What to Wear (And What to Avoid) For Short Torso

For women with short torso long legs combination, what to wear and what to avoid to flatter your figure. Here are the best styling tips on what kind of clothes to wear, what style dresses, what tops to wear, what pants style to wear, and what to avoid.
From wrap dresses, to v-neckline tops, tucked or untucked shirts, coats and trench coats to name a few fashion styling tips you want to know about to look better when having a short torso.
You want to elongate your upper body by wearing clothes that create a visually elongating effect. Find out what these clothes are in this video. See you there!
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#chicquette
0:00 Intro
1:25 Styles to Avoid Wearing
1:30 Boat Neckline Tops
1:52 Contrast Colors
2:04 Cropped Jackets
2:18 High Waisted Pants
2:34 One Piece Swimsuit
2:50 The Duchess Of Sussex
4:15 What to Wear
4:33 Shift Dress
5:36 Drop Waist Dress
6:01 V-neck Dress
6:38 Wrap Dress
7:09 Elongating Tops
7:36 Low V-neck Top
8:04 Untucked Top
8:34 Bra
8:55 Vertical Stripes
9:20 Bottoms
10:17 Accessories
11:00 Coats

[@Chicquette]

What's your favorite outfit Meghan wore while being royal?

[@tennilledebysingh5819]

I actually like my short torso & longer leg look, I'm hourglass shaped And I think many who are glass shaped have this proportion. And I want to draw attention to my waist, my short torso doesn't' bother me. The last thing I want to do is drop my waist or hide it.

[@gingererer7806]

EXACTLY!! I went to the comments to say just this. She keeps saying not to wear things that bring attention to our short torso as if it's a bad thing!

[@MinatheMenace]

Yeah, many of the types of clothing she put in the "should avoid" section are styles that I love to wear and I adore how my short torso body looks in those styles.

[@ellieem4716]

I'm thinking if you are able to have an hourglass shape, then I don't think your body type is necessarily the one she's talking about here. While your torso might be on the shorter side, or maybe it just seems short in comparison to your long legs. But typically, most women with short torsos don't have enough length in their torso for there to be much, if any, curve in at the waist. My ribs and hip bone are about 1" apart, so I have no length/room for any curving in effect. If I wear a shirt tucked into pants that come to my waistline, it is EXTREMELY unflattering on me because it creates a horizontal line at my waist, with the shirt puffing out (because there's always too much fabric than my torso can handle), so that is very unflattering in itself, making me look wider and heavier than I am. And it looks so strange because it looks like my boobs sit right on top of my waist (which they don't, and I always wear a good supporting bra with lift to try and create space). I'm 5'1" and my legs are not longer than the average person, but they are average in length. I cannot wear petite pants or they would be floods. So I definitely look like I have long legs because of the comparison to my torso. So be thankful for the body you have and that you don't need to do any of these tricks to try to make your body appear "normal". I feel like a freak of nature every day and can't stand how different by body is. I'm even fairly thin, so it's not a weight thing. It's a body proportion thing and these tips and tricks in the video have actually given me a couple new ideas I can use that I'm thankful for. Sorry this got so long, just wanted to explain that I think the video was for bodies like mine and not yours lol. The fact you don't want to hide anything on your body and want to draw attention to it instead is something most of us only dream of. You are very lucky!!!

[@lizp.6585]

I applaud you for this subject. Never seen it here on youtube before. Very well researched and analized. Love your content always. Tks!

[@Chicquette]

Thank you so much Liz! This means a lot to me. I am glad that you find value in the video. Will definitely keep this in mind when creating future ones. I too find that some topics are not discusses as much or are as helpful as one might need. Thanks again for watching and for your kind words 😘

[@stephlin]

I don't agree that mid rise pants will hit at the right spot. I'm short waisted and mid rise depending on the brand look more like low rise on me, hitting between hip bones and belly button. I can't wear low rise at all, since the area between the hip joint and natural waist/buttocks is longer in us short torso ladies. Low rise doesn't even cover the basics, at least for me. We don't actually have longer legs necessarily, it's just an optical illusion when compared to the short torso. It's the hips that are longer. You can see that really wonderfully in the side by side you did between Catherine and Meghan. If you look where the hip bends and the distance to the waist you'll see what I mean. Honestly, I'm glad higher rise pants are a thing again, finally I can get pants that don't fall down my hips (I'm straight, no hips like Meghan) and also they finally fit through waist AND hips because when you're short waisted, your waist sits much higher and where normal rise pants hit is often the widest part of the body (hip) rather than the smaller waist. So if they fit in the hip, I usually can't close the waist, and if the fit the waist, they billow at the hips.

