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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.
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OutfitsEnsemblesTrendsAdvice
— by Angie
on June 29, 2009
The distance between the shoulders and the natural waist will vary, even among people who are the same size in other respects. If you are outside the norm and either “short waisted” or “long waisted“, it will be just a little harder to find clothes that are flattering because most clothes are designed for people with average proportions.
I find it relatively easy to judge this with my clients. I don’t apply any complicated formulas, but no doubt there is one built into my brain that has developed over years as a buyer and fashion stylist. I have noticed that other people often struggle to judge whether they are short or long waisted though. It is a frequent question on the YLF forum.
Imogen of Inside Out Style recently proposed a shortcut that appears to work quite well:
“A very quick and easy way to tell if you have a short waist is to stand up straight, and see if you can fit two hand widths under your bust to your waist (narrowest point). If you can fit more than two hand widths you have a long waist, less than two, a short waist”.
I can fit exactly two hand widths between my under bust and waistline, so I’m average according to Imogen’s method and this is in line my own assessment of being neither short or long-waisted. Over to you. How many hand widths can you fit between your under bust and waistline and is the result in line with your own assessment?
Body Type
104 comments·Add a comment
Marlene
One and a half hands for me! I also have short arms and short neck.
June 29, 2009 at 7:55 am
Angie
(website)
Fashion Stylist
Marlene, did you think you were short-waisted before you roadtested the trick?
June 29, 2009 at 7:57 am
Chris
I am one hand and a few fingers – validating what I had previously known. This is a great method (so much easier than tape measures).
June 29, 2009 at 8:00 am
Phoebe
Angie, you´re cracking me up!! Just the thought of hundreds of women around the globe fumbling between their bust and waist right at this moment on your command…. So funny!!!
Of course that´s what I´m doing right now, and as i thought, I´m average.
Your waist my be average, Angie, your personality definitely is outstanding!!!
Thanks for making me laugh!
June 29, 2009 at 8:03 am
Marlene
Yes! I knew this before intuitively. But now I feel like I have a valid “test” for it. It never occured to me that I was short-waisted for most of my life since I am 5′ 6″ and long legged. It was like a lightbulb moment when I figured it out. I “dress” for it now so I think my proportions look better.
June 29, 2009 at 8:03 am
Danja
(website)
I seem to be right in the middle too. Nice little test, although I never paid attention to short vs. long waisted before.
June 29, 2009 at 8:04 am
Tanya
Well, I can fit a bit more than two hand widths, which gos along with my previous opinion that I am long waisted.
June 29, 2009 at 8:04 am
Ele
(website)
This isn’t working for me. I can almost (maybe just) fit two hands, but I know for sure that I’m long-waisted. Not only have people been telling me this my whole life, but I always have to move beltloops on dresses, coats and long cardis down about an inch so that belts hit at my true waist. Maybe it’s not working because I’m petite overall? Or perhaps I just have abnormally wide hands.
June 29, 2009 at 8:05 am
rae
wowee, only one hand for me… no wonder most tops are way too long for me these days. seriously, it’s so hard to find a cami that won’t end up with 5 extra inches of fabric scrunched up about my hips.
June 29, 2009 at 8:06 am
greenglove
I am short-waisted according to this test! I suspected but was not sure. I always felt drawn to belts that were low-slung. I wonder if this means that I should not wear belts at my waist? Also, what if you have small or large hands?
June 29, 2009 at 8:08 am
Joy
What fun! By this test I’m slightly short-waisted, which is what I’ve always thought. When styles were tops tucked in, I didn’t like the look on myself unless I bloused the top over the waist a bit or wore a belt that matched the top.
Recently I’ve realized that I must be short in the area from bust to shoulders. Everything that fits otherwise would look better if I could just pull it up an inch or so at the top of the shoulders.
June 29, 2009 at 8:18 am
Laura
The test confirms that I am short-waisted. Glad I wasn’t just imagining it!
June 29, 2009 at 8:21 am
Freyjah
According to this, I am slightly short-waisted, yet I know I have a longer than average body (pear-shaped, short legs and arms). Is it possible to be short-waisted measuring from the top, but “high-waisted” from the bottom? I think my natural waist is slightly higher above my hips than most people.
June 29, 2009 at 8:25 am
KristenKP
I tried this last week and discovered to my amazement that I am long-waisted. I never knew for sure, but it sure does explain why so many wrap dresses are ill-fitting on me; their waist always starts much higher than mine!
I love all these kind of tests and tips; before, I wore clothes that would be camoflage my body’s flaws. Now I am looking for clothes that flatter my good parts. And I can’t know what my good parts are unless I understand the shape of my body!
