Els Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I've been wondering about this for some time. How does one measure the waist and hip exactly? What I used to do was measure the waist at the smallest point of my torso (which is just under the ribs)... but then it's quite silly to use that as a measurement since we don't wear our bottoms that high usually, no? I also used to measure the hip at the part where the hip bone protruded the most, but I've read somewhere that it's supposed to be at the bottommost part of one's buttocks. Anyone? Link to post Share on other sites
sally4sara Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I've been wondering about this for some time. How does one measure the waist and hip exactly? What I used to do was measure the waist at the smallest point of my torso (which is just under the ribs)... but then it's quite silly to use that as a measurement since we don't wear our bottoms that high usually, no? I also used to measure the hip at the part where the hip bone protruded the most, but I've read somewhere that it's supposed to be at the bottommost part of one's buttocks. Anyone? It largely depends on what you need the measurements for. If you're sewing, you still measure your waist at the bottom of your ribcage where it is smallest and your hips where they are largest. Largest is not really the bottommost of one's buttocks as it should start to come back in toward your thighs. A few inches up from there where your buttocks swell out the lost should do it. Sewing patterns have different sizing than the garments you can buy now. The sizings for store bought garments have changed because, as you said, we wear pants differently now. They have also changed to be less "depressing" , happy women buy more clothes that tell them they are a smaller size. Now they've even changed it more. I wore a size 5 jean in high school (when waists were higher) and now I wear a 3 after having a baby? Even when I was in high school, I wore a US store bought dress size 2/4, but my mother made all my formal dance shirt-skirt at a size 10 top and size 6 bottom or if it was all one dress, size 8. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Where you measure your waist and hip, doesn't change with style. Waist is the narrowest part. Hips are the largest part. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Where you measure your waist and hip, doesn't change with style. Waist is the narrowest part. Hips are the largest part. I never knew that! I've always been measuring at my belly button for my waist, and right in the middle of my hips... but I never knew if that was the correct way to do it. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I never knew that! I've always been measuring at my belly button for my waist, and right in the middle of my hips... but I never knew if that was the correct way to do it. But isn't the smallest part of your waist at your belly button? For me it is. And yes, hips you measure at the largest part which I think is usually around the middle of your hips. So you might have been doing it right without realizing it. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 My belly button is around 1/2" below my waist, so not everyone's body is the same. Just keep measuring around or above your belly button, until you find the narrowest area below your rib cage. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 My belly button is around 1/2" below my waist, so not everyone's body is the same. Just keep measuring around or above your belly button, until you find the narrowest area below your rib cage. Ok, I just looked, haha, and mine is too but the measurement should be very close. Well, on me it is anyway. I mean there's not any difference in width around between those two points that I can see just by looking. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 T: Nope. My belly button is considerably lower than the smallest part of my waist. I feel like I have a very long upper part of my torso. Even very lowrise jeans are still not that far below my belly button. Perhaps I'm an alien. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 T: Nope. My belly button is considerably lower than the smallest part of my waist. I feel like I have a very long upper part of my torso. Even very lowrise jeans are still not that far below my belly button. Perhaps I'm an alien. You're like I am, with a very short rise. To get a real low-rise look, I need 1" to 2" zipper jeans and it still doesn't look very low, just kind of normal, below the waist jeans. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 T: Nope. My belly button is considerably lower than the smallest part of my waist. I feel like I have a very long upper part of my torso. Even very lowrise jeans are still not that far below my belly button. Perhaps I'm an alien. Oh, ok. Yes, we're all different. Speaking of lowrise jeans. I FINALLY ditched my "mom jeans" recently and bought some lowrise jeans. I like them but what I don't like is how my shirts or whatever top I'm wearing poufs up and bunches up at the point where the shirt and jeans "meet." Am I making sense? I hate that it does that. It doesn't look neat. Does it do this to anyone else? Like I'm thinking the only way these jeans will look good is if I wear them with a body suit (those tops that snap at the crotch.) Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Oh, ok. Yes, we're all different. Speaking of lowrise jeans. I FINALLY ditched my "mom jeans" recently and bought some lowrise jeans. I like them but what I don't like is how my shirts or whatever top I'm wearing poufs up and bunches up at the point where the shirt and jeans "meet." Am I making sense? I hate that it does that. It doesn't look neat. Does it do this to anyone else? Like I'm thinking the only way these jeans will look good is if I wear them with a body suit (those tops that snap at the crotch.)Loose shirts don't work well with low-rise jeans. Try shirts that are heavily tapered with some lycra content, so you don't get that gapping effect with your buttons. Also, not all shirts are long enough for low-rise jeans. Another way to avoid that bunching effect, is to to wear a t-shirt or shell underneath and wear your shirt untucked, only using the two buttons, close to your waist. Make sure your shirt is heavily tapered, so you get a nice hourglass silhoette. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I never have a problem with loose shirts and lowrise jeans. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Loose shirts don't work well with low-rise jeans. Try shirts that are heavily tapered with some lycra content, so you don't get that gapping effect with your buttons. Also, not all shirts are long enough for low-rise jeans. Another way to avoid that bunching effect, is to to wear a t-shirt or shell underneath and wear your shirt untucked, only using the two buttons, close to your waist. Make sure your shirt is heavily tapered, so you get a nice hourglass silhoette. Yep, it sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about. Good tips, thanks! Looks like I need some new tops now. Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I never have a problem with loose shirts and lowrise jeans. Maybe because you wear them out? I don't know. I prefer tucking a shirt in though. I love belts and I like the belt to show. Plus it gives me a more defined shape. If I wear a shirt out or covering the top of the pants, I like too stick straight. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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