How to Dress a Short Torso
If you want the appearance of a longer torso, it’s as simple as wearing the right outfit. Regardless of your size, there are women’s tops, pants, skirts and dresses to fit every body. Women with short torsos can create a longer look with a few simple fashion strategies. Keep reading for tips to help you enhance your body type and outfit ideas for various occasions:
Choose Elongating Necklines
The neckline of your casual top or dressy blouse can help you create the look of a longer torso. This is also the case with women’s dresses and bathing suit necklines. Scoop neck and V-neck women’s tops and other pieces help make the upper body appear longer. Tankini tops and one-piece bathing suits come in these neckline styles, so you can look and feel your best on the beach or at the pool.
Wear Your Tops Untucked
No matter what type of top you’re wearing, an easy way to simulate the look of a longer torso is by leaving it untucked. Flannel shirts over cotton tank tops—both untucked—with a pair of skinny jeans and boots is a layered look you can wear during multiple seasons.
Other types of shirts you can wear untucked are button-down dress shirts and versatile tunics. Both of these shirt styles often fall past the hips, which is another advantage if you want ample coverage. If you’re putting together a casual outfit, women’s T-shirts left untucked can be worn with everything from leggings to jeans and skirts.
Create Length with Vertical Stripes
You can't go wrong with vertical stripes when it comes to making your torso look longer. Or any kind of vertical detailing, for that matter. Vertical pinstripes are an excellent print for making the body appear longer and more streamlined. Ribbed detailing on sweaters—worn untucked—can help you achieve the look you want.
There are three basic ways to wear the striped or ribbed look. Wear a top with vertical stripes or ribbing with solid-color bottoms. Neutral colors are always a good choice for pants and skirts because they go with almost every other color.
Or you can wear striped women’s pants or a striped skirt with a solid-color top. For example, wearing a black-and-white striped skirt or a white women’s blouse would go perfectly. To top off the look, slip on a black women’s blazer. The longer length of a blazer complements a short torso by creating a longer appearance and helping conceal the waistline.
Slip Into Sheath and Sweater Dresses
If you want a dress to wear to the office or date night, there are two main styles to consider. Sheath dresses are ideal for short torsos because of the unstructured look. The flowy cut of a sheath dress conceals the torso and puts the focus on your legs.
Another option is the ribbed sweater dress. Opt for a sweater dress with vertical ribbing for a lengthening effect. A solid-color dress in a midi length is a fashionable choice not only for short torsos but for every other body type, too. Plus, it’s easy to layer sweater dresses with jean jackets, cardigans, and blazers.
Try a Monochromatic Look
Another way to make your torso look longer is by wearing a monochromatic outfit. The all-one-color look is on-trend, but it’s also enduringly classic. By wearing the same color from head to toe, the lines are blurred and it’s hard to tell if your torso is short, long or somewhere in between. One example of a monochromatic outfit is black skinny jeans with a black scoop-neck top and black boots.
The monochromatic style is easy to put together, and you can do it with neutral tones or other colors. For example, the previously mentioned all-black outfit is never a bad choice. In the summer months, all-white is a fresh option that’s resort-ready. Blush pink and lavender are spring-inspired hues you can wear from head to toe because of their muted pastel hue. Add color to your monochromatic outfit with a statement handbag in a vibrant shade such as red or aqua. Women’s fashion scarves are another way to add pizzazz to an outfit that’s all one color.
Reach for Mid-Rise Jeans
For short torsos, mid-rise jeans are preferred over high-rise styles. The reason is that high-rise jeans can make the torso look even shorter, which is the last thing you may want. Mid-rise women’s jeans sit at the natural waist, so they don’t make your torso look shorter. This denim style can flatter any body type with the right top. Mid-rise jeans come in various styles. You might find available mid-rise straight-leg jeans, bootcut jeans and skinny jeans.
The best way to learn how to dress for your short torso is to experiment. Try different fashion combinations and model them in front of a full-length mirror to see what appeals most. Overall, select apparel pieces and accessories that fit well, suit your signature aesthetic and provide comfortable wear.