Do you wonder why some styles of clothing look good on others but not you? One reason is your body proportions might be different than others that look good in those styles. One of the body proportions that affect which styles look good on you is your waist proportion. If you’re short waisted or long waisted, some styles will look better on you than others. Read on to find out how to tell if you’re short or long waisted.
How to Tell if You’re Short Waisted or Long Waisted
Measure from your underarm to your natural waist (narrowest part – above your naval). Then measure your waist to your hip bone. If the measurements are about the same, you’re evenly proportioned. If the first measurement is smaller, then you’re short waisted. If the second measurement is smaller, then you’re long waisted.
An Alternate Way of How to Tell if You’re Short or Long Waisted
Another way of how to tell if you’re short or long waisted is to measure from the top of your head to your crotch. And then measure from your crotch to the floor when you’re barefooted and standing flat footed. If the first measurement is shorter, you are short-waisted. If the second measurement is shorter, then you are long waisted.
What Does it Mean to be Short Waisted or Long Waisted?
Short waisted means you have a relatively short torso in relation to your leg length. Long waisted means you have a relatively long torso in relation to your legs. If you’re short waisted, you appear to have a relatively short torso and long legs. If you’re long waisted, you appear to have a long torso and short legs.
You Can Visually Alter Your Proportions
All bodies are beautiful no matter the proportions, but if you want to alter a proportion visually, there are style tips and tricks to make a short waist look longer and a long waist look shorter.
For example, if you’re long waisted wearing high waisted pants will make your legs look longer and your torso shorter. If you’re short waisted, wearing low waisted pants will visually lengthen your torso.
I will be writing another post soon with specific style tips and tricks to visually alter your proportions if you’re short waisted or long waisted.
2 Comments
I’m so confused. I was told by a stylist once that I was high waisted (which I assume is short waisted/torsoed) but I’ve always felt that I have a long torso. I’ve done both sets of measurements mentioned here and on the armpit to waist one it comes out as short waisted and on the full body one it comes out as long waisted. What to do, what to do. Haha. Any advice appreciated!!
Thanks,
Gail
Hi Gail, It sounds like you are short waisted which means your waist is relatively high. However, it also sounds like you’re relatively long between the naval and crotch which is why you think you have a long torso even though you’re short waisted. Often short waisted people have longer legs in proportion but seems you probably have average or shorter legs which is why the alternate way of measuring showed a different outcome. I prefer and use the first measurement with clients but I know some really like the alternative way to measure so I included it in my post. Every body is beautiful and different so these measurements generally are fairly accurate, but sometimes have to be adjusted. Pam