Women’s Figure Flattery Guide: Short Waisted

May 17th, 2005

Visually lower your waistline and re-direct attention towards your face or legs.

Look for…
  • Monochromatic and tonal outfits.
  • Vertical lines above the waist.
  • Narrow belts at the hipline.
  • Narrow belts that match the color of your top.
  • Jackets & Coats
    • Long jackets: hipbone, below the hips, three-quarters, and seven-eighths styles.
    • Single breasted styles.
    • High armholes.
    • Narrow lapels tapering to the waist.
    • Some shoulder padding.
    • One or two button closures.
    • Deep V necklines.
    • Jean jackets that hit at the top of the hips.
    • Biker jackets.
  • Tops
    • Long tops that end below your natural waistline.
    • Vertical detailing.
    • Deep V necklines.
    • High armholes.
    • Princess seams.
    • Tabbed collars.
  • Pants & Jeans
    • Wear pants slightly long and with a heel for added leg length.
    • Low-waisted bottoms.
    • Flat front styles.
    • Jeans with a longer rise.
  • Skirts & Dresses
    • Straight shapes with a dropped waistline.
    • Styles without waistbands.
    • Fluid fabrics.
    • Empire waist styles.
    • Straight sheaths.
    • Coat dresses.
    • Deep V-necklines.
    • Verticals on the torso.
  • Suits
    • Long jackets, which should reach below the waist or longer.
    • Fluid fabrics.
    • Narrow pants.
    • Short skirts.
  • Swimsuits
    • Two piece suits with bottoms that hit below your natural waistline.
    • Strong verticals on the torso.
    • High necklines.
    • Darker side panels.
Run from…
  • Belts at the waistline or above.
  • Wide waistbands or belts.
  • Any horizontal lines at the waist.
  • Jackets & Coats
    • Double breasted styles.
    • Flap or patch pockets.
    • Wide collars.
    • High round necklines.
    • Belted styles.
    • Bomber jackets.
  • Tops
    • Overembellished styles.
    • Anything cinched at the waist.
    • High-waisted styles.
    • Cropped styles.
    • Waistbands, especially those that sit at your natural waist.
    • Off-the-shoulder styles.
  • Pants & Jeans
    • High-waisted bottoms.
    • Cropped pants.
  • Skirts & Dresses
    • Dresses with waistline details.
    • Wide waistbands.
    • High-waisted styles.
    • Contrast color belts.
    • Horizontal lines at natural waistline or above.
    • Stiff fabrics.
  • Suits
    • Cropped jacket tops.
  • Swimsuits
    • High waisted bikini bottoms.
    • Horizontal detailing on the torso.

Entry Filed under: Features, Figure Flattery Guide, Figure Flattery Guide, Women

12 Comments Add your own

  • 1. carmen chinea  |  March 7th, 2007 at 7:43 am

    can you show examples of clothes to buy and where when you describe how to flatter your figure and problem areas. for example, i am short waisted, wide hips, tall and a size 14-i would like to just buy the clothes online that best fit my figure. show me all the dresses, skirts, tops you recommend for my figure and i’ll buy them.

  • 2. Trisha  |  March 7th, 2007 at 10:38 pm

    Hi Carmen,

    Thanks for asking. I’ll work on this and send you a set of recommended garments for your body type. What kinds of styles do you like? Are there any celebrities whose style you admire? Any info you could give me about your personal style would be most helpful :)

    Cheers,
    Trisha

  • 3. Jennifer  |  May 25th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    Hi. This was a great article. Do you know if any clothing companies are known for cuts that fit short-waisted, thin women?
    Thank you.
    Jennifer

  • 4. Trisha  |  May 28th, 2007 at 4:09 am

    Hi Jennifer,

    Many companies produce clothing that’s perfect for short-waisted, thin women. I’ve found that clothes from Express, H&M, and Gap, in particular, are good for those with a short torso.

    Hope that helps, Jennifer!

    Trisha

  • 5. Gay Pearson  |  June 2nd, 2007 at 10:08 pm

    I have a problem getting clothes that fit. I am a chubby short waisted woman. most blouses or shirts are way too long waisted for me which causes them to gap at the front. Can you help me?
    Thanks-

  • 6. Trisha  |  June 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 pm

    If your shirts are gapping at the front, buy shirts from retailers whose fit features a wider waistline (this advice also holds true for those with no waist, like myself). I’ve had good results at Banana Republic and Gap for shirts. If you fall in love with a particular shirt, though, you can buy a larger sized shirt and have it tailored down to your shape.

  • 7. khadijah  |  August 23rd, 2007 at 7:04 am

    I wear shirts that fit at the waist and alot of belts at the waist to give an illusion of a hip. I have a no waist figure, no visible hips, tall about 5 feet 9 and look like a walking beam. I would appreciate pictuures of outfits that will give me a feminine look ie for casuals, corporate wears, sports, etc. I wear alot of tops that extend loosely over my no existent hips,it does wonders.

  • 8. Trisha  |  August 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pm

    Hi Khadijah,

    You’re doing a great job of creating the illusion of a waist and hips by wearing fitted shirts and belts. You might also try tops that end at mid-hip, as that creates a horizontal line that makes your hips look fuller. Here’s some more tips about how to flatter a boyish figure.

    Hope that helps–

    Trisha

  • 9. Lisa  |  November 23rd, 2007 at 1:10 pm

    Hi Trisha,

    I am 5′ 1′, short-waisted, 36D. Any advice on the type of clothes best suited to my figure. Any suggestions as to the designers I may try. I am a young 42 year old.

    Thanks for your help.

  • 10. Omiru.com: Style for All&hellip  |  January 9th, 2008 at 3:38 am

    […] January 9th, 2008 The oversized collar frames your pretty face, while the dropped waistline flatters the shortwaisted (those with long legs). $98  at Nordstrom. […]

  • 11. Lauren  |  February 6th, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    I’m 21, 5′3″, and a 32B. I’m 110 pounds, but I have a short waist and sadly, big hips (I’m a 27). I know that low rise jeans are good for me, but are there any other ways that I can offset this awful luck of mine? :\

  • 12. valorie h  |  February 9th, 2008 at 5:57 am

    help! I am currently a size 10- with a short torso and long legs and CANNOT find work pants that fit. I have been able to find jeans and cords at Old Navy, NY& Co and Ann Taylor Loft. However I have been looking for months and have even ordered custom tailored pants from lands end to no avail. Everything has too high a rise so it is painful and my crotch is halfway to my bellybutton. This is even the case on supposedly low waist pants at Ann Taylor. I am at my wits end as I am trying to build up my professional wardrobe for interviewing. I have decided to give up on finding a suit with pants that fit and am trying to find skirts instead. I did not have this problem before and think it is bc post baby my body has changed and things have shifted. Can you please advise as to what I should do? I would even order custom pants if I could find ones that dont actually hurt! I am beginning to think I will never find pants that fit- last tally on what I have tried on is over 100.

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