Long body fashion woes

[cherrypiepie]

Does anyone else have a long torso and short legs I.e disproportionately long body?

I'm 5'6 and regular dungarees /body's/ swimwear one pieces never fits. I'm also size 16/18 so never sure if it's just that I'm too plump In The middle.

Is the solution to buy from the tall range? What styles suit the plump,
long of torso, short legged folks?

I bought a lovely linen romper today but it isn't loose like it should be.

@cherrypiepie

Ahh thanks everyone I feel better now - retuning swimsuit 74- abs I really liked that romper I got today.

Most of the swimsuits I tried made me look like 'big daddy' from 80s wrestling as they came in under the bust. Definitely not for the public swimming pool. 

I actually bought a lovely (my first) maxi skirt today and it sits on my waist an creates the illusion of long legs and a normal proportion!

I'm going to check out the swimsuit.

I really feel for you @clary with the tables - so annoying.

@BikeRunSki I have solid calf and and canklea, with weirdly shaped size six feet so no loafer or fixed strapped sandal will fit-

OMG yes.

I am 'only' 5ft9" but all my height is in my body. I am also 20 weeks pregnant and today saw a photo of me in a swimsuit from over the weekend and Big Daddy (crossed with Humpty Dumpty) is EXACTLY what I look like!

Yes! It’s so annoying. I’m 5’7.5’’ but average length legs. Particularly bothered by jumpers/cardigans/hoodies being a good inch too short- makes me look badly dressed and gives me a cold middle. Tall ranges always have very limited and crap colour choices

@Halfhardy

I have found my people! My body is disproportionately long to the waist, short rise large bust, slim hips and thighs, chunky calves. Dresses are impossible, waisted styles are empire line, shift styles look terrible. I tend to wear tunic length tops with low rise jeans that sit on my waist so always need a belt. Nothing ever fits as it should. As a regular swimmer I echo the love for Lands End swimsuits.

And cropped cardigans look like wooly bras!

I have started wearing bikinis again

My body is not massively disproportionately long but at over 6ft, standard swimsuits are just too short

I get comments from other women about being confident enough to wear a swimsuit (“at my age!” And with my shape ) but the nice thing is that I don’t really care

Bikinis more comfy imo

This is me! Add in very small waist and ample bum and I’ve fallen into only wearing shift dresses or trouser suits.

Tee shirts don’t meet the waist of jeans (when I can find jeans that fit). Cropped trousers seem to accentuate short legs. I do find Boden shorts quite comfortable.

Following this thread for tips.

Me too. It's shit. Never met a pair of trousers than don't give me a camel toe as the rise is never long enough.

I’m the same. It helps visually to wear two light tops, with the underneath one being longer and visible at the waist/hips. It sort of cuts your torso length somewhat. I always forget though.
I was grateful for my long body when pregnant with enormous DS!

I’ve found that Boden bottoms in a
Long leg have a higher rise than the standard leg or shorts equivalent. I buy long leg Richmond trousers and take them up, but the Richmond shorts in the same size don’t (well didn’t, they are not made anymore) fit.

If you're on Instagram try following Trinny Woodall, she's 5'10 and slim but often talks about her short legs/long torso and how to dress it and talks you through her outfit most days and does lots of shop try ons so might give you some pointers. I think she has a lot of Zara jeans

I’ve got a long body, dresses are a nightmare. Waistline under boobs.

I’m 5 8, long tops do my head in as the sleeves flop everywhere. But dungarees are fine. They have adjustable straps....

I was grateful for my long body when pregnant with enormous DS!

Actually, @Phyllis321 , I don't have a single stretchmark despite carrying and delivering an enormous baby so maybe there are benefits after all!

@TheBullfinch long body here, all belted dresses/tops end up with the belt just under my boobs. At least 4 inches above where it should be.
The 90s bodysuit fashion craze.....worst year of my life, felt like my foof was being sawn in two!

@BikeRunSki
Thanks I’ll look into it.
I’ve also heard Michael Phelps swim suits recommended by a woman over 6’, if you can get one in the sale

I ride motorbikes, try finding bike kit to fit a long body short legs. And biking boots. It’s a nightmare!! The jackets are soooo short so try zipping them into the trousers and then trying to sit on a sports bike! The boots are standard size so where they come up to lower calf on most people, it’s the widest part of the calf for me so don’t zip together. Don’t even get me started on the one piece leathers!