June 29, 2009 at 8:35 am
Someone
No hands needed…I’ve always known I’m short-waisted. Since I’m also amply breasted, one look this hourglass can rarely handle is the belted thing. Sigh. And I gave up tucking things in a long time ago. No wonder it was never comfortable.
June 29, 2009 at 8:39 am
LauraElizabeth
I’m one finger short of three hands… but I’ve known I’m lo-o-ong waisted! Proportions rarely look right on tops I buy that are not tall-sized. Thanks for providing the tip, Imogene and Angie!
June 29, 2009 at 8:40 am
Mary Rachel
(website)
mine is average…and to think, i thought i was anything but average! ^__^
btw, what are average proportions? in drawing, an average human is 6.5-7 heads tall, a superhero is 10 and i think Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Minnie and some cartoons are generaly 3 heads tall….
how does the fashion world come up with their averages….?
June 29, 2009 at 8:42 am
Angie
(website)
Fashion Stylist
Aha. Quite a few pennies have dropped. Good stuff.
Ele and Greenglove, I’ve thought about how the size of your hands can make a difference. That’s why we’re road testing the trick! But there is a difference between being “long-waisted” and “short in the leg”. Perhaps Ele, you’re average in the waist but shorter in the leg? This might make you appear long in the waist. I’m not sure. I’m still happiest eyeballing it.
Okay, so let’s see: Laura is short-waisted, GG is slightly short-waisted, Tanya is long-waisted, Danja is average like me. Makes sense. That would have been my eyeball assessment too.
Phoebe, there’s nothing like a bit of irregular Monday morning activity to get the week rolling off to a good start
June 29, 2009 at 8:44 am
sinead
I measure just a little over 2 hands, but I seem to be more of an extreme long waist than that. Maybe the extra in my torso is from waist to bottom- or I just have wide hands.
June 29, 2009 at 8:46 am
Lisette
I am @ 3 hand widths and I’m only 5’1″! So I am long-waisted. I knew this before the test. Mostly because my legs are so short (26″ inseam!) My husband is only 5’6″ish but has long legs and a short torso, sitting down we are the same height. Our daughter has long legs and a long torso so every one thinks she is tall for her age when really she is one of the shortest in her class!
I sew a lot of my clothes because of being long-waisted, having a high bust, and high hips. I am not just short all over. In RTW, I would need to shorten from the shoulder to the bust point, add back the length below the bust point, and shorten the waist to hip area differently front and back.
High hips is another key fit point like long or short waist. My hips start @ 2″ below my waist. Most RTW and the pattern companies work with more like 7-9″ below the waist being the fullest part of you hips. If you are the envy of your friends because you have no “saddle bags” odds are you have high hips too. Odds are you carry your weight in your torso though.
June 29, 2009 at 8:51 am
Kari
No surprise that I am short-waisted. Using Imogen’s measurement I think I’m about 1 1/3-1 1/2 hand widths between underbust and natural waist.
Kristen and I have similar issues with wrap dresses even though she is long-waisted. The waist line on most wrap dresses comes too low on me and accentuates my wide, high hips instead of the narrow part of my waist. (I notice this with a lot of dresses, actually, but I’ve heard so many times that wrap dresses are “foolproof” for my body type, but never found that to be the case.)
June 29, 2009 at 8:57 am
rute
thank you Angie!
I needed this post!
One hand and a few fingers. I’m short waisted.
June 29, 2009 at 9:02 am
Maya
I always knew something about my proportions was off, but couldn’t place what it was. Even at my thinnest, I could never wear belts or tuck. At 95 pounds, my waist was 25 inches, which is small, but not as small as I think one would expect at that weight–especially in comparison to my 34″ hips at the time. Now my waist and hips have exactly a 10″ difference but it still doesn’t really look that way because my waist is such a small part of my actual overall torso.
I also noticed that even though I am 5’2, petite sizes are often too short for me. Depending on a few variables, I take a 30″ or 31″ inseam. My arms are not petite either. My arms and legs are relatively thin since they are so long, while my torso is where all my weight is. That’s another thing I learned from Imogen: you will gain your weight most where you are shortest. It certainly seems to be true. A short waisted pretty pear and a long waisted apple are hard to find.
