In this first module of our Fashion 101 on Proportions, we will explore how we use clothing to change the appearance of the shape and proportion of our bodies. Each of us have aspects of our bodies that we just don’t like but, rather than obsessing about it we try to use clothes and accessories to visually alter our proportions. For us, doing so is an act of embracing the bodies that we have.
To help us understand our bodies better, we made these handy silhouettes that show our actual figures alongside a comparison of how we perceive our own bodies versus the shape we try to create with our clothes.
S. is most self-conscious about her mid-section: “This is the part of me that I am most acutely aware of. It’s the part of my body I think about when shopping for clothes or getting dressed, and likely the part I most distort in my mind. So I often dress to create the illusion of a more defined waist, a flatter stomach, and slimmer midsection.”
A. is most self-conscious about her hips and thighs: “When I look in the mirror the first thing I see are what appear to me as bulging hips and thighs. I feel I have a bit of pear bottom or that my legs often look like they have been stuck in a pencil sharpener. Particularly when dressing my bottom half, I try to create the appearance of long, straight lines (unsharpened pencils, if you will).”
E. is most self-conscious about her long torso: “Even though I’m on the taller side, my height comes from a very long torso on top of average length legs. I’ve always had a hard time finding tops that are long enough for me, but I rarely need extra length in my inseams. When I wear separates, I worry that my legs look stumpy or that I appear to be simply cut in half. I try to dress to make my legs appear longer and my torso seem shorter, creating a ratio more pleasing to my eyes.”
Homework:
This week, each of us will articulate the strategies that we’ve come to employ in order to visually alter our shapes. Each day, we’ll break down how and why an outfit works for us and helps us feel confident in our skin.
A: On Trouser Pants, On The ‘Upside Down Muffin’,
S: On Defining a Waist, On Belting, On Elongating A Short Torso, On The Empire Waist, On Reducing Muffinage,
E: On Lengthening Legs, On Using Seams To Your Advantage, On High-Waisted Bottoms, On Maternity Pants,
You can additionally dig through our Proportions Archives here.