This is me. Swimsuits are difficult, tankinis should be the answer but usually aren't long enough so present an unappealing wedge of pasty flab to the world. I feel too self-conscious for bikinis. I'm so aware of how much longer than normal my back is when I'm sitting down, I'm only 5'5" but look so tall when seated.

Years ago l made a jumpsuit. I carefully measured it,

Being able to sit down without a huge wedgie was nice.

I'm not minimising but just wanted to let you know that having the opposite problem is equally annoying! I have a short waist and long legs. Swimsuits are all too long. I have no waist because there is no space between my ribs and hips, and trouser waistbands all sit around my ribs and right under my boobs. The 90s low waist trend was great for me because finally jeans reached my waistline instead of way above it, Simon Cowell style! Of course it meant I couldn't wear it as a trend because there was no way to find anything with a rise short enough to finish around my hips, even those things Cristina Aguilera used to wear that practically exposed her pubes. I couldn't wear a crop top even if I wanted too because they come down below my waistline.

Even in things like pyjamas I have to turn the waistband over a few times or deal with the crotch hanging halfway down my thighs, which is very uncomfortable. I love a jumpsuit but again, the crotch hangs down my legs so impossible to wear.

Before anyone suggests it, dresses aren't a solution because you can't wear anything shaped - it all goes in the wrong places, and in loose and floaty I just look pregnant.

Equally buying long boots is impossible because where they are shaped for calves doesn't fit where my calves are so there's an empty bulge beneath where my calf rises.

Buying petite sizes doesn't solve the waistline problem when you have broad shoulders and long legs. Why do so many of us have to deal with this shit? Why haven't manufacturers been able to come up with something better?

Ugh, 'wanted to' not 'wanted too'. I hate predictive text.

@ShirtyGertie

I feel your pain - I'm 5ft 10 but average legs and a really long waist.

Just bought the Boden Corsica swimsuit in a 12L and it is great. Normally I have to buy a 14 or 16 in swimsuits to get the length.

The biggest problem for me is anything with a waistline - coats, dresses etc - always way to high on me and sits just under my boobs like an empire line - not flattering!

Yes - I'm like this. And actual empire line tops/dresses cut across my boobs and look ridiculous

Lands End swimsuits and tankinis are good quality and the only ones I’ve found which fit. They used to do more Tall range tops, but these days some of the normal length ones are long enough.

So pleased high waisted jeans are back in vogue. Those low rise ones wouldn’t even stay up on me.

I have been known to buy mini dresses to wear as tunic tops. Often proper tunic tops are just too short.

Bowden elasticated waist type dresses can look good on me. The waist fits round my ribs which are narrower than my waist, the fabric then flows over the flabby bits and gives a streamlined look with a suggestion of leg length.

Really annoys me to see dresses marketed as below the knee. That depends on where your knees are! So nice to see midi dresses in the stores now.

Me and I’m short! I buy two piece swim suits. They just fit better. There are tankinis that cover the stomach area.

Don’t know if it’s been mentioned but Trinny Woodall (from Trinny London) has a long torso/shorter leg body and has done dozens of short videos (youtube & Instagram) about dressing for her figure. Admittedly she’s tall, skinny and gorgeous, but she does have loads of great dressing tips for her body shape.

Me too!! 5”7 with little 30” legs. Size 16. I’m just so happy that high waist things are finally available. Loving high waisted mom and balloon jeans with that lovely long zip. Also never could find a cossie that fitted big boobs and long torso without showing acres of either cleavage or pubeage! Lands End in the sale for swimsuits or just bikinis all the way.

Lands End have frequent offers. They are doing 40% off full price at the moment (I’ve just stocked up).

Team Long Body Short Legs here as well. I also wear bikinis. I have just ordered a pair of Boden trousers in Regular length and have had to order the Petite version as the Regulars are about four inches too long for where I want them to land. I'm 5'7! I am a fan of midi skirts and Boden shorts in the different lengths work well for me. Dresses can be a nightmare with the waist sitting too high but I have got used to what styles work for me.