9 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Grey tank – Hanes
- Teal ruffle neck top – Target
- Necklace – thrifted remixed
- Jeans – DKNY, thrifted, remixed
- Red pointy pumps – thrifted, remixed
Endnotes:
For today’s discussion on Proportions, I’d like to share one more muffinage-reducing, torso-elongating trick. I am 5’5 and 1/2 (yes, that half is important) with average length legs and a short torso. * Because my torso is also pretty up-down, without much of a waist indentation, I run the risk of looking a bit like a square on top.
To remedy the box-top problem, I ‘borrow’ a bit from my legs to extend my torso. So I basically do the opposite of E., who ‘borrows’ from her torso to extend her legs.
I do this torso-lenghtening from-the-leg-borrowing maneuver by wearing shirts and tops that hit just mid-thigh.** This creates the illusion of a more evenly balanced top and bottom portion, while the longer line of the top also adds to the illusion of length and slimness on top. And for me, anytime I am emphasizing length over width around my midsection, I know I’m doing something right. S.
*This is somewhat difficult to detect with the silhouette because my upper thighs touch, making it look like my legs end much sooner than they actually do. If you’ve been working with your own silhouette, make sure you take this into account!
** This works especially well with longer pants over heels, because the borrowed part from the top of the leg is then added right back at the bottom of the leg.
Necklace detail, originally uploaded by academichic.
Post Script: On Monday, I talked about the beauty of the skinny belt in creating a waist for me. Because I have a short torso, I noted that a wider belt stumps my upper body even more, resulting in the little desired impression that I have a head sitting on a belt over two legs. (So I’m exaggerating just a bit…). But following a reader comment on wider belts, I’d like to add that I have found one instance when I actually like the wider belt on me: When using it to break up or cinch the waist of a dress! Because it is breaking up the long line spanning from the neckline to the seam of the dress, and not the much shorter distance of my torso, a wide belt can be just the ticket! See example below:
Seeing Spots, originally uploaded by academichic.
i like your way of writing. it made me chuckle- but in a good way. i love the balcony shot.
This series is just fascinating. I’d never thought of how garment length choices allow us to “borrow” from other sectors! And S, I am 5’5.5″, too. Husband Mike makes MERCILESS fun of me for including that half-inch!
@ Jenna – thanks! As an academic, being told that you like my writing, is like the ultimate compliment! :)
@ Sal – Ha! That .5 is crucial! It brings us THIS much closer to 5.6! My fiance makes fun of me too for mentioning the .5, but there is NO way I’m dropping it!
The dress and espadrilles in your post script are adorable! I love me some red espadrilles.
I’m 5’2.5″ but often like to round up to 5’3″. I’m short enough as it is already.
LOVE that dress, and with the red shoes!!! :)
I’ve also really enjoyed this proportion series – it makes me think about why I gravitate towards certain things and really helps when buying new. I love the wide belt, too!
Thank you for the example of the wide belt with the dress. It does make sense and I will abandon my wide belts.
I have scouring thrift stores and sales for thin belts and scarves to use as belts in interesting colors and prints to add a little something extra to my wardrobe.
By the way I am a TALL 5 ft 3 and a 1/2 myself.
@ Cam – don’t abandon them entirely! (as in – don’t get rid of them, something I’m too hasty to do with things that don’t look just right). Save the wider belts for longer tops (like tunics) and dresses!
And good luck thrifting some awesome scarves and skinny belts! :)
[...] On Defining a Waist, On Belting, On Elongating A Short Torso, On The Empire Waist, On Reducing [...]