Learning what to wear for her body type has widened her variety of clothes and accessories. Especially prints. Before she couldn’t figure out which print works for her so she always wore solids. As a result her overall confidence in herself and abilities has grown. Over the last several years her family, friends and boss have seen her blossom.
Alice is looking for an outfit she could wear to work on casual days (but still look professional) and out to summer parties. Work and home life has been busy so she turned to macys.com to look for a new outfit. Before understanding the clues her body gives her, she wouldn’t have ever bought online because she has such a hard time finding clothes in the store so why would she do it online?
By learning to identify design lines and colors on outfits in the store and knowing which ones work for her body, Alice learned the skills to pick out clothes online without having to buy loads of clothes only to return them.
Keep reading to learn the skills Alice learned to shop for clothes online.
Alice’s Body Elements
As a review, these are Alice’s Body Element clues:
- Body Shape — V (Body Shape — The Girls)
- Angular clothes silhouette
- Horizontal lines — Place them at her waist and hips, and avoid placing them at her shoulders
- Vertical lines — Place them between her chin and bust, and avoid placing them at her waist and hips
- Face Shape — Rectangle (Face Shape — The Girls)
- Angular design lines, prints and accessories
- Color Skin, Hair, Eyes — Low Color Contrast (Color Skin, Hair & Eyes — The Girls)
- Favorite Colors — Olive Green, Coral, Violet
- Color Combinations (other colors) — Analogous
- Color Combinations (relative lightness and darkness) — Low contrast
- First Scale Clue — Small
- Body Proportions — Short between chin/bust, Long between waist/crotch (Body Proportions — The Girls)
- Horizontal lines — Place them between her waist/crotch, and don’t place them between her chin/bust
- Vertical lines — Place them between her chin/bust, and limit them between her waist/crotch
- Second Scale Clue — Decrease overall scale between chin/bust and increase it between waist/crotch
- Body Frame Size — Medium (Body Frame Size — The Girls)
- Third scale clue — Medium
- Scale Strategy — Small/Medium (Scale Strategy — The Girls)
- Decrease scale to small between her chin/bust
- Increase to medium between her waist/crotch
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Top
To start looking for a top, Alice typed into the search bar “violet women tops.” She didn’t find anything she liked. Then she typed in olive green and then coral and still didn’t find anything she liked. Next she typed in halter top because they deemphasize her shoulders. This was one of the first ones, and she liked the small print and coral. Then she looked at the design lines and color combination to determine if they match her body’s clues.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Silhouette
The first design line Alice looked at is the silhouette. It’s the difference between her shoulders/waist, waist/hips and hips/shoulders. It comes in two categories: angular and curved. An angular silhouette is where the shoulders, waist and hips appear to be the same width. On the other hand, a curved silhouette is where the waist is significantly thinner than the shoulders and waist. Her Body Shape gives her clues as to which category to wear.
Alice has a V Body Shape where her shoulders are significantly wider than both her waist and hips. This Body Shape falls into the angular category because her waist isn’t significantly smaller than both her shoulders and waist. Her body gives her the clues that angular silhouettes work best for her body.
Alice looked at both the product detail and pictures to determine the silhouette. The product detail didn’t give any clues so she looked closely at the pictures. When looking at the picture of the back, she determined it had an angular silhouette that is perfect for her.
Horizontal Lines
The next design lines Alice looked for are horizontal lines. Horizontal lines stop your eyes, emphasize the area and make it appear wider and shorter. Her Body Shape and Body Proportions give her clues as to the placement of these design lines.
Since Alice has a V Body Shape she doesn’t want horizontal lines in her shoulder area because they will stop the eye in this area, emphasize it, and make it appear wider. Something she doesn’t want. However, if horizontal lines are placed in her waist and hip areas, these areas would be emphasized and appear wider. This would be a good thing because the eye is brought to this area and they appear to be in better proportion with her shoulder.
For Alice’s Body Proportions, she is short between her chin/bust and long between her waist/hips. Horizontal lines between her chin/bust would only make this area appear even shorter and more out of proportion. On the other hand, putting horizontal lines between her waist/crotch would shorten the appearance of this area and create better balance.
Alice looked for horizontal lines on the top. She found only one horizontal line and that’s the hem. The hem lies between her waist/crotch area. This is a perfect place for horizontal lines to be for both her Body Shape and Body Proportions.