Anyway, I’m not sure about how to use this calculator. Perhaps Imogen will pop in. Being busty means that measuring from the bust isn’t an exact science. The bottom of my bust can mean lots of things depending on if I’m wearing a bra or not, or if I’m measuring from the crease or the bottom of the breast. I think having a big bust and a short waist is really one of the things I struggle most with, and end up being frustrated with most frequently. It means my entire upper half is nothing but boobs. It amazed me to see how much extra torso length I got when I did this measurement from the crease, but of course visually this makes no difference. It’s incredibly frustrating because the boniest, narrowest part of my torso is being covered up by boobs, and no bra in the world is going to change that.
June 29, 2009 at 9:02 am
Sal
(website)
Exactly two hand-widths for me, too! Average all around, that’s me.
June 29, 2009 at 9:09 am
Teri
Oh I am so glad you wrote this entry! I have always wondered this very thing. Turns out I am very short waisted – one hand width is all I have! now the question becomes – how do we short-waisted gals dress? If you haven’t already done a post on this topic, hope to see one shortly (hint hint)
June 29, 2009 at 9:16 am
Lena
I can fit one and a half hands, so this means I’m short waisted, right? I thought I was short waisted. Angie, does this agree with your eyeball assessment? I have trouble fitting blazers partly because the waist is usually too low and my arms and shoulders are not petite at all.
Maya and Imogen, I do not gain weight where I’m the shortest. I’m a pretty pear and it mostly goes into my lower half.
June 29, 2009 at 9:19 am
olar
I think this method will work for some people, specially if the “bust effect” is important. If not it can be misleading. I can fit exactly 2 hands but I appear shortwaisted because my legs are very long. When I am seating I look much shorter. So much that I have surprised people that met me seated in a bar or at work, when they have seen me standing after. As Angie says, she looks to a person and she knows because she addresses the whole proportion. For a less trained eye, best is to measure.
June 29, 2009 at 9:20 am
Rose (aka rosemerin)
I am way less than 2 hands, closer to 1, which confirms my short-waisted assessment. I agree with others, I think being short-waisted does also explain why supposed fool-proof items don’t always work on me either (e.g. wrap dresses, I am an hourglass). And I also agree, being a short-waisted, amply breasted person is a serious wardrobe challenge. With this in mind, I took 3 items to the tailor this morning to be taken in for a better fit!!
June 29, 2009 at 9:33 am
Maya
Lena, I just looked at your body type picture over on the forum and you do indeed look short waisted. I guess it isn’t an exact science. Consider yourself a special pretty pear
I totally agree with Angie about just eyeballing it. It seems to be the surest method. There are definitely exceptions to these rules. I have come to learn that nothing about body types is scientific and everyone is unique. These methods are just general guidelines and a starting point but hardly the final word.
June 29, 2009 at 9:34 am
Erin
I’m long waisted (about 2-1/2+ hand widths). I’ve always known that I had a long torso though. I grew up with my mom constantly telling me to wear longer shirts, which was pretty near impossible in the 90s when the rage was shorter cropped tops. A regular shirt on me would leave at least an inch (if not more) gap between the bottom of the shirt and the top of my pants. I also have a hard time wearing most dresses because the distance from the shoulder to the bust is too long, but the distance from the bust to the hips is too short. The hips on the dress always hit me near my waist, making the dress look horrible.
I’ve been loving the trend of the longer tops though. I can actually find some that fit properly, even if they’re meant to be super long on everyone else!
June 29, 2009 at 9:36 am
Erinn
I guess I am one of those unique types like Maya just mentioned. I am both short-waisted AND short-legged. It’s perplexing to me because overall, I’m not that short (5′ 4″). It’s a struggle to find clothes that work for me, and most articles suggest that short-waisted women have long legs, etc. It can get very discouraging.
June 29, 2009 at 9:41 am
Shana
One hand and a finger for me which just confirms what I knew – I am short waisted! I never tuck (except when wearing a suit with a button down for an interview), never wear belts and struggle to find tops that are short enough for me (even in petite sizing). I have seriously considered taking some sewing classes because nearly ever single top (mostly petite sizing) that I own would probably benefit from having an inch or two taken off the hem.
June 29, 2009 at 9:49 am
Angie
(website)
Fashion Stylist
Good point, Olar. Your leg line can make you appear short or long-waisted when in fact you’re just average.
Wrap dresses are NOT flop proof. Mock wraps are usually better.
Maya, you are 100% short-waisted. I don’t think you should take where you place your hands *too* seriously. Go to the middle of your torso, place your first hand right under the middle of the bust. That’s it. This is the same hand position for everyone regardless of the size of their bust. Imogen has a larger bust line and the picture in which she is demonstrating the trick is helpful.
LE, you are long-waisted for sure, and Lena, you are very leggy and short in the waist. Spot on.
Shana, you are also in line with my eyeballing assessment.