[@Chicquette]

Hi Stephlin! Thank you for sharing this! We are most definitely not all one size. I find high rise pants much more flattering, especially as we age. I've been wearing them for years, I bought a pair of mid rise looser boyfriend jeans and all 3 times I tried them on for running around with kids, it looked horrendous. I had to donate them, can't look at mid rise any long. What was I thinking?? Megan does have curves which helps a lot. I love her long thin legs in pumps, pure perfection. I am also used to the old school short torso a-line puffy skirt/ dress look from old movies so I gravitate towards it. It's great that you know your body type and how to dress it. You are ahead of the game my friend! 😘

[@Jamie-lx9ig]

Yes to all of this! When you have a short torso (such that the hip bone is high and almost touching the ribs, so there's no space for the waist to curve in) flattering trousers (and bottoms in general) are really hard to find, for the reason you explained: the size that fits on the legs won't fit the waist, and the size that the fits the waist won't fit the legs (even when you're at an average body weight for your frame). The only answer is high-waisted trousers because they reach up to the narrowest part, so they can actually be buttoned up, and even better, high-waisted trousers with an elastic waistband (that ideally flare out on the legs, so they create the illusion of a curve). They can be paired with a shorter/cropped top, so that the torso isn't dominated by the trousers (because with high waists, sometimes it can seem like you go from boobs to legs when you have a short torso). After searching and searching, I realized these type of trousers are the most flattering. Same issue with skirts: most will sit at the hip bone, and will make you look like a rectangle, and even in A-line skirts the 'A' effect is more of an 'H' effect, so the only well-fitting style is high-waisted skirts. Generally bottoms that have a panel or long band on the top part before the leg part starts, suit short torsos better, imo. Afters years of wondering why clothes I like on others don't look good on me, I finally realized that in most cases it's because they are for long torso'd (and taller) people, it really is a game changer, and it will also erase the mindset of 'oh it's because I'm not thin enough'. Weight really doesn't matter in this case, no matter how thin, the waist will never be narrow, because it's literally due to bone structure. Anyway, sorry for writing a wall of text but I was really glad to come across your comment because I can absolute relate (also, you're spot on about the low rise jeans, I can hardly move and sit down in them :D).

[@ccadvisor489]

I loved her boat neck wedding gown.

[@chamekasmall4119]

So many great tips!

[@Chicquette]

So glad you found this helpful! Thank you for stopping by. 😘

[@shelleyschultz8337]

Thank you so much! Adjustments I made to proportions on my short torso frame were done out of instinct but now thanks to your video I understand why. I’m totally down for more content like this 😊

[@Chicquette]

Love this Shelley, thank you for sharing! It's so interesting because I did the video after I saw I am not fitting well in some clothes, specific brands. During this research I now have examples and it makes total sense why some fit better than others. It's a learning process for all of us. I appreciate the feedback as always. have a great day! ☺

[@annalim1099]

Nice alternative perspective although as someone who's just 153cm (5") I personally like a lot of the "don'ts" that were covered here. With a short torso AND short legs I try to prioritise elongating my legs.

[@Chicquette]

Hi Anna! I love long legs, that is my goal as well. Sounds like it's the same favorite feature. Wear what you enjoy and makes you feel good about yourself. That's what matters most. Thanks for stopping by 😘

[@designlady1732]

I have a short torso and full bust. I agree with much of your advice. High waisted pants are a disaster on me. They make me look like I'm wearing a diaper. I find that most empire-waisted tops and dresses are flattering, especially if they are softly draped or wrapped. Longer tops, jackets and tunics look great. Decided that this summer I'm sewing a fitted sheath or two for myself. Finding one that fits off the rack is nearly impossible.

[@Chicquette]

Thank you for sharing this. I am happy to hear that you found it useful. I was thinking about this today actually, how different our body shapes are and how it doesn't make sense that we would fit in the cookie cutter designs sold in stores. This is probably why celebrities dress so well, they have tailored garments. I am inclined to think that's the way to go, especially with long term use, quality pieces. What other videos would you find helpful?

[@kryssygee4814]

❤Love the long long-legged look!!!! Who doesn't??❤🌞 Great info!! Well done!! ❤️

[@Chicquette]

Thank you Kryssy! Same here, big fan of the long legs. 😘

[@BEABE4242]

4:05 , “translation “.😂 Thanks, because I was thinking “what?”

[@rubyhunjan106]

This was actually very helpful. Thank you for the visuals it help buying new clothes much easier

[@Chicquette]

I'm so glad you found this video helpful! Sometimes it's easier to know what not to buy and to stay away from isn't it? Thank you for stopping by!

[@JOJO-ug9ei]

I’m pear shape and am always seeing advice to wear a short jacket but they don’t suit me. Now I understand why! I also like shift dresses because they hide my short torso, but I don’t have great legs and can’t wear heels due to having flat feet. (It’s too painful!) I tend to look for long shift dresses that stop below the knee. I always go for mid-rise trousers/jeans and find that a monochromatic look works best.

