Step 3 when shopping for pants is to evaluate vertical line placement. In the last post you read about vertical line placement for Body Shape. In this post you will read about vertical lines and Body Proportion between your waist/crotch, crotch/knees, knees/floor and crotch/floor.
In my first post — Vertical Line Placement On Pants – 1 — I wrote about:
- Effects of vertical lines
- How vertical lines are created
- Determining placement for Body Shape
Today you will learn about:
- Determining placement for Body Proportion
- Bringing it all together
Vertical Line Placement Based On Body Proportion
As with vertical line placement for Body Shape, the placement of these lines is not as critical as horizontal line placement. However, the proper placement can create overall balance. As a result, you can easily tap into your confidence and personal power.
When determining vertical line placement, first you need to establish if you should place vertical lines for your Body Shape. If your Body Shape says vertical lines work in that area then look at your Body Proportion. As you read in the last post Vertical Line Placement On Pants –1, Body Shapes H, A, X and S do well with vertical lines from the waist to the floor. O Body Shapes do well with vertical lines between the waist to crotch, but not crotch to floor. V Body Shapes don’t do well with vertical lines in the pant area.
If you have a V Body Shape then you can skip this post because vertical lines on pants aren’t your friends.
That said–the best use of vertical lines is placing them in areas where you are short because they help you appear longer. However vertical lines from the waist to hem can move your eye over the short area causing your eye not to notice it. The Body Proportion areas important for pants are:
- Waist to crotch
- Crotch to knees
- Knees to floor
- Crotch to floor
Vertical Line Placement and Your Body Proportions
Waist and Crotch -- Long, Short Or Same
If your Body Proportion is the same between your waist and crotch you can place vertical lines based on your Body Shape. Examples of vertical lines are: vertical zipper pockets, design line seams from waist to hem and pressed creases from the hip area to hem.
If you are long between your waist and crotch you really don’t want vertical lines in this area because they will make it visually appear longer. Avoid vertically placed pockets and design lines that only appear in this area. However if you wear design lines that go from the waist to your ankles or floor, the eye flows from the waist to the hem of the pants. Also wearing pants with creases starting just above the hips will do the same thing.
If you are short between your waist and crotch then vertical lines, for the most part, are your friends because they can visually lengthen this area. Vertical pockets are perfect for you. They will visually lengthen this area giving you balance. Vertical design lines from the waist to hem will allow your eye to pass over this short area, giving you balance. However, the use of pressed crease lines starting at the hip to floor will only emphasize this short area. As a result, I would press out any crease lines. (You can do this by putting a little white vinegar in your steam iron and crease lines are a thing of the past.)
Crotch and Knees -- Long, Short Or Same
If your Body Proportion is the same between your crotch to knees you can easily wear vertical lines in this area. You might ask where to find design lines that only appear in this area. The answer is in many workout/yoga pants and leggings. Look at all the block designs next time you’re shopping.
If you are long between your crotch and knees you really don’t want vertical lines in just this area because they will make it appear visually longer. Avoid vertically placed design lines that only appear in this area. However if you wear design lines that go from the waist to hem, the eye flows up and down the line. Also wearing pants with a crease starting just above the hips will do the same thing.
If you are short between your crotch and knees then vertical lines are your friends because they can visually lengthen this area or the eye just passes over it without noticing this area is short.
Knees and Floor -- Long, Short Or Same
As you would expect, if your Body Proportion is the same between your knees to floor you can wear any vertical line placed in the area.
No surprise if you are long between your knees and floor you really don’t want vertical lines in just this area because they will make it appear visually longer. Avoid vertically placed design lines that only appear in this area. However if you wear design lines that go from the waist to hem, the eye flows from the top to the bottom of the pants. Also wearing pants with a crease starting just above the hip will do the same thing.
If you are short between your knees to the floor then vertical lines are your friends because they can visually lengthen this area or pass over the area so the eye doesn’t notice it’s short.
Crotch and Floor -- Long, Short Or Same
Understanding this area is about knowing whether your torso is the same, longer or shorter than your legs. This is a major area for creating balance. I see a lot of women whose legs are much shorter than their torsos. Vertical lines in pants can help in creating balance in this area.
As with every other body proportion, if you’re the same you can wear any vertical line.
As you read above, vertical lines aren’t your friend when you’re long in an area. With your legs being longer than your torso you really become all legs when wearing vertical lines on pants. As a result avoid vertical lines all together unless there are horizontal lines in between.
If you’re all torso and little leg, then vertical lines are your friend. These lines will create visual balance.
Now you understand vertical line placement on your pants. The next step is looking at design line shapes. This is the subject of the next post.
Did you learn anything new about placement of vertical lines for your Body Proportion? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Wear Your Greatness.
