What Are the Best Outfits for Short-Waisted Women

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Art and culture have developed various ideals of how a woman’s body should look like. Of course, this image changed over time. The good news is that when your body fails to meet the ideal, styling permits pretending to have it. This post covers what are the best outfits for short-waisted women to give the illusion of a balanced body. Read what to wear when you are short-waisted.

Contents

How to Know You Are Short-Waisted
Styling Goal for Short-Waisted Women
What to Wear when You Are Short-Waisted
What Not to Wear when You Are Short-Waisted

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

How to Know You Are Short-Waisted

You are short-waisted when you look relative petite when you sit and relative tall when you stand. Or in a more scientific way, determine the distance between your waist and the bottom of your bum as well as between your armpit and waist. The latter measurement has a lower value than the former for short-waisted women. The opposite is true for long-waisted women. Alternatively, you can use this free online body shape finder to identify both, your horizontal and vertical body type (opens in a new tab for your convenience).

Styling Goal for Short-Waisted Women

When you are short-waisted your lower body looks leggy. To balance your body, you want to elongate your torso.

What to Wear when You Are Short-Waisted

Here a list of what are the best outfits for short-waisted women:

Go for tops that fall below the waistline with hems on your low hip.
Pick your belt in a color similar to your top. To best accessorize with belts choose a dark belt when your top is darker than your bottom. Wear a light belt if the opposite is true.
Wear your belt below the waistband of your pants and skirts.
Go for thin belts less than 3/4 inch (1.91 cm) in width.
Lower the loops on your pants, skirts, dresses, jackets and coats to create the illusion of a slightly longer torso than it actually is.
Wear deep V-neck sweaters.
Unbutton the first two buttons of your shirts
Balance you body with long or pendant necklaces and oblong scarves to look your best because these accessories lead the eye up away from your waist.
Look for tops with vertical stripes (e.g., post banner), vertical lines and seams to keep the eyes moving and give the illusion of length. Try Princess seams.
Keep your shirt untucked.
Wear printed tops. The break between the top and bottom provides the illusion of a longer waist than it actually is.
Make tunics your best friend.
If you’re wearing activewear, opt for breathable workout gear that drapes well and sits lower on your waist. This helps create a lengthened silhouette while keeping you comfortable during workouts.
To look stunning in over-the-knee boots go for a flat pair in a color different from your pants/jeans. The horizontal line on your legs shortens the legs visually.
Go for a low rise in your jeans and pants, but make the sitting test to not expose the Y!
Style a sheath dress or shift in knee-length.

What Not to Wear when You Are Short-Waisted

Here is a list of unflattering clothes on short-waisted women.

Wide belts
Dresses with waistbands
Prints on the bottom
High-waisted pants, jeans or skirts
Super high heels and/or plateau footwear
Cropped jackets or tops

The belt in the photo below illustrates that a wide belt makes the torso look smaller in comparison. That’s not what a short-waisted woman wants.

While the vertical lines and V-neck of the outfit would look great on a short-waisted women, she should choose a belt of 3/4 inch (1.91 cm) or less with this shirt dress. A short-waisted woman also should wear her belt lower than her natural waist, best on her hips.

what not to wear when you are short waisted — I am long-waisted. Therefore, I always strive to elongate my legs (wide belt, high heels). Outfit details: Great Northwest suede utility jacket, shirt dress, GNW tight and Nine West camouflage pony-hair ankle booties.

Don’t let your outfit be a random thing. Wear the right look in every situation by looking up what to wear when in How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy the book now.