June 29, 2009 at 9:55 am
Devin
I can fit two hand widths and a finger or two, so I guess I am average. Does that seem right? I had no idea whether I was short or long waisted and was going to ask, so this post was right on time. Thanks Angie!
June 29, 2009 at 10:18 am
Kathy
(website)
I think I’m short-waisted, but long torso-ed. Based on this little trick, I can fit about 1 hand and two fingers between underbust and waist. But then my legs are short too–my husband is much taller than me…except when we sit down. Is there some defined term for someone with a super-long waist to bum measurement (I think in sewing its called crotch depth….)
June 29, 2009 at 10:25 am
san
I have always thought I was very long waisted because I cannot wear a one piece swimsuit and the waist line on RTW is always too high. This test shows me to be short waisted, so I must be long from the waist to the bottom of the torso. Another factor is that I am long from the bust to the shoulder so my starting point for this test is low. My bra straps must always be extended all of the way out.
Would a more accutate term for me be high waisted rather than short waisted. My torso is not short.
June 29, 2009 at 10:41 am
Patience
It’s kind of hard to tell with a baby in the way, but my two hands end about a finger below my belly button which I think makes me a bit short waisted. I’ve never really thought about it before. So I don’t know if I’ve just been compensating for it without naming it for what it is or I’m close enough to average (with my shorter height) for it not to really matter. (I’m wearing a wide waist belt right under my bust today. Hee hee hee.)
June 29, 2009 at 10:47 am
Amy
(website)
I always thought I was short-waisted, but according to this test, I’m average. I never tuck in my shirts, since it makes my upper torso look strangely short compared to the rest of my body. I think I may have the same issue as Olar.
June 29, 2009 at 10:50 am
Vani
If I’m doing this right, I can fit 1 hand and 3 fingers. Slightly or definitely short-waisted? I guess this in line with my fairly new experience with belts. Days when my tummy is feeling normal, I have no problems wearing a belt all day long. But on days like today when TOM is here and I am feeling bloated, a belt is darn uncomfortable. I just chucked mine for the day. Also, mos times the waist line on wrap dresses is usually in place with petite sizing.
June 29, 2009 at 10:57 am
Melody
I am an average waisted girl with 2 hands worth of space, which is where I thought I was. I did stand up to measure properly. My office’s outside wall to the general area is glass from top to bottom and I did laugh a little thinking people would wonder what I was doing, or maybe think I was having a stomach ache!
June 29, 2009 at 11:05 am
Maya
Oh I see now. I wasn’t placing it from the center but from the side where my bust is um, “lowest.” Well, I had no doubts that I was short waisted so either way I guess I’m not learning anything new about myself. I don’t know how I managed to miss Imogen’s post AND miss your link to it.
June 29, 2009 at 11:10 am
Gina
2 and 1/2 hands. And I already know I’m long-waisted. I confirmed this a few years ago, when I was measuring myself to order some dance leotards and swimsuits on line.
My mom is a few inches shorter than me and also long-waisted. She would always shop in the petite section for bottoms, but she could never wear petite jackets b/c they would be too short on her.
June 29, 2009 at 11:44 am
jwomack
Thanks for this testing trick. I always thought I was rather short waisted because I feel like tucked in shirts cut me off in a strange way. I guess it is in my head because I am two hands perfectly. Guess I am actually average.
June 29, 2009 at 12:02 pm
cindy594
Only one hand! Which confirms what I already knew, that I’m very short waisted. As Maya said, this combined with a larger bust makes finding flattering tops a real challenge. And is why petite bottoms are usually too short, even though I’m only 5’2″.
June 29, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Cyn
How does this factor in with having a long or short torso? Is it the same thing? I always thought I was short waist-ed and have joked that I have “just chin, boobs, belly button, and bottom, with nothing in between”. However I can fit both hands and a couple fingers?
June 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Oneirix
(website)
I always thought I was short-waisted, but I can fit exactly two hands under my bust to the narrowest part of my waist. Maybe it’s just my large ribcage that throws the proportion off?
June 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm
yublocka
(website)
Another short-waister. No surprise to me!! I only have a 2 inch difference between circumference of bust, waist and height. No curves here!!
June 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm
bella.cville
I turned out to be short-waisted… interesting.. I think it explains why I like to tuck my button-down shirts into low rise pants and wear a belt at the loops. It gives me a longer torso. But I thought I looked good when I wore my belts at my natural waist as well. hmmm… food for thought….
June 29, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Rachel
As I have always know, I’m definitely short-waisted (1 1/2 hands).
There’s another easy test to tell if you’re short-waisted – if the shoulders on fitted dresses sit inches above your real shoulders! Heh.
