Put your figure in perspective
The most perfect figure doesn’t come out, when you are dressed in an unflattering way.
So it should be your goal to find out, what flatters you most, which parts of your body should be highlighted the most and which ones can be covered with finesse. Fashion is only as good as it looks on you. I find it much smarter to adapt the latest look to my figure and personality rather than trying to accommodate each trend. We only look stylish if we have found our personal style. There are some important basic rules you should know, to put your figure and proportions in perspective and how you can work on finding your best lines.
Horizontal lines
Horizontal lines make every area look wider and shorter - so you need to be aware of where to find them in garments: Horizontal elements of your clothing can be: hems of sleeves and tops or pants or skirts, etc., Yokes, pockets, horizontal stripes and prints, Seams, Trims, Belts, cuffs on trousers, also buttons on double breasted jackets or coats. Boarder prints and also distressing and whiskering on Jeans. Not to forget straps and high vamps on shoes - these are also creating a horizontal line.
Use the horizontal lines at areas where you are to slim: if you have narrow hips, accentuate them with a skirt with pockets or a horizontal color blocking pattern, if your shoulders are too narrow - wear a bateaux line top or a ruffled blouse to broaden your shoulders.
If you have a slim long neck: add some length to your hair, because short hair will accentuate its length. Avoid deep V necklines and add scarves.
If your neck is short: use the opposite to balance its appearance. Wear an open V-collar, avoid high standup collars and turtlenecks.
Vertical lines
Vertical lines make every area look slimmer and longer. The same happens with diagonal lines too. To elongate you want to ensure you have more vertical lines and less horizontal lines. Vertical elements can be: Plackets, Jacket edges, center creases on trousers, Rows of buttons (up and down), Pleats, vertical stripes, and vertical seams. Also, long necklaces, dangling scarves and high-heeled shoes.
If you want to elongate, find garments with more vertical lines, for example, if you have a short upper body, if you are short or have short legs, short arms, small feet and for all parts of your body you want to make appear slimmer. For example, instead of wearing beige boots to black pants, try to wear either black boots with black pants or try beige pants to the beige boots you have. I guarantee you the difference will be amazing!
A trick that will make you look much taller: always tone your shoes to pants or tights or legs. Wearing make up toned tights and nude-toned shoes will make you look taller and they really go with every dress. Also, it is so much easier to travel, without having to pack so many pairs of shoes.
One word about the uni-colored look: Uni-colored areas always appear larger than multicolored ones, and they will make you look slimmer. Use the elongating effect if you are short in height and want to appear taller.
Color Blocking
Use color blocking with horizontal lines if you are very tall or very skinny because two-toned fabrics make look areas smaller and broader. Also, use the 2-color trick if you have very long legs or big feet. To elongate, just use color blocking with vertical lines. Instead of breaking up your body by alternating colors, you can elongate by creating a flow.
For more information how to put your figure in perspective, download my ebook or check out my online course on Udemy.
All the best,
Astrid