I was wondering if anyone knows how to tell if your long waist-ed or short waist-ed, have long legs or short for your height? I am 5'5, and feel a bit clueless about these things. I know Leslie talks about measuring your body, but I am not sure what I am looking for in the measurements. Should the top half of my body be the same measurement as my legs? Is the waist the breaking point for the upper body measurement? I know from listening to the show that you shouldn't break your body into halves with clothing, that 1/3 and 2/3's are more pleasing to the eye. Does anyone know how to measure yourself correctly? If so, how do you interpret the numbers? Thanks!

I don't know MSP's way. But basically, your inseam measurement(floor to crotch) should be at about the halfway point. At 5'5" an average inseam would be 32, 28 would be short.

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.

Thank you so much! Cindy, thanks for explaining how to do this and what the measurements mean. I sew so, this will also help me adjust patterns and RTW items. Have a wonderful day.

Hi - a little late here - I sew also aand the back to waist measurement for a missus pattern is between 16 and 17 inches. Two of the people I sew for who are your height have back length of 15 inches and long legs to make up for it. I am 5 feet tall and my back length is 19 inches - so I am long waisted with very short legs. I have to shorten petite length pants. And I recommend getting the Vogue sloper pattern - the sheet inside has all the standard measurements even for things like shoulder to elbow - very helpful.