June 29, 2009 at 1:22 pm
kath
Ooh what an interesting test. I am one hand. Empire line is my friend…..
June 29, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Taylor
(website)
Short waisted. That was simple…wished I had known this little trick years ago.:)
June 29, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Ana
According to the test, I guess I have an “average” length waist. I’ve never had a problem finding tops that are the right length, so that makes sense (maybe that’s why I like buying tops so much). I guess I am just “short in the leg,” which always seemed to make my waist look really long in comparison. My legs aren’t petite, just short, which is why I have to buy “regular” sized pants and just hem them 3-5 inches.
Thanks Angie and Imogen, interesting post!
June 29, 2009 at 2:03 pm
lori
according to this, i am average…BUT i have a very hard time fitting into a one piece bathing suit ( which is what i wear) because i find that they are never long enough in the torso…so i think that i am long waisted – or at least i am in the swim department.
June 29, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Amy
I’d say this is a valid test! I figured out in my 20’s that I was short-waisted when I could never find a dress that fit me right. One hand and two fingers with this test.
And now passer-by co-workers are asking if I’m feeling alright. Fine, fine, just gripping my tummy in the interest of fashion-science.
June 29, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sher
(website)
Ahh yes! Another affirmation telling me I’m perfect LOL! (just kidding)
June 29, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Imogen
(website)
Thanks for the link Angie!
Hand size – our proportions relate to our own hands – so no point in a 6′ person with large hands measuring a petite person – your hands, your body.
I do the measurement with a good bra on. Hands go just under the bust where the underwire sits.
A large bust can make you more short waisted just because of it’s size – by the time fabric goes out and in space is gone.
You can still have a long torso but short waist – you may have a long rise (that’s the crotch to waist measurement), but the waist is high.
Petite sizes are actually made to fit a 5’4″ so many petites still have to have garments taken up.
June 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Kyle
(website)
Hmm. I always thought I was short waisted, but this would indicate I’m pretty average. Oh boy, there goes my excuse for not having a waist!
June 29, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Ruchi
I can fit one hand and 1 finger as per this test.I have been a regular reader of this website from the past 1 yr,but only 4 months ago that it clicked me that I am shortwaisted.And the test has confirmed the same.I always knew that something was amiss when I tried to fit into my elder sister’s clothes.Now I know that I am shortwaisted and she is longwaisted.Thanks Angie for showing this simple test to find out whether someone is shortwaisted or not.
June 29, 2009 at 6:18 pm
shiny
One hand three fingers here.
June 29, 2009 at 6:55 pm
carissa
(website)
Lets also talk about crotch/rise proportions. Because yes, one can be short waisted and short legged, because their crotch may be L-O-N-G.
I am short waisted, but have a relatively long crotch, thus pants used to really be an issue, finding the right length of rise (I’m thankful for somewhat long legs too). I guess it makes for a long arse. I never knew that about my backside until I had a daughter who had the same proportion!!
June 29, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Karen
Apparently I am average too!!! What are the implications of your waist length for selecting clothes? Which styles and cuts fit best? This would be an interesting topic for the future.
June 29, 2009 at 10:11 pm
anne
I saw this over at Imogen’s blog also and was intrigued. No surprises in my result – 2 and 1/2 hands fit into that area confirming as I already knew that I was long waisted. Have had years of the waist on tops being too high.
June 30, 2009 at 1:46 am
Shari
Oh, I know I’m short waisted, as is my mom and as was my grandmother. But the test is nifty. 1 1/3 or so hands.
My biggest frustration is everything is so low cut on me. If my shoulders were a few inches higher everything would hit me in the right place. However, since the area between waist and shoulders is short, everything slinks down and the neckline ends up lower than it should be. Pair that with a big chest and I struggle every day at work to hide my cleavage. Oy!
June 30, 2009 at 10:02 am
Heather
Please help! I am one of the people Imogen mentioned in her comment. I am very short waisted…I could only fit a hand and a few fingers, but I am very long in the stride which still makes me long in the waist. Since I am a rectangle shape and do not have much of a waist, which rules do I follow? Thanks in advance for any help!!
June 30, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Joelle
2 hands! No wonder I couldn’t decide whether I was short or long waisted–I am average.
June 30, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Karin
I never really understood the whole concept of short/long waist/rise etc (however, just recently started reading here and haven’t really been thinking about such issues before!), but now I’m getting closer to understanding! Thank you Angie and Imogen!
