Horizontal line placement will make or break any outfit. In my opinion the placement of these lines is critical. The right placement creates balance and proportion.
Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportion. Coco Chanel
As in my post, Horizontal Lines: Friend or Foe, horizontal lines:
- Stop the eye
- Emphasize the area where the eye stops
- Cut the body and make it appear shorter
- Make the area appear wider
This is the magic of horizontal lines. Where you place them can make or break your outfit. I bet the horizontal lines are placed perfectly on your favorite outfit.
In this post I will:
- Revisit the two body elements which give you clues as to the placement of horizontal lines
- Review the clues your body elements tell you
- Determine where the horizontal lines are placed on your favorite outfit
- Compare horizontal lines on your favorite outfit and best placement for your body
Horizontal Line Placement - Body Elements
There are 2 Body Elements that give you clues as to the placement of horizontal lines: Body Shape and Body Proportion.
Body Shape
If you don’t know your body shape yet or need to review it go to: What Are Your Body Shape Clues?
As a general rule, you don’t want horizontal lines in your biggest area. For example;
- “A” (pear body type) body shape doesn’t want horizontal lines placed around the hips
- “O” (apple body type) body shape doesn’t want horizontal lines placed around the waist
- “V” (inverted triangle body type) body shape doesn’t want horizontal lines placed around the shoulders
By placing horizontal lines in these areas the body appears even more out of balance. However, placing horizontal lines in the right place creates balance. For example:
- “A” (pear body type) horizontal line placement at the shoulders
- “O” (apple body type) horizontal line placement at the either shoulders or hips
- “V” (inverted triangle body type) horizontal line placement at the waist or hips
If you are any of the above Body Shapes, make a note where you want horizontal lines to be placed and areas where you want to avoid them. You will refer back to this when putting on your favorite outfit and determining if the horizontal line placement is right for you.
Body Proportion
To understand your body proportions or need a review, go to: Body Proportions — Out Of Balance?
As a general rule, you don’t place horizontal lines in short areas and you do place them in long areas. When horizontal lines are placed in short areas that area will look even shorter, creating an out of balance look. On the other hand, placing horizontal lines in long areas creates the appearance of being shorter resulting in balance. Horizontal lines can be our friends.
Note any areas you have short or long Body Proportions. You will refer back to it when evaluating your favorite outfit.
How A Horizontal Line Is Created
Horizontal lines are created by:
- Design lines
- Pockets
- Plackets
- Seam lines
- Collars
- Hemlines
- Waist of skirts and pants
- Print lines
Evaluate Your Favorite Outfit
Now the fun starts:
- Look for horizontal line placement on your favorite outfit
- Determine if the placement creates balance on your body
How To Look For A Horizontal Line
Hang your favorite outfit on the door. Move your eyes from the top to the bottom. Where does your eye naturally stop? Most likely that’s a horizontal line. Do this all the way down. Each time your eye stops you will find a horizontal line.
Another way to do this is to look for:
- Design detail: pockets, collars, plackets, seam lines
- Placement of skirt and pant waistbands
- Hems of tops, skirts, pants or dresses
- Print lines that run horizontally, noting where they are placed
Horizontal Lines And Your Body
It’s finally time to see where these horizontal lines land on your body. Now that you have found the horizontal line placements on your favorite outfit, you can determine if the placements are right for you.
Refer back to your above notes on horizontal line placement for your Body Shape and Body Proportions.
Put this outfit on and look in the mirror. Going from the top to the bottom look at each horizontal line and ask yourself:
- Is this horizontal line in the right place for my Body Shape?
- Does my Body Shape appear to be balanced?
- Is my Body Proportion short in this area?
- Or is it long in this area?
Ask yourself these questions all the way down the whole outfit.
If your answers are:
- All the horizontal lines are in the right place for my Body Shape
- My Body Shape appears to be balanced
- There are no horizontal lines in areas where I have short Body Proportions
- Horizontal lines are placed in areas where I have a long Body Proportion
Then you know the horizontal line placement on your favorite outfit is perfect for you.
If your answers are different then this might not be the perfect outfit for you. Sometimes horizontal lines can be adjusted, for example hem lines or you can adjust pocket placement.
Summary Of Horizontal Line Placement
By going through this exercise you now have a better understanding of horizontal lines placement on your body. You are miles ahead of others and you’re one step closer to creating that closet full of clothes you love to wear, helping you tap into your confidence and personal power.
In the next post you will learn about vertical line placement. It’s called Vertical Line — Evaluate Your Clothes.
Did you learn anything new? Are you able to connect the dots of horizontal line placement? Tell us about what dots you have connected in the comments below.
Wear Your Greatness!!