[@JOJO-ug9ei]

I should also mention that I am short-waisted but my torso from my waist is long so I am always battling with proportion. Could you do a video on short-waist long torso? Thank you.

[@Chicquette]

Hi! Pear shaped video coming soon! Stay tuned 🤓

[@lf9341]

As a fashionista with a short torso,I agree with everything you said except for the long necklaces/scarves. For some reason it seems to accentuate the torso. Same with very long hair. Another tip that looks good on us are halter tops and petite tops/coats etc.....

[@Chicquette]

Thank you for watching and sharing this! Have you tried a longer necklace and a coat/blazer as a backdrop to support the longer look? Perhaps this double length distracts from the torso.. let me know how it goes.

[@tophose999]

An interesting video. Proportion is certainly a big issue in clothing choices. Most menswear advice tends to focus on elongating the legs, and on giving men a waist even if they don't have them :) Your example of Kate and Meghan is very interesting, although I find a lot of the legs you showed to be very skinny :). It's interesting to see the advice from women's wear on how to change your body proportions visually, as I know it form the men'swear side. I'm glad you got the monochromatic looks in here too! It wouldn't be a Paula video without them :D The French tuck I learned from Tan France on Queer Eye, but good to see it showing up here too. An interesting belt trick from Sonya Glynn is to match your belt colour to your trousers rather than your shoes in order not to have the horizontal line of the belt breaking up the vertical silhouette of your body. Finally, on jackets, the "always wear it open" advice comes up in menswear for bomber jackets, which always look better open than zipped. Of course, sometimes you need to wear them zipped for warmth :) Thanks for a very interesting video on this from the women's perspective!

[@Chicquette]

Oh I am so glad you found it helpful and I am too learning from your tips. I am laughing at the monochromatic "Paula look". But you see in the last video on Old Money I tried and went with stripes and florals. I too get bored from time to time, of my own self :) Great belt color tip. I think Meghan was purposefully wearing it contrasting to create a line lower than her own waist. I really do wish I knew all this back then, because now it all makes sense and I understand her choices. The open coat and even on her shoulders in winter I did not understand at all and was left confused. Now I see why she did it. This was a great topic for me as well and am so glad that people see value in it. Thanks for stopping by as always!

[@tophose999]

@@Chicquette We're a mutual learning society! :). Yes, I know you do a range of looks, which is always good, and I learn from you in patterns as well, but I think you do monochromatic classic elegant style better than pretty much anyone I've run across, so I think of it as the "Paula look". I'm sure she was using it for contrast. I think women have a bit more freedom than men to use belts in different places to change the waistline. For men, it's always attached to our trousers, so it's more clear where the waist is, unless we're wearing a jacket that is buttoned. Of course, keeping a jacket buttoned for us can disguise where the waist actually is!

[@odetteuys1111]

I have a short torso and love high-waisted trousers!

[@Chicquette]

Hi Odette! High Waisted trousers are very flattering, regardless of the torso size. And even with short torso you can absolutely wear styles that will emphasize that you have a short torso. There is nothing wrong with putting it on display. Think the recommendations are more for women who want to change this appearance. Thank you for watching and sharing ☺

[@rrosemccoy]

I have a short torso, a lot of weight (which I want to loose), and short legs with small wide feet. How would you style me?

[@christinablakeman556]

A good support bra is key for short torso.

[@Chicquette]

Yes!! A Good Support Bra is Key PERIOD 😅

[@lf9341]

Please do more celebs with a short torso.

[@Chicquette]

So glad you like this! Thank you for watching and sharing! 😘

[@gigigirl56]

It's a very helpful video. As a short torso - long legs figure, I try to draw attention away from my waist with color. I would wear a lighter version of the same color tops in pants and skirts. I also try to wear interesting shoes. If I tuck in a shirt, I make sure I wear a belt in the same color of the shirt to give the illusion that the torse continues down. Do you have any other ideas?

[@Chicquette]

Hi Gigi! Thank you for sharing this. First, I am so glad to hear you find the video helpful. Second, you seem to know what you are doing already. Way to go! Paying attention to out body shape and dressing it according to what flatters us is overlooked many times. I personally prefer long legs for most outfits as I find them so attractive and pleasing to the eye. Torso length aside, if you can focus on the legs it's great. In analyzing the torso shape as we age, I noticed that making room for it from the front view helps: lift the breasts with nice bra support that doesn't take away from the under bra space, and elongate the abdomen with monochromatic colors that don't cut your waist in the wrong spot. This is why dresses are my go to, as a fool proof technique to look slimmer, cover the muffin ( or don't put it on display at least) and showcase the legs bigtime. I hope I share useful tips. I just published a video this morning on Fall Shoes Style guide, where you can see how a monochromatic dress looks 10 times better than any pair of pants. But you be the judge. Have a fabulous day! 😘

[@kay_azi3466]

👍🏼

[@Mixdplate]

How ironic you used Meghans' attire as an example. While binge watching The Suits, I noticed her attire as well and took note that she appeared to have a short torso. However, she is also has a more petite frame. Along with short torso, I have broad shoulders, and more of a rectangle shape overall. Finding flattering clothes is a frustrating struggle. Due to a childhood injury dresses or shorts are not an option. If I could hire a professional designer, I certainly would. BTW, finding tops with vertical stripes is like finding a needle in a haystack.