According to this test I’m short waisted – 1 hand and 1-2 fingers. However, I must have a long rise, since I’ve always seen myself as having a long torso – normal length tops are usually too short for me. At the same time I think I have quite short legs (or what is 30 inches inseam in relation to my total of 5′ 6″?) Angie, how does this correspond with your eyeballing?
July 1, 2009 at 9:50 am
Liz
For those of us who are short-waisted where are some good places to buy pants? I know BR was mentioned but where else? I am short waisted and long-legged so it’s always a problem.
July 1, 2009 at 10:52 am
Karin
Sorry, maybe it’s a good idea to link some photos when asking for advice! My nick here is KarinSwe, here are some body photos: http://s646.photobucket.com/albums/uu190/KarinSwe/. Would really appreciate any comments!
July 1, 2009 at 11:09 am
Wendy from New york
LOL, read the post at work and have to run to ladies room to measure right away!!! i m about two hand but still not sure…
’cause my large bust sit low and i have long crotch/rise (i think..) at 5’7”, long torso swimwear seem too long and regular seem a bit short. belt loop usually sit above my waist and its hard to find cami that’s long enough to tuck in.
Should I consider myself average or Long waist?
July 1, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Jessica
I can fit 2 1/2 hand widths but this is because I am tall rather than because I am long-waisted. My proportions are actually average according to the calculations I’ve seen in sewing books and the like.
July 2, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Fab50Plus
(website)
Sigh…one hand for me. But I’d been accessed has being short waisted by the instructor of a sewing class I took a couple of years ago, so this method just confirmed it. Love this method…quick and easy!
July 12, 2009 at 6:14 am
Freya
Hi Angie,
I have a slight problem.
I can never wear bikini bottems because i have some weird proportions around my hip area. My waste starts and curves out into my hip – normaly – but then my hips curve back in and then out again onto my thighs. This makes a dip between my thighs and my hips. The dip is about 3 cm long. All my pants dont reach to cover my hips and my hips are quite wide so they sit over the top of my pants and it looks awful. the distance between the gusset and my hips is to long. 6
I tried out your waist test and i can only fit one hand in. I dont know if it has anything to do with this though.
Please help!
December 10, 2009 at 2:49 am
Freya
oh hi again,
Just forgot to tell you i am quite tall too.
December 10, 2009 at 2:51 am
slythwolf
(website)
I can fit one hand width and that scant, and I have very small hands.
I just discovered this past year that I was short-waisted. It’s been interesting; my whole life my mother has been saying I was long-waisted, but that’s only because she is, and it turns out we are not body type clones after all. Possibly this is why I at 5’8″ wear the same inseam as my 6′ tall friend…
January 19, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Keira
i can fit 1 hand, my thumb and 2 fingers, i have a long body though, i took mesurements and from underneath my bustline to my waist and it’s 5 1/3″ and from my waist to the hips is 8 1/2″
January 24, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Quul
4 hands! I figured I had a long waist anyways and I’ve been told so before.
March 7, 2010 at 4:46 am
Alexa
Only 1 hand a 1 finger! I have a tiny torso.
Im 5’6, My legs are really long, my torso is tiny. Hate my proportions.
Btw, im only 15…Is there a possibilitty that my torso will grow a little longer?
Thank you!
January 3, 2011 at 11:31 am
Helplessly Short-Waisted
I am sadly so short waisted that adult clothes (even in petite sizes) do not fit me without alteration. Shopping for clothing was so hard, until I discovered my real problem of being unusually short-waisted. I always blamed my weight before. I thought my problem must be that I was too pear-shaped to look nice in anything as the waists of dresses and blouses would always fall around my hips, making me think that everything was always too tight in the hips for me! I hated my body and thought I would never look pretty in clothes, sad, but true.
One day, a friend convinced me my real problem was that I was petite, so things were not fitting me as they should. She told me to try the children’s department. At first I was a little aprehensive. But, I tried it and discovered that the clothes fit. The bust, waist, and hips all fit me exactly where they should. Nothing was too tight or pulled in odd places. It was a mighty big change from thinking my hips and tummy were too big to fit or look nice in an adult size 12/14!
Now, I buy most of my clothes in the kid’s department or I buy an adult size small and have it altered. Fortunately, children are wearing much more grown-up looking styles today. Nobody can tell and often I get compliments on my clothes.
May 5, 2011 at 6:12 am
suzanne
Active Member
How now, brown cow! Who would have thought – I’m average waisted. I’ve always laboured under the misconception that I’m short waisted. Still feel short-waisted, though!
May 22, 2011 at 3:59 am
June
My slacks and shorts, when buttoned at the waist always leave the crotch hanging down about two or three inches. I have to try to roll the waist over a few times to make anything fit me well.
