Why is my waist so high

Most people think theirnatural waist is the mid-point of their torso, which isnt true. If you have a high waist, your natural waist will be closer to your breast. If you have a low waist your natural waist will be closer to your hip.

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My grandma Doonie has been a seamstress for over 70 years. Every time I go home to Minneapolis, she drops little pearls of fashion/garment/shopping related wisdom. On a recent trip home, Doonie gave me these simple instructions on finding your natural waist.

Steps to Finding Your Natural Waist

Finding your natural waist isnt hard (if you know where to look). Grab a fabric tape measure and follow these steps:

1. Place a tape measure around your middle torso.
2. Bend your body to the side (either left or right it doesnt matter)
3. Feel for a crease/indentation/fold below your breast, but above the top of your hips. For those of us with love handles, youre looking for thefold closest to the the top of your hips.
4. Move to the tape measure to where this fold occurs.
5. Youve found it! This is your natural waist. While youre there, take a look at the number on your tape measure. It might come in handy to know your waist size.

Heres a video that gives you a bit more detail on how to measure your natural waist.

And a Word on Finding Your Lower Waist

Thanks to the wonderful (or not so wonderful) invention of low-waist jeans, you might wonder how to find your lower waist. Dont fret, your lower waist is simply the point 2 or inches below your natural waist. The easiest way to find your lower waist is to put your pointer finger on your natural waist, then add your middle finger and index finger. The point where your index finger lands is your lower waist. Most jeans (sad, I know) hit at your lower waist, which is problematic if you have a love pouch.

About Jeans

99% of waist questions are in regards to jeans. For the most part, if youve got a pouchy middle, a larger backside, etc., stick with the higher rise jeans. If you have a smaller backside, flatter stomach, stick with the lower rise. We found this awesome infographic on jean rises from the site joy of clothes.

Looking for more great tips? Check these out
How to Wear Skinny Jeans: If You Have Large Thighs
How to Wear Skinny Jeans: If Youre Petite