Vertical Lines
Alice then looked for vertical design lines. Vertical lines move the eyes up and down and make the area appear thinner and longer. Her Body Shape and Body Proportions give her clues as to the placement of these design lines.
For her V Body Shape, Alice wants vertical design lines between her shoulders and bust area because they will move the eye away from the area and make it appear thinner. However, she doesn’t want them just in her waist and hip areas because vertical lines will make this area appear even thinner and more out of proportion with her shoulders.
Alice wants vertical design lines in her chin/bust area because it will make this area appear longer creating better overall balance. But she doesn’t want them just between her waist and crotch because vertical lines will make appear even longer and more out of proportion with the rest of her body.
In looking at the pictures Alice determined that there are several vertical design lines: the halter shoulders and v-neck line. The halter shoulders are perfect for both her Body Shape and Body Proportions. They make this area appear thinner and longer. The V-neckline also helps make the shoulders appear thinner and longer. Both are perfect for Alice.
Shape Of Design Lines
Next Alice looked at the design line shape. She finds it in design detail sewn into the garment and overall design of a print. In the past, she stayed away from prints because she couldn’t figure out which ones work best for her. She learned that one aspect of a print she should look at is its overall shape. Design line shapes fall in two categories: angular and curved. Her Face Shape gives her clues to which category she should wear.
Alice has a rectangle Face Shape which means she should wear print with an overall angular feel. She found two design line shapes: V-neckline and print. The V in the V-neckline has an angular shape; perfect for her Face Shape.
When looking at the print she saw both angular and curved shapes. She thought she would first analyze the color and scale of the print before she decided if the print would work for her.
Color
Alice’s favorite color is coral. She knows sometimes the pictures don’t always truly represent the color so she will need to wait and see it in person.
When looking at a print, Alice learned she needed to evaluate all the colors in the print. The color of her Skin, Hair and Eyes give her the clue to determine the best color combinations. Because she has light skin, hair and eyes she has a color contrast profile of ‘light’. This means a monochromatic color combination is best for her. She looked at the print close up and thought the print was made up of monochromatic coral colors.
Her low color contrast profile also tells Alice that the relative lightness and darkness of the colors also needs to be low. This means the colors need to be next to each other on the color wheel. She thought the colors weren’t next to each other but one away from each other which could work for her.
Scale
The last component of evaluating a print is the scale. A print scale can be anywhere between small to large. Alice learned that the combination of the clues of her Skin, Hair and Eye color, along with Body Proportion and Body Frame Size give her her scale clue. First she combines the clues from the color of her Skin, Hair and Eyes with her Body Frame Size. Then adjusts it with her Body Proportions clue.
Alice’s overall scale is small. Because her torso and legs are equal, she doesn’t adjust the scale for her Body Proportions. She looks at the overall scale of the print and determines it’s small.
Alice loves this top but there’s a few things she needs to see in person to determine if it works for her so she purchases it. When she tried it on she loved it. Before learning the clues her body gives her and learning how to evaluate design lines and colors, she would never have bought this top.
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Pants
Alice looked at the title and product detail to determine if it talked about the silhouette but it didn’t. There was only one picture and it was hard to tell. She learned that when no information is given about the silhouette, it’s most likely an angular silhouette because the fashion industry mostly sells angular silhouette pants. If it was a curvy fit then it would say on the title, product detail and label. Angular silhouette works perfectly for her V Body Shape.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Silhouette
Alice looked at the title and product detail to determine if it talked about the silhouette. It didn’t. There was only one picture and it was hard to tell. She learned that when no information is given about the silhouette, it’s most likely an angular silhouette because the fashion industry mostly sells angular silhouette pants. If it was a curvy fit then it would say on the title, product detail and label. Angular silhouette works perfectly for her V Body Shape.
Horizontal Lines
Alice determined this pair of pants has three horizontal lines: the waistband, cargo pant patch pockets and hem. Both work for her Body Shape and Body Proportions. If she decides to wear the top front tucked in, the waistband will show and create a horizontal line just below her bellybutton. She learned that most pants are mid-rise unless otherwise stated. Mid-rise pants are perfect for both her Body Shape and Body Proportions. Attention goes to this area balancing out her shoulders and the area between her waist/crotch appears shorter.
