Leslie has mentioned a few different ways to tell. Here are two.
1. Measure your total height (from head to toe). Write down this measurement.
Now measure from your toes up to the widest part of your hip. Write this
measurement down.
Check where your HIP is in relation to your total height...if it’s 1/2 way up your
body, it’s balanced.
Here is how I ended up when measuring this alternative way:
My total height is 70” (5’10”)
My hip measurement is at 35” (from toes to my wide hip)
This means my body is in the “balanced” category.
If the top half measurement is larger, you are long-waisted. If smaller, short-waisted. Your tops should be the opposite of what you are. In other words, if you are long-waisted, wear shorter tops, to lengthen your legs. If you are short-waisted, wear longer tops to lengthen your torso.
2. Measure the distance between your bottom rib and the top of your hipbone:
25/75 body type: If the distance is 1-2 inches, you are short-waisted. This means your upper torso is 25% of total body with 75% being lower body (from where your leg bends to sit, and below).
50/50 body type: If the distance is about 2-3 inches, you are balanced with your waist coming around the midpoint of your total body length.
75/25 body type: If the distance is 4-5 inches, you are long-waisted. Your body is long which often means your leg length is shorter.