The Secret To… Dressing To Look Slimmer
May 24, 2011 by Arash Mazinani
Filed under All Content, Ladies, Style Tips
You all seemed to enjoy my last post ‘My beef with body shapes‘ so much so it got nominated on beautifully invisible’s link love with a twist. It seemed that the majority of you were against the idea of being told you fit into a one of ‘x’ number of moulds. In fact some were really frustrated with such magazine articles and books that banged on about this. I discussed how I didn’t agree with fixed ‘body shapes’ but I did go onto to mention one or two things that we can all do to help to dress better according to the bodies we have.
What I want to do is elaborate on that a little and just give you one simple tip that you can use to whenever you’re putting together an outfit. Using this simple principle will help you to look slimmer without giving you a headache and feeling like you need to memorise 50 different rules and regulations. In fact, I’m pretty sure most of you will have heard what I’m about to say in one form or another before.
When it comes to dressing to look slimmer the deal breakers are vertical and horizontal lines. Yep, that old chestnut. I’m sure you’re all aware verticals make you tall and thin, horizontals, short and stocky. But most people only ever think about vertical and horizontal anything when it comes to patterns and stripes. Yes that still applies, but you need to thing bigger than simply patterns and stripes.
Your broadest area of your body will be the strongest line, the shoulder area is also a strong horizontal line. You want to eliminate as many horizontals as possible. So for every horizontal line that you have in your outfit ideally you need three verticals. Parts of your body will naturally add vertical lines, particularly your legs. Other details like jacket lapels, buttons on the fronts of shirts and trims can all be used to add vertical lines to an outfit. You can simply swap out a straight line with curved one or V.
The only thing you need to consider is pleats as a lot of pleats together look more like a fence than a vertical line and end up having a horizontal effect. Unless you are already super skinny in which case, you can go pleat crazy.
I’ve tried to do a photoshop shop emphasising what I’m taking about for all those that find visuals easy to follow. Hope it’s not too amateur.
If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.
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Arash, I sure wish your words of wisdom were around this weekend when I went to this wedding. I don’t know how many women would have and could have looked more flattering and slimmer in their formal attire. And it was just as you mentioned the vertical/horizontal line. My boyfriend, who is just as critical as me, kept pointing out all the unflattering dresses.
Even the bridesmaids were a wreck..well I guess that is to be expected. Of course when I look back on the event, this crowd wasn’t exactly the fashion friendly group. These women probably think Miu Miu is a form of transportation. So fashion really isn’t their thing but still I believe everyone should know the basics of dressing. As you mentioned, if not all else at least to look slimmer.
-Madeleine
Madeleine Roberts recently posted..Ahoy Little Sailors!!
Yeah the concept I posted about was fairly simple, at least I tried to make it as simple as possible. Don’t know if I achieved it or if it came across as over complicated. Anyway I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It’s hard not to judge people… when you’re out but you do see some people that get it really wrong when it comes to dressing.
Wow! This is going to help so much when getting dressed. Now that I look at it, v-necks make me look thinner! What a great post… I wont be surprised if I see you on Beautifully Invisible’s list again!
xoxo,
Lauren Nicole
Front Row Spectator
http://frontrowspectator.com/2011/05/23/new-week-new-goals/
Awww thanks for your comment Lauren Nicole… I’m glad you found it helpful.
I agree with this! I dress for my body, (but like I said in the other post still wear what I love) you can usually find me in a belt when I want to accentuate the small waist, yet when I wear pleats I make certain that there are also style lines that fall in a curvier way (by seaming) so that the pleats are in a flattering drape, instead of creating wideness throughout the hip area.(A-lines skirts are my saviour at times, if pleating at all it’s minimal, the seaming is key for my body)!
Well, this is certainly a nice follow up Arash.
-Madison
Aww thanks I’m glad you liked the post I wasn’t sure if I made it sound too complicated and no one would understand it.
BRILLIANT! I’ve been doing this subconsciously but it’s great to see it all laid out in front of me.
THE-LOUDMOUTH recently posted..Loudmouth Lunch – - At-home coffee shop
I’m glad you understood the post ha ha… and my diagram.
Apart from lines and prints I find fabric to be a great guide for flattering or unflattering choices. I tried on a lovely skirt at Zara the other day, not only did it have horizontal lines which were already tricky, but the dealbreaker was the fabric, extremely thin, cheap and ultimately very unkind to everyone.
Very useful post Arash xxx
Fashion Limbo recently posted..Outfit post- Comfy vs Sexy Part II
Very good point fabrics can also add weight to you so certainly needs to be considered carefully.
Haha, good tips! Guess I don’t really think about it all that much. I do notice it when something makes me look wider or something and then I’ll probably not buy it
although I do like oversized things… Depends on what it is I guess.
Thanks for commenting.
Since I am the size of a friggin’ midget, I have to dress to fit my body type, which means lots of long, lean lines.
Therefore, you are a genius.
The end.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
Bonnie recently posted..Walk Like an Egyptian – You know – Bangles!
Ha Ha thank you Bonnie.
Huh! I’ve never thought of lapels as vertical lines, but maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to cardigans and blazers. Thanks! This is a great tip.
Thanks, I’m glad you found it useful.
haha, while reading your article i realized that i maybe have to buy some new clothes and trash some of them
..haha..
chouchou recently posted..aww! i like!
lol ha ha well I’m glad you got some use out of it chouchou.
I want to try this! And congratulations on the nomination.
Thanks Joy
I completely agree with this post!! I think everybody should know better about the art of dressing better, I know on mine I have to stay away from u neck shape shirt, because it make me look like I have a broad shoulder (which is not good on my kind of body shape). And I loooovvveee going to plus size blogger but get dissapointed when they wear any horizontal stripes which make them look twice what they size
I know some blogger said dressing out of your box but not the ones that doesnt flatter.
Keep up the good work Arash
<3
http://reserveradefashion.blogspot.com
Thanks for your comment Angga