A short upper body and fabric that bunches above the waist
Short answer: Choose tops with a short body and a high waist. The extra fabric needs to be removed, not tucked into your pants, if the bulge should disappear for good.
Why it bulges
With a short torso there is more fabric than there is room for between shoulder and waist. The fabric has to go somewhere, and it gathers as a fold right above the waistband. It looks like extra bulk, but it is fabric with no natural place to sit.
What to look for
Body length in the size chart is the number that decides it, not chest width or a roomy fit. If unsure, measure a garment that sits well at the waist and use it as your line. A short style in your normal width is often the whole answer, with no need to change size.
A high waist helps
Pants and skirts with a high waist meet the top higher up, leaving less fabric to hide between the two layers. Combining a short top with a high waist is the simplest fix, because the two pieces meet closer together. See women's bamboo pants .
The fix that works
A tailor can shorten a top at the hem in under an hour if you bring the garment yourself. On knit fabric this needs a stretch seam, so choose a tailor who works with jersey and knows the material well. See bamboo t shirt for women .
Fabric and cut that fit
Soft, thin fabric lies flatter than thick qualities, and a short style in a light fabric bulges less even when you sit down. See bamboo tops for women for styles designed for a short torso without extra bulk at the bottom.
What to avoid
Loose tops with a long, unstructured hem are the hardest to make sit well, because there is no cut holding the fabric together. Peplums and ruffled hems often make it worse, adding even more fabric right where the bulge already sits.
Dresses and one pieces
In a dress or jumpsuit you cannot simply swap the top, so the placement of the waist seam matters most. Choose styles without a marked waist seam, or with one set high, so the fabric spreads evenly instead of gathering in one spot.
How to check in the store
Stand in front of a mirror and raise your arms a few times, the way you would in daily life. If the fabric still bulges after moving, the style is too long for your body, no matter how good it looks standing still.
When you shop again
Note the body length that works for you and bring it along when looking at new tops. It saves you from trying on styles that will never sit right, whatever color or cut they otherwise have.
Frequently asked questions
Can you just tuck the fabric into your pants
That works partly, but it bulges back out during the day. A shorter style looks better and sits calmer, without you having to adjust your clothes over and over again.
Are crop tops the answer
Not necessarily. A regular style in a short length is often more versatile and fits more situations than a crop top, which only works with certain pants.
Why do my dresses sit wrong at the waist
Because the dress's waist seam is designed for a longer torso than yours. Choose styles without a marked waist seam so the fabric spreads evenly all the way down.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