Is there a clothing line that I can order from that will fit me or will I have to have custom made slacks.
July 17, 2011 at 11:08 am
Lotus
I’m apparently very short-waisted–barely more than a hand O_O.
But maybe because I’m petite?
August 14, 2011 at 4:44 am
Tara
3 1/2 hands… im an alien!!! no joke haha I’m 5’6…about 106 pounds someone please tell me I’m normal!
December 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Tara
oh and here is a picture in case I’m dead wrong http://www.facebook.com/media/.....38;theater I have also been told I have long legs too but idk how to tell
December 30, 2011 at 1:28 pm
naz
The best way to see your leg to torso proportion in my opinion is standing straight with your arms down in front of a mirror. Draw an imaginary horizontal line across where your crotch ends and see where the line hits your arms/hands. If the line hits your wrist then you have long legs, if the line hits your your thumb, you have short legs. You can do this with pics of celebs in bikinis as well. It works for me anyway!
January 16, 2012 at 5:11 am
Butterfly
(website)
According to this rule of thumb I’m normal verging on long waisted. But if I’m most certainly short waisted, since the distance between my arm pits and my waist is a lot shorter than the distance between my waist and my hips. I think the problem is that I have an extremely high bust. The running joke is that I could use my bust as a table if I where to find a bra that really fits *grumbles about immature people*.
Now that I come to think of it: That would explain why I can still get away with wide-ish belts around my ribcage At least when I’m not standing next to someone taller than me …
April 4, 2012 at 6:06 am
Joanne Maillet
OMG…this makes so much sense! I am long waisted, but short in the rise. It is SO HARD finding clothes that fit!! I measure 37-26-36. Low rise jeans are never really “low”, and my legs are 32 inches inseam. I have a long torso however, and dresses and tops with fitted waists or belt loops sit WAYYYY to high on my torso. Still wondering what the best style for me is.
May 14, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Makenzie
Uh I think I’m a little on the long side… I can do 3 and a half hands o.o
October 14, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Jonesy
I too am short waisted. At 5.2ins with 30 inside leg, big bust I find it so hard to dress for my shape. The only time my shortwaistedness didn’t bother me and most clothes suited me was when I was a UK size 4/6, my hiposwere miniscule and now I am size 14 its so tricky!
February 16, 2013 at 4:06 am
Carina Cristina
I can fit one and a half hand. I’m a tall girl at 5’10 with a veeeeery long torso. My legs aren’t actually very long. I only wear jeans with a 34” inseam I guess I must have a very long crotch. I’m a freak lol.
September 24, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Kayla
I’ve always thought I had a long waist but I guess I’m average.. just have a long torso ha..
Although maybe being really busty could make it normal? or does that make any difference? 28″ inseam, 5’5″, 34H
I just always assumed longed torso meant long waist.. hmm.. but i guess if i think about it, shirts always fit well.. just sometimes wish were a bit longer in general but the fit was nice.
October 17, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Nula
Great discussion! The human body is very complex and each of us is unique. In my fashion design career I started fitting ballet costumes. Imagine in a very narrow demograph – teenage girls, two years difference, all very slim/fit and not busty. I never ever measured two the same, or even close, in years of measuring. Now add a few years, a few pounds, different cup sizes, different body shapes and you start to get the idea of how difficult it is to fit the “average” woman. I use industry specs as a starting place and the average height they use is 5’5″. The average North American woman is apparently 5’4″. Using specs you would be off before you even start! Then you can have short women with long waists, tall women with short waists and any combination in between. That doesn’t even touch crotch depth and inseam length. No wonder it is so hard to find clothes that fit properly!
Case in point: Me: average weight/height, short waist, less than average crotch depth, long inseam. I span no less than 5 sizes according to specs from size 2 to size 10. Good luck with that!
And every woman’s story will be like mine. That’s why it’s hit and miss with clothing. I rarely buy anything RTW – nothing ever fits the top or the bottom. Short waisted does not mean short crotch depth and short legs. People with longer legs are not necessarily taller and so on….
It’s enough to make your brain hurt!
At least with your easy guide a woman can get an idea where to start.
As a designer, I’d like to put the question out there: Do you ladies measure yourselves to find out what would fit you best and compare it to size charts or do you think it’s too much work or is too difficult?
October 23, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Aislinn
well I can only just fit a hand according to the test so I guess I’m pretty short waisted but I kind of knew that . It is really frustrating for me because I’m 5’8 so I’m tallish and my legs are the only things that make my height . I always shock people with how tall I am when I get up from bar stools cause I look like a child with my elbows just touching the table. I’ve found A–line dresses that flow out fit nicely and make people look at my legs rather my odd figure .
