This week’s What To Wear outfit is from my closet. After visiting my parents, who tested positive for Covid-19, I’ve been stuck in quarantine since December 29. I’m happy to report that I tested negative. My first day out was the day this blog post was posted.
I designed and created this dress many years ago. It’s one of my favorite dresses because I love its simplicity. The print on the silk fabric creates visual texture which I’m always drawn towards. I wanted to play on the drape of the silk fabric so I turned one of my straight shift patterns into an A-line by adding an inch at each seam at the hem and then blending it into the hip. This added 12 inches around the hem. Whenever I wear this dress I get tons of compliments.
I created another dress, using the same pattern, with a black and white pock-a-dot fabric. In many of my posts I talk about how I love pock-a-dots. Whenever I wear this dress I get zero compliments. It’s interesting that the pattern on a dress can pop you out of your confidence and personal power. I find it fascinating. As a result, I only wear this dress when I do not need that extra boost. The only reason I wear it is because pock-a-dots, for some reason, make me happy.
The sections are divided into the five different Body Elements plus Scale Strategy:
- Body Shape
- Face Shape
- Color Skin, Hair and Eyes
- Body Proportion
- Body Frame Size
- Scale Strategy
What To Wear For Body Shape
Body Shape gives you clues about the silhouette of the clothes and placement of horizontal and vertical lines. To review the different Body Shapes and the clues they give, go to What Are Your Body Shape Clues.
Silhouette
This dress has a curvy silhouette. I created it that way because I have a mix of an “X” and “A” Body Shape.
When you create your own clothes or have them custom made you can create them in a way that matches your silhouette. The first step of understanding your body’s clues is to start out with the right silhouette. However that doesn’t mean it will fit you perfectly. You might need to have alterations done to get the perfect fit.
For example, if you have a “V” Body Shape, in order to get a dress or top to fit your shoulders, the waist and hips might be too big. You will want to get them altered for a better fit which will allow you to tap into your confidence and personal power.
I did a whole series of posts on clothes fit. The first post is called Clothes Fit — How Do You Know.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines are created by the neckline and print. The horizontal line created by the straight neckline is perfect for my body because it causes my shoulders to appear wider.
The print created horizontal lines that are critical to body shape. They are:
- Above the bust
- At the waist
- At mid hip
When creating the dress I knew I wanted a horizontal line at the waist because I wanted to emphasize my waistline. Fortunately all the other horizontal lines fell into place.
The horizontal line above the bust also helped with the illusion of wider shoulders. The one at mid hip is perfect for “A” Body Shapes because it doesn’t emphasize wider hips.
Vertical Lines
This dress does have princess lines in the front and back. These lines create the dress’s vertical lines. Because of the strong horizontal lines caused by the print, the vertical lines aren’t as prominent.
Whenever I use princess lines I use the ones that start at mid arm. I use them because they start out as a horizontal line, giving me visual width at the shoulders and then beneath that point they turn into vertical lines. I never use princess lines that start mid-shoulder because my shoulders will appear smaller putting me out of balance with my hips.
What To Wear For Face Shape
Face Shape gives you clues as to the shape of:
- Inside design line details
- Prints
- Accessories
To review the different Face Shapes and the clues they give, go to How To Keep Your Feet From Resembling Olive Oyl’s Feet.
The major design lines in this dress are created by the block print pattern, giving it an angular feel. Then each block has a design with an angular feel. Both added together creates a strong angular pattern. This complements my angular face perfectly. The pattern is one of the major reasons I get so many compliments when wearing it.
My dress with the pock-a-dots creates a strong curved pattern, which is the major reason why I don’t get compliments when wearing it.
What To Wear For Color Skin, Hair And Eyes
The color of your skin, hair and eyes gives you clues as to:
- Colors
- Color combinations
- The scale of prints and accessories
There are four posts explaining this Body Element and the clues it gives you. To review them go to:
The colors in this dress are black and white creating a high contrast color combination. My dark hair and light skin create a Color Contrast Profile of high contrast.
Although black and white contrast is perfect for me, when I add one of my favorite colors to the dress I feel even better.
On those days I need that extra bit of confidence and personal power; I will add a red belt or red jacket so I can wear my power color of red.