Alice loves the detail of cargo pant patch pockets. She knows not everyone can wear them like her friends Monica and Grace, because their legs are significantly shorter than their torso.
The Size & Fit area states the inseam is 27 ½ inches. This makes it an ankle pant or a little above it. The model is 5’10” which is why it looks like a capris. Alice believes it will be just above her ankles which would be a perfect length for her. She feels lucky that her torso and legs are approximately the same length which means she can wear any length of pants.
Grace also learned that a wide hem pant created by wide-leg or bootcut pant legs also can help balance out her shoulders. This is another reason she chose this pair of pants.
Vertical Lines
The next design lines Alice looks for are vertical design lines. She sees two: center front seam and opening; and side pockets. Vertical lines between her waist/crotch area by themselves aren’t always her friends because they will make the area appear even thinner making her shoulders appear wider. They will also make this area appear even longer, something she doesn’t want. But by combining these vertical lines with horizontal one, waistband and/or hem of blouse, balance is created.
Shape Of Design Lines
The last design line Alice looked for on the pants was design line shapes. She found them in the patch pockets and the flaps. Looking close up at the patch pockets she determined they have an angular shape. However, she wasn’t 100% sure about the flaps. She learned that the fashion industry quite often mixes design line shapes in an outfit. Because most of the design lines work for her body’s clues, she believes the mixture of design lines on the pocket will work.
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Shoes
Alice wanted to get a pair of white wedge sandals. She can wear them with other outfits. Her main goal was to find a pair with the right scale for her. If the scale was off, the shoes wouldn’t work for her. Something she’s always known but was never sure why.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Horizontal Lines
Alice looked for white wedge sandals without ankle straps but couldn’t find any she liked. The ankle strap works for her because her legs and torso are approximately the same length.
Shape Of Design Lines
Next Alice looked at the toe shape. This season it was easy to find square toes because it’s on trend, but she hasn’t always been so lucky. She wants square toe sandals because it matches her Face Shape clues. This pair has square toes.
Scale
The last design element Alice looks for is the overall scale of the sandals. Many sandals have heavy soles which increases the visual weight. Her overall scale is small/medium and so heavy soles just don’t work for her. When she found these she knew they would work perfectly and wouldn’t weigh her down.
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Necklace
Alice next looked for a gold lariat necklace. She has always been drawn to this type of necklace but she never knew why. She thinks it’s amazing how her body gives her these clues.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Shape Of Design Lines
Alice looked for chains that give her an overall angular feel. She hadn’t seen this type of chain in the stores before but thought it would work for her because it has an angular feel.
Scale
When Alice looked at a picture with a woman wearing the necklace, she thought the scale is somewhere between small and medium which works perfectly for her.
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Bracelet
Alice loves wearing bracelets. She’s always on the lookout for new ones. Not every outfit can handle it but this one screams for one.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Shape Of Design Lines
Because the chain is the paperclip style she thought it balances out the round beads. She knows most of all the design lines work for her body’s clues so she believes it will work.
Scale
Alice looked in the product detail area to find out the size of the coral beads. They are 8 mm which are small/medium size. The scale of the bracelet is perfect for her.
What To Wear For My Body Type -- Earrings
The last thing Alice looked for was new hoop earrings. She wanted one with an interesting design. When she saw this pair she knew those were the ones.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Shape Of Design Lines
It was the design line shape that Alice loved about these earrings. The metal is square shaped with a twist. It gives the angular feel which reflects her Face Shape.
Scale
Alice looked at the product details section to determine the length of the earring. It said they were 2 inches long. That’s a little big for her but she decided to take a chance on them because she loved the shape so much. When she tried them on with the whole outfit she felt like she could conquer her world; the feeling she was looking for.
Final Thoughts
Alice is excited to wear this outfit to work and to the next summer party. Learning to identify design lines and colors and understanding which ones work for her body is a skill she never had. Now she’s applying it to shopping online.
Grace is needing a few new summer clothes to wear to parties and weekend trips with her family. Over the last few years she’s learned to identify which design lines and colors will work on her body. As a result her old confident college self is showing up again. To find out how she dresses for her body type go to: What To Wear For My Body Type — Grace.
Wear Your Greatness!!
