it, how we perceive our bodies and how they actually measure up. When I was first learning to sew and make alterations to my clothing, I couldn't figure out if I needed one or the other alteration. Depending up on the descriptions I read in fitting books, I was convinced that I had one or the other fit issue, many of which were conflicting. Over time, and taking a lot of measurements, I *think* I have a better idea of my body shape.

I think the next step for you is to go spend a day out a the stores and try some of Imogen's recommended styles on and take lots of pictures. Then you can take a step back and look at yourself somewhat objectively. I'm sure we'd love to chime in with opinions and suggestions too

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Vicki, as I understand it, here is what you do. Measure your head length first. That is your unit of measure.

Then measure from chin to mid-bust. It will either be the same, or shorter or longer than your head measure. If it is different, just keep that information in mind (i.e. I am long in this measurement or short in this measurement.) Then, put the tape on the mid-bust and measure another head's length; this should be your waist break. If it's not, once again make a mental note. Then measure from your ACTUAL waist break to your leg break or rise...again is it a head? Longer, or shorter? That will tell you whether you have a long, regular, or short rise.

From the actual leg break, you should have about 2 head lengths to the mid knee. From mid-knee, 2 to the ground. So in other words, you are adjusting all the time to see how far you are out of kilter with the "ideal."

You can also measure from head to leg break and from leg break to the ground to see whether your body is half and half (torso/leg) and what the degree of difference is.

Mochi

Veteran

Suz beat me to it in clarifying Imogen's explanation. Another very specific issue for me vis-a-vis short-waistedness (and this is TMI, sorry is that I didn't show up, from Imogen's method, as more than a tad short-waisted with the measurement using what I assume is around the nipple line (to the natural waist). Its results differed from the "two-hands" method significantly, because her method didn't take into account my particular breasts, which have much more below-the-nipple area before ending at the crease where you would start in with the hand measurements. So I really get all that under-bust area eaten up and no matter how you put it, I end up with very little torso area there!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, thanks for the instructions; I've had trouble viewing the video. Must refrain from pulling up an old outfit pic and doing this via Paint immediately.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Suz and Mochi. Your added description helps and I'll post my findings here.

Anonymous

Great thread, Mochi! I need to watch and do this again with a helper. I have a small head, so I wonder if that will influence things. I've always thought my small head had a tendency to make my shoulders appear broader when wearing a collarless shirt.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Claire, I have a small head too! Everyone from my dentist (teeth crowded in a small mouth) to people fitting me for eyeglasses remarks on it. But I always just feel like it makes the rest of my body look big in general. :-/ One reason I will probably never get a close-cropped haircut!

catgirl

Veteran

You all are so scientific and methodical! Meanwhile, I still don't truly understand long-waisted vs. long torso vs. long in the rise and all of that, or what to do about it. This looks like an easy enough exercise to do, even for a simpleton like me...

Mochi

Veteran

To me, it's just a start. Like I'm really not sure what to do with this information. Of course I could start reading her blog too and see if she goes into it more...

Also, since I'm short, I feel like trying to adjust proportions is like doing some shifty kind of accounting. Make the torso look longer? Fine, but then you're stealing from the legs. LOL.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOL, Mochi - that is hilarious!! I was thinking the same thing today, wondering how I could get some leg real estate to increase the value of my overall property holdings!!

Imogen does have some info on how to dress yourself for your vertical proportions. And there's more out there on the web as well. A lot of it is common sense, but it's only common sense once you know what your proportions actually ARE.

Una, if you do that exercise, you will know without a doubt whether you are short or long waisted, long in the torso, long in the legs, or whatever.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am now thoroughly intrigued. I am going to try to do the measuring tonight. I will predict that I am short waisted. I have a puny head so that may make the numbers a bit weird. I think my legs are a bit longer than would be proportionate for my height too.

I will see how close I am and post the actual results later. I am almost 50 and may have been wrong all these years!!

rosee

Veteran

I have a question that needs clarifyling:

- long-waisted = long in the waist to crotch measurement?
- short-waisted = short in the waist to crotch measurement?
- long torso = long in the bust to waist measurement?
- short torso = short in the bust to waist measurement?
Do I have this right or am I mixed up?

I'm not sure what I am but I take the long swimsuits rather than the regular. And I am a pear shape. My lower torso measurement seemed a half-inch shorter than my other measurements (including my head measurement).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

According to Imogen's test, I am taking long waisted to mean long in the mid-bust to natural waist measurement. Short waisted would be short in this measurement.

You are long in the rise if your waist to leg break measurement is longer than a head's length. And short if it is the reverse.

Your torso (upper body, including head to leg break) is long if it is more than 4 head lengths. Your torso is short if it is less than this measurement.

But I might be completely wrong in MY terminology, in which case, I am not short-waisted but short torso'd, lol. Whatever you call it, it looks different than I suspected!

rosee

Veteran

Thank you Suz! You are one smart cookie.

It now seems I have a slightly short rise and I may be slightly short waisted too. But my torso and head are half my body measurement in height.
Interestingly, I can wear petite size jackets (though I am 5'6") but I wear long swimsuits. Go figure! (pun not intended).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOL, Rosee. Well, I am 2 inches shorter than you, more or less, but I also wear petite jackets and long rise swimsuits! The rise in a swimsuit is a bit different because it also includes the depth of your body (i.e. it is a three dimensional measurement). So if you have a little apple or a bit of a bootie, the rise will need to be longer, in addition to whatever you need for your waist to crotch.