[@Chicquette]

Hi! I haven't seen Suits but I've seen outfits from it on Pinterest while I was looking for office attire examples. She's 5'7" which is a pretty good size. I am 5'5" and consider myself average height. In Meghan's case I think it's the combination of shorter torso and longer legs perhaps. Overall they do add up ☺️. Harry is really tall so she looks shorter next to him. Kate is 5'10" so that's really noticeable when they are side by side. Speaking of shoulders, it might be Meghan's case as well. She wears this beautiful yellow sheath dress that showcased them. I'm also coming to terms with Tailoring as a necessity. Even more reasons to buy quality pieces instead of quantity. Vertical lines are not easy but stripes are in this year so you should have more options to pick from. Can you wear knee length or midi length dresses?

[@Mixdplate]

@@Chicquette Being a shorty probably adds to my issues. I'm only 5'4" and size 8-9. But seem to always look top heavy, especially as I get older. I'd only attempt a full length dress or gown, and since I don't seem too look good in those either, it really has to be a special occasion.

[@j.rosario9006]

So glad you did this video, i have a short torso and short legs. Oh my…i have been doing it all wrong.

[@cecibee3495]

Long/short torso refers to its proportion to your own body. You might just be proportionate…and petite.

[@Chicquette]

So glad you found it helpful. At least you can look for other styles you didn't pay attention to before.

[@ayumudiasih1589]

Love the topic very well presented, i have a short torso however i still wear wide belt, i will wear it slightly lower don’t mind it. I was just wish that the reference is not Megan….

[@Chicquette]

I know what you mean but during the royal years, one can't help but appreciate royal outfits. We don't all agree with what happened but luckily the outfits and photos stay ☺️ thank you for sharing Ayu.

[@starrreise3925]

​@@Chicquette For me Meghan was a perfect choice, her many years in the public eye in an industry that is unforgivingly image conscious (for women) means she knows her body type and how to dress it accordingly without being afraid to experiment and break style "rules." She is very petite though, I saw her wedding dress on display, are there any tips for us who are short of waist but no so fine boned?

[@sharonraghubar8642]

This is wonderfully informative video. I have a short torso, petite frame (4’11”) and larger breasts (32DD). Many of the ideas presented are somewhat contrary to petites where we try to have a high rise waist, etc. Any further advice is most appreciated.

[@Chicquette]

Hi! This is such interesting feedback. I am glad it was helpful and will definitely consider the petite topic in the future. Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@sonjadoeckinger4902]

Hope you can do it for a long dorso too

[@francesjoubert8842]

Yes please. I have a long torso.

[@Chicquette]

Hi Sonja! Yes of course this is a very good next topic to cover. Thank you for the feedback.

[@julieme7927]

I dont like loose bottoms on her. They make her legs look much too skinny. Anything with a belt accentuates the fact that she has a very square shape in her torso. Im surprised she has a short torso because from behind it looks like her legs are short. Is the torso just from the neck to the waist?

[@Chicquette]

Hi Julie, the side by side picture with Kate shows the biggest difference from the neck to the waistline. Kate's is significantly longer. The torso goes all the way down to the tailbone but on Meghan the distance from neckline to waist is noticably short. And you might be right about the square torso, perhaps that's another reason why she accentuates with belts often. Good eye ☺️

[@cliffalindog2547]

Short torso and I love high waist pants plus crop jackets I love drawing attention to my long legs

[@Joelswinger34]

I never noticed Meghan had a short torso. She dresses really well!

[@Chicquette]

Yes she does ☺️

[@lf9341]

I have this. It is the worst!

[@Chicquette]

Don't worry, there is always a fix to look better. Hope the video helped.

[@clockwatch5222]

Love this video but the music bed is deafening. Lose it. 😉

[@Chicquette]

Hi! Thanks for the feedback, I will take it in consideration. Glad you like the video!

[@LaurennR]

What if you have both short legs and short torso... 🫠

[@Chicquette]

It sounds like you have a petite figure? There are brands that serve this frame exclusively and do a good job at it. What are you struggling with when dressing?

[@LaurennR]

@@Chicquette Dresses 👗29-Inseam Pants 39-Hips 35-Bust 29-Wasit