Waist questions - high/low, long/short

catgirl

What do these terms mean? Not to sound like an idiot, but I'm trying to shop more selectively and read reviews about fit. I can't tell what kind of waisted I am, other than I'd like it to be smaller! I know anything less than an 8 inch rise is low on me. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks!

14 years ago

Body Type

7 replies

Latest reply was from shana

catgirl

Veteran

Wow, I did a search and it led me to some old posts by none other than Angie where I got my questions answered. I think I am long-waisted but do not have a short rise. That seems like an irritating situation.

Angie knows all!

14 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

She certainly does!

14 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I am short waisted, I have less than an inch between my rib and hip bones-- although in that area I am inches narrower. I also have a short rise-- I can wear lower rise clothing, sometimes mid rise covers my bellybutton. At the same time, I like my tops to hit me mid hip, and I am tall enough that I need a longish top or a tall size to do this. On the other hand, I have more space between my shoulders and my boobs than normal, and broad shoulders, so this seems to balance it out although my legs are definitely way longer proportionally than my top half.

14 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Yeah, this can be confusing territory. Since YLF, I have learned that I'm long-waisted (for a petite), and any rise less than 8 inches is too short. I actually prefer 8.5 inches. Wonder if being long-waisted usually requires a higher rise?

14 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Becky, that sounds a lot like me. I am 5'1" but have at least a handspan between ribs and hips (such a precise measurement, huh?), and low-rise is just obscene on me. I also don't have a very defined waist, so I think I'm a rectangle, with inverted triangle and apple tendencies. Yuck!

14 years ago

Becky

Veteran

I've heard several of those on the forum who tend toward rectangle/apple mention they like a higher rise for the "girdling effect." I tend more toward hourglass/pear, but hate having to "hitch up" pants/jeans every time I stand.

14 years ago

shana

Veteran

Imogen from Inside Out Style had a good rule of thumb for figuring out short vs long waists:

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......waist.html

14 years ago

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