Anonymous

Suz, you should work for the Lands' End swimsuit customer service chatline!
I finally roped hubs into helping me with this. Here are my findings: *drum roll please*

My head is little, but I still am not 8 head lenghths tall (I'm a little saddened by that...but not really)! I am long from chin to chest as I thought. I am a little short waisted and a little short in the rise. AHA! This is where I gain my weight too -- the tummy area! (makes sense).

I start getting a little less sure as I get down to my legs because I'm not sure where on the leg to measure the "break", but either way both half thigh measurements are short by an inch and my calves are right on target. So I'm short all the way from my bustline to my knees, lol!

The most earth shattering news to me is that my upper body and legs are balanced! I thought I was short legged, because an earlier site had you measure from the top of your head to your crotch, and from there to the floor. Using the leg-break as the body's midpoint bought me an exra inch or so. However, when I look at my photos, my eye always measures my legs from the crotch to the floor if I'm wearing pants.

What will this change? I dunno, maybe I'll try to keep details quiet through my midsection and stick to slim belts. Perhaps I'll avoid color blocked skirts. Monochromatic and low contrast tops and bottoms seem to work for me and I just like knowing why!

That way when someone suggests I try wearing, say, a swashbuckling ammunition belt I can politely say, "I'm short waisted so I don't think that will work for me."

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I might have to measure this again but it seems that I am actually rather short-waisted, with a long rise, short thighs, and normal calves. The chin-to-bust measurement seems proportional, but in looking at myself in the mirror I seem to have a short neck but a long shoulder-to-bust area. A new bra might help with that, perhaps.

I'm not sure what combination results in me usually needing to buy long-leg jeans, although I guess I am relatively tall for a woman (5' 8" -ish).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

These results are so interesting! Claire, that's sort of nice to discover that you are balanced, top to bottom! Even if it doesn't mean much in practical application. It DOES mean that if you ever have an occasion to wear heels, you will look long-legged.

I laughed out loud at your ammo belt quip! But here's something peculiar...having thought all my life that I was LONG waisted, I've happily worn high waisted garments (especially skirts) - and guess what? Contrary to all the advice, they actually look GOOD on me. HUNH??

(I don't know how I rationalized the fact that those high waists were cutting into my ribcage, but whatever! I figured that's what high waists did, period! Luckily, on my grey skirt, the fabric's so soft it doesn't bother me a bit; that will be my trick in future, too!)

I think, especially with a skirt, the eye is fooled into just thinking I have long legs. With pants it's a little trickier; maybe I wore high-waisted ones back in the days when they were loose and pleated so the effect was more like a skirt. Otherwise, one would think they would call attention to the VAST swathe of real estate between waist and crotch!

I think this can only work on short-waisted women who are also slender/small in the bust with at least a regular length rise (or long rise).

Mander, I think 5' 8" is pretty tall for a woman; maybe trousers are built with women a couple of inches shorter in mind? Or maybe it depends on the brand.

What's fascinating to me about this whole discussion and exploration is that it gives me information to help me tweak the body type recommendations. Some of the advice for my horizontal body type(s) contradicts the advice for my vertical proportions. So I have to experiment to figure out which set of guidelines actually apply the best to me, personally. Our bodies are so individual! I find it very exciting to think that with a bit of playing around, each of us can come up with outfits that adjust our proportions in a way that really pleases us.

Anonymous

Suz, my whole life dress waistbands had ridden up onto my ribcage. I know on a lot of women, this is their narrowest part so it can be a good thing. Also the past few years there have been a lot of dresses with higher or even empire waists (which tend to ride up over my bustline--and hubby says those styles "make my boobs look low" probably because my bust isn't centered in the bodice, but just barely making it above the seam). A slightly higher waist on a dress or skirt DOES fool the eye into thinking that the legline is longer. We are screwed in most pants however, lol! I will be interested to see if midis appear for the masses, if they will be belted and where the belts will be. I was watching White Christmas (with Bing Crosby) the other day and all of the gals were wearing midis with belts at the waist. I checked and the movie was made in 1954.

Mochi, I need to go back to Imogen's site again and see what clothes she's picked out for someone with my proportions. I forgot all about that bonus!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Here's to imperfection as the rule of the day! My cat was looking at me, weirdly, as I took a ribbon to my head and then he went back to sleep. I may have to do this a few times, because my results seem very odd. I knew my head and neck would be long, but everything else seems short, because I kept adjusting as I headed south. Suz, you are a pro at this...at our next meet-up or global conference, this will be your seminar!

Lantana

Veteran

I've been over at Imogen's soaking up the good stuff on body proportions. After watching the video I took a photo of myself in leotards and printed it off. I preferred using a ruler and paper to measure in this way rather than a cloth tape, which can stretch, you know, just to throw a spanner in the works
As for the results? Leonardo would be very disappointed in me. I can make it to 7 and a smidgen "head lengths" in total if I stand tall. Either end of my bod is in proportion but some kind of seismic shift goes on in the geography of rib cage to knees. Remember those geography lessons about the earth's crust folding? What I'm seeing is a simultanoeus concertina effect plus stretching so that eventually I land in the short-waisted, long rise and short (challengingly so) in the upper leg.

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