Short Torso or Long Torso?

Find out in under a minute

Ever tried on a swimsuit that looked perfect on your friend, but on you it pulls in a strange spot or makes you look «cut in half»? There’s nothing wrong with you — you likely just have a different torso type. Knowing yours helps you choose pieces that flatter you, without the guesswork.

How to measure it (no tape measure needed)

Option 1 — With a tape measure:

1. Measure from the top of your shoulder bone to your natural waist (the crease that forms when you bend to one side).
2. Measure from that same waist down to the floor.
3. Compare: if the lower measurement is bigger, you have a short torso. If the upper one is bigger or roughly equal, you have a long torso.

Option 2 — With your hands (the quickest way):

1. Place one hand right under your bust.
2. Place your other hand right below it, touching the first.
3. Check where the edge of your second hand lands relative to your belly button:
   • If your hands already cover or pass your belly button → short torso.
   • If your hands end right at your belly button → balanced torso.
   • If there’s still space between your hands and your belly button → long torso.

No result is «better» than another. It’s simply information to help you dress your body with intention.

Short Torso: Characteristics

• The distance between bust and waist is shorter than average.
• Legs tend to appear proportionally longer.
• The waist tends to sit quite high.
• High-waisted pieces or thick belts can make the torso look even shorter.

What flatters you most: deep V-necklines that create visual length, low or mid-rise bottoms, one-pieces with no seam at the waist, and thin straps that elongate the torso area.

Mistakes to avoid: very high necklines or halter styles, low-rise bikini bottoms, long vertical stripes or prints, and one-pieces with no shape or waist definition.

Long Torso: Characteristics

• The distance between bust and waist is wider.
• Legs can appear proportionally shorter next to the torso.
• The waist sits lower on the body.
• Low-rise pieces can make the torso look even longer.

What flatters you most: swimsuits with a waist seam or cut, high-waisted bikinis that visually shorten the torso, belts or details that define the waist, and mixing top and bottom in different colors or textures to create an optical break.

Mistakes to avoid: low-rise bikini bottoms, straight bandeau tops with no shape, one-pieces with no waist detail at all, and very low-cut leg openings.