October 31, 2013 at 10:55 am
lastcrazyhorn
(website)
4 hand widths. I’ve always told people I have a long torso. When sitting next to someone, I’m way taller than them, but even the shortest person’s knees will come out farther than mine.
January 22, 2014 at 5:47 am
kiffli
Active Member
According to this test I’m average or slightly short-waisted (just about two hands), but based on what I read elsewhere (compare length from shoulder to waist then waist to crotch) I am definitely long-waisted. Which one is true?
March 15, 2014 at 1:46 am
sherloki
I think I could probably fit a 3rd hand in that space o.O I have a really long torso. At 5’7, I’m taller than my 6′ brothers when we sit down, but only have a 29/30″ inseam. Someone mentioned bust size; I wear a 32HH. I tend to buy extra long or tunic style tops.
April 23, 2014 at 11:25 pm
Ella
ugh.. apparently i have either the world’s tiniest torso or the world’s largest hands (My fingers ARE long compared to my palm). From the bottom of my bust to my hip bones is just UNDER two lengths of my right hand. AND my damn waist is straight too. My hips are narrow and my waist is wide. I’m not short legged but i’m not long legged either. And yet I’m 5’3. I can’t figure out where my height is coming from since NO part of my torso or leg is overly long.
I’m just really miniature
December 15, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Ella
… and yes. In case you’re wondering, all my clothing is tailored. I spend a lot of money on clothing because everything i want to wear is huge.
Stores that assume all women are giants with perfect proportions should be forced to offer tailoring for, you know, NINETY NINE PERCENT of the population.
December 15, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Rachel
I have exactly one hand’s width. Ha- not that I needed a test to tell me I’m short-waisted. 5’8″ with a 35″ inseam? Yep. I have no body.
January 28, 2015 at 2:58 am
Sarah
I can fit 1.5, I’m 5’5″ and I have not much of a waist and narrow hips. I wear a size 10 trousers (32″ leg) or skirts, but I have a 32H bust which I think exacerbates the problem. EVERYTHING I wear makes me look bigger than I am, and I don’t wear high necklines – I stick to v/scoop necks (not blouses because the buttons always gape) and wrap style dresses. I literally HATE clothes shopping
April 9, 2015 at 11:26 am
Carey
Long waisted here, which I’ve always known. Almost 3 hands! I often have to get rid of shirts after the first wash because they shrink and get too short.
August 31, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Carol
Short-waisted here, actually almost no torso at all – just a tad more than one hand. I knew that already. I’m only 5’4″, but I often wear tall / long pants & jeans. I’m boobs on hips on legs. No shoulders, either. Quite frankly, I can’t find tops that look good at all. I usually stick with an empire waist dress or a dress belted under the bust.
October 4, 2015 at 8:45 am
W.L.Kinnie
I always knew that I was short waisted, but I really LOVE the way that Imogen of Inside Out Style came up with a method to figure it out. I am one hand and a couple of fingers difference. Thank you for the humor of me running to a mirror to check it out.
I have a short neck, average arm length and my inseam is about 28 inches. Due to archery (traditional, no “training wheels” for me), I have a broad back as those muscles are something that many do not utilize or have. It is extremely hard to find pants that fit me properly. I have found that the Junior bottoms fit way better than misses! I mean, to put it bluntly, I do not need to tuck “the girls” into my pants! Well, maybe I exaggerate a wee bit, but I have had some pants that are only a couple of inches below them!
Tops are even more of a problem!
Again, thanks for the chuckle!
August 4, 2018 at 12:06 am
Di
Does a hand width include thumbs or not?
May 28, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Confused
Can someone help? I am so confused.
Been told my whole life long waisted, have trouble finding shirts that fit without exposing skin at the middle.
But unless I am doing this test wrong (I am getting barely 1 hand span between under the breast and my waist), I am not only short waisted, I am extremely short waisted.
Would the shirt fit thing be due to anything else? I am a bit bigger in the breast than a lot of other women I know, but I tend to buy XL shirts to give room in the chest and even a lot of them fit short. A prime example is every button down shirt I own, and they all break short, barely touching the smallest part of my torso.
Could it be that I am extemely short waisted, but extremely long in the rise? I have yet to find a pair of pants out there that will reach my waist, so I tend to buy pairs that are generous in the waist, and therefore slip down to allow for movement in the rise. I know that means I am frequently trying to cover the gap between shirt end and pant beginning.
July 27, 2019 at 3:29 pm
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