Fashion for Your Body Proportions

You might be asking: “What are my proportions and why is this important?”

Did you know that there are formulas and rules of body proportion? The ideal proportion is called “the golden ratio” and can be found in many places in art, architecture and nature. To achieve the best balance using fashion garments style lines, lengths, focal points and details you need to analyze and be aware of your own proportional discrepancies.

Don’t panic – Follow my steps below and you will soon know all about proportions and what it means to you!

1. Wear tight fitting black body suit or top with tight leggings.
2. Take a photo of yourself with your camera and make sure you are square to the camera and you have the top of your head and feet in the picture.
3. Print the picture on regular paper
4. Cut the paper off across the top of your head, then across at the bottom in line with the heel of your feet.
5. Fold the paper in half, then again in half and one more time- 3 folds!
6. Open it up and you should have 8 sections.

Now that you have your body divided up into eight sections, follow me below to determine the next steps. In your photo you should have the top and bottom line as the edge of your paper (I kept the top and bottom line in on my photo).

I am using this example to teach you how to look at your photo

Your first line (crease) should be at your chin level.

Your second line should be at your armpit level.

Your third line should be at your waist (this is exactly half way between armpits and hips).

Your fourth line should be at the widest part of your hips.

Your sixth line is at the level of your knees.

Just to be real not all of us have ideal proportions like the example above. That’s why you need to know about what fashions will enhance and complement your beauty. Overall if your waist line is at the third line your body proportion is following the ideal 3 parts to 5 parts below.

Your wrists should be at the level of the widest part of your hip line to show that you are proportionate in your arm length to the rest of your body.

Okay so what does all this mean in terms of the clothes that you wear? Lets take a closer look.

If you are short waisted, meaning your natural waist line falls above the third crease on your paper, you look great ideally in:

• Jackets and tunics that fall to the inseam or just below (see photo below)
• Sweaters and blouses should be worn over slacks or skirts (see photo below)
• Pants should sit slightly below your waist line (see photo below)
• You should try to avoid wide waist bands and belts, and short jackets

This outfit shows her wearing a blouse over top of her pants and long to the inseam giving an illusion of a long torso.

The following outfit demonstrates her pants sitting below her actual waistline, making it look as though her waistline is lower, balancing her proportions.

If you are long waisted, your natural waist line falls below your third crease on your paper. You should wear:

• Separates, like vests with double layers
• Wide belts
• Contrasting color to break up length (see photo below)
• Skirt length should fall just below the knee (see photo below)
• High-rise pants that are straight leg and fall over your shoes (see photo below)
• Try to avoid low rise pants, short hemlines and belts that are worn below the hips

The following photo shows a high-rise pant with straight-cut pant legs.

This outfit is a demonstration of the use of a wide belt, long skirt and contrasting colors to create a look of an ideal waistline.

Your ideal leg length is measured from the widest part of your hips and should be at your 4th crease line. If the widest part of your hips sits higher than this line then you are long legged. If your natural widest part of your hips falls below this crease line then you are short legged.

If you have short legs you can make your legs look longer by wearing:

• Pants that are straight leg and fall over the shoe
• Solid colors from head to toe (see photo below)
• Long tunics (see photo below)
• Long skirts (see photo below)
• Heeled shoes to give you height (see photo below)

This is an example of a long tunic paired with high heels giving an elongated look.

These outfits are just another example of long skirts paired with high heels giving a long leg look!

Luckily we are all born with variations in our body shapes. Knowing your specific body proportions will help you choose the styles of clothes that will enhance and flatter those shapes. Follow me in my next few posts to learn more specifically what you should and shouldn’t wear depending upon your body shape.

Drop me a message and share with me what you found about your body proportions and how you used fashion to enhance your beauty.