Question: What does back waist length mean?
Answer: Back waist length is the length measurement between the bone at the back of the neck and the waist. Because petites typically have shorter torsos, this measurement is normally less on a woman who wears a petite size than on a woman who wears a regular size. When you try on misses' dresses or tops, you may notice that they puff out in the back bodice or form a pouch in the front. Garment bodice pieces for regular sized clothing are cut with a longer back waist length than petite garments, and that's the reason they don't fit petites well in the bodice area.