I have light skin with dark hair and eyes. As a result my Color Contrast Profile is high creating the scale clue of large. To discuss the scale of the print, go to the Scale Strategy section below.
What To Wear For Body Proportion
The clues Body Proportion give you are:
- Placement of horizontal and vertical lines
- The second clue to scale of prints and accessories
To review Body Proportion and the clues it gives you, go to Body Proportions — Out Of Balance?
This dress has many horizontal lines affecting body proportion:
- Shoulders — Straight neckline
- Above bust — Print
- Below bust — Print
- Waist — Print
- Mid Hip — Print
- Between Crotch and Knees — Print
- Knees — Hem
My body proportions are:
- Chin to Bust — Long
- Bust to Waist — Long
- Waist to Crotch — Same
- Crotch to Knees — Same
- Knees to Floor — Short
- Torso — Long
- Legs — Short
Because I’m long between my chin and waist most ready-to-wear dresses don’t fit me especially when they have a curved silhouette. The waist hits me way above my waist. This is one of the major reasons I choose to keep creating my own clothes.
If this is you, consider creating your own clothes or having them custom made. Not sure? Do an experiment and try it. Then when wearing your custom clothes, ask yourself: “Do I feel lighter? Do I feel like I can conquer the world?” If so then the extra time and/or expense is worth it.
Horizontal lines between my chin and waist are welcome because they will create balance between my torso and legs.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines between my chin and waist are welcome because they will create balance between my torso and legs.
One of the best dress hem lengths for me is at the knees. This is because I avoid horizontal lines between my knees and ankles. Horizontal lines in this area can cause my legs to appear even shorter.
Sometimes I will wear a longer skirt with boots. I will do this when I create strong horizontal lines that appear in the torso area (for example: adding a belt and/or scarf) and it’s the only one in the leg area.
Vertical Lines
There are not strong vertical lines in this dress, which create visual length.
Scale
The scale clues from my Body Proportions are:
- Chin to Bust — Increase
- Bust to Waist — Increase
- Waist to Crotch — Same
- Crotch to Knees — Same
- Knees to Floor — Decrease
- Torso — Increase
- Legs — Decrease
To discuss the scale of the print, go to the Scale Strategy section below.
What To Wear For Body Frame Size
Body Frame Size gives you the third clue for scale of prints and accessories. To review this Body Element and the clues it gives you, go to Body Frame Size — Bone Size Clue.
My Body Frame Size is small resulting with a scale clue of small.
To determine if the scale of the print is right for you go to the section below.
What To Wear For Scale Strategy
Scale Strategy is determined by bringing together the scale clues from:
- Color Skin, Hair and Eyes
- Body Proportion
- Body Frame Size
To review or determine your Scale Strategy, go to Scale Strategy — Bringing It Together.
This is an interesting print because there are two different scales: large block patterns and smaller patterns within the blocks. These two print sizes give an overall scale feel of medium/large.
My overall Scale Strategy is medium: large for Color of Skin, Hair and Eyes clue and small for Body Frame Size. Because I’m long between my chin and bust and bust and waist, the scale for these areas increases. As a result I can wear medium/large scale prints in this area. Since the dress isn’t in the area between my knees and floor I don’t need to consider that this area is short.
Unfortunately determining the exact scale of a print or an accessory isn’t an exact science. However, your body can help you out. Ask yourself: “Do I feel light or heavy?” (Your Body Knows) When I ask myself this question in the dress, I feel light.
Summary
This dress has a curved silhouette with horizontal lines:
- At the shoulder
- Above the bust
- Below the bust
- At the waist
- At mid hip
- Between the crotch and knees
- At the knees
There are vertical lines created by princess lines which aren’t prominent.
The black and white colors of the dress create a high contrast profile.
If you find fit is a problem with ready-to-wear clothes along with finding ones with design lines and colors that match your Body Element clues, consider creating your own like I do or have them custom made. The cost per wear will go down with time because you will find yourself wearing them a lot. You wear them more because when you wear them you feel like you can conquer the world.
Next week I will analyze another of my outfits. Being able to identify design lines and colors in outfits is a skill that can be easily learned. It will help you decrease the number of clothes you take into the fitting room to determine if they’re right for you.
The next post is called: What To Wear — Cardigan With Pant And Shirt.
Wear Your Greatness!!
