Thread: Costuming For Short Torso/Thick waist

Ok, so some of the girls that know me will be like "Whatever" that I posted this, being silly about physique, but I'd like a second opinion.

I have a short torso,and a larger ribcage that moves directly into my hips (almost-there's maybe 3 inches max from where my ribs end and my hipbones are). My hips are narrow. Measurements:

31 ribcage C cup bust

30 waist

34-35 hips.

I'm very "tubular", not like the hourglass sexy bellydancers.

What kind of costuming might make my waist look smaller-lengthen the torso? It's a bummer because I have long, thin legs, but I'm too modest to want to bear those white things all the way.

I would think it would involve making my hips look bigger. Any ideas? Thanks!

wearing bottoms very low will help with that.....and i think the bra/belt, full skirt combo will do you well also......deco and fringe on the tops should be centrally based to draw the eye in and down, and not the all-around fringe which usually ends about waist level and shortens the midline

with the combo of simple, central deco on the bra, and a low slung, belt with full skirt, which also draws away from the hips to make an illusion of fullness, all gives the illusion of an hourglass................

i too, have a short waist, but i have a broad ribcage, so i've used the same styles to give me curves as well.....

oh, tucking veils or skirt sides at the points of the hip may also give that pannier effect and fill out the hips..........which also gives some extra emphasis to good hipwork too :D

I have the same issue...short and "slightly padded" torso and no hips.
one think that I do ( aside from wearing the belt low) Is making sure "the girls" are higher up, which also lengthens the torso ( and adds some sexy cleavage ^_^) obviously you don't want to be choking on your boobs, but i'd push up the girls as much as your modesty will allow.

adding some extra fabric on the hips also helps to create a curvy look, but it can also take away from length and make you look shorter, so make sure the skirt is long enough to cover as much of your feet as possible without making you trip!

also, if your not crazy about the front slits in some of the more modern costumes, i think side slits up to the hip are still classy and your legs can do the peak-a-boo thing without being on display the whole time. or you could put a very sheer panel under the slits to give a bit more coverage

In addition to these tips, an asymmetrical design will help draw the eye in diagonals across your body, which is good for both the long and thin and the short and round.

Lots of detail and texture on the lower hip/butt area of your belt will create more curve there, and I also think a belt that has a v shape at the top helps create a sense of a longer, curvier waist.

Believe it or not, the styles of slim (i.e., no "poof" in the skirt) lycra skirts with hip straps that go over each side of the waist and connect in the back and front like a "V."

The "V" elongates the torso and visually tucks in the waist; it also allows you to wear the skirt lower, further elongating the torso. A friend of mine is short-waisted and didn't think this would work (neither did I) but after seeing it on her (and seeing her in regular bedlah) I was pleasantly surprised at how flattering the style was on her and how much longer it made her torso look. Caveat is the straps must be thin as well.

Thanks for the advice! I'd like to try this "slim" skirt you're talking about, Azhia. I think I have a cute little tushy, and sometimes do want to emphasize the parts of me that ARE slim. ;-) But also, like you other girls said, the classic, full-skirted AmCab look is also flattering to many.

Originally Posted by Elianae

Thanks for the advice! I'd like to try this "slim" skirt you're talking about, Azhia. I think I have a cute little tushy, and sometimes do want to emphasize the parts of me that ARE slim. ;-) But also, like you other girls said, the classic, full-skirted AmCab look is also flattering to many.

I will tell you true....you need a trumpet skirt to show off your hips and give them more curves. And a costume with a waistband with help give you more of a waist.

I didn't read through the posts so others may have suggested these:
I would recommend:
- as little fringe on the bra as possible, I'm talking about the fringe that covers part or all of your torso. None of that! You want to show as much of your midsection as possible in your case.
- Try to wear your bra high - upper straps should pull "everything" up.
- try to wear your belt as low as you can / feel comfortbale with / still flattering
- not full skirts, try to wear figure hugging lycra / velvet skirts, like mermaid / trumpet / straight. This will make you look leaner and longer overall.
- if you decide to wear body stocking, definitely go with matching color to your costume, this will also make you look longer in the torse. Also a dress would probably look really good on you.
- a V shape belt will make your torso look longer, but if you wear it too high it won't do much.

I knew a dancer a long time ago, she was short, with long legs (about the same log legs as me, and mine are long) but her torso was very very short, and her ribcage / waist / upper hip measurements seems to be the same. When she wore a full chiffon skirt with a V turkish belt high up almost under her belly button and lots of fringe on her bra (typical cheapie turkish bedlah) she looked "mooshed" together.
When she wore a beautiful bella with a V dip on the hip, she wore it lower, the top part of the skirt was hugging her curves, and the bra didn't have much fringe - what a difference!!!

I wear undergarments with padded hip and butt for performances. It helps.

Souzan

when i first started out, i had 3"fringe on my bra....
then i shortened it to 1".
better, but even though i am not an egyptian dancer, those bras, no fringe are best on me.i am 5' 1",AND NEVER HANG from bra...it sorta joines your nipples to your navel and you look to have an even shorter torso.
..for what it is worth

Originally Posted by Souzan

I wear undergarments with padded hip and butt for performances. It helps.

Souzan

I thought I was the only one!
Stocky shape here*waves*

Yes to mermaid skirts,yes to designs that connect bra and belt over the stomach center(mesh sides)and create an "hourglass".
Yes to sleeve and shoulder drapes,necklaces and skirt slits.

No to fringe walls,thin bra straps and too straight skirts(skimpy fabric)
We need to make an illusion of volume where it´s lacking to balance.

(Katia that works in Cairo has a fit version of this body type.Look at some of her costume choices)

Thanks gals! All your advice has been great. It's tough, though I'm sure it could be worse. When I'm really fit, I look pretty good, almost like a gymnast or something, but as tends to happen, when I put on a little weight, it all goes to my (already) thick midsection, so I have no curves at all! I don't want to have that (biker-chick)look-sorry biker gals out there! Heheh! Skinny legs and tubby middle!