Proportional Dressing

Proportional dressing correctly uses color, print, texture, and line to create a balanced look for the ultimate well-dressed women.

If you don't already know your proportions, here is how you can determine them. Stand in front of a full length mirror in your underwear with your hair pulled back from your face. Take an washable marker, eyeliner or lip crayon and draw the outline of you face. Next, create an outline of your body using small dots to mark on the mirror.

Start where your neck meets your shoulder ______
the outside point of your shoulders ______
Your arm pits ______
the smallest point of your waist ______
your wrist ______
your hips ______
your inseam ______
and your knees ______

Now connect the dots to create an outline of your body. Stand back and evaluate the shape. Can you see your proportions?

Measure the distance from shoulder point to shoulder point ______
and from hip to hip ______

Ideally, these measurements will be the same. If one is larger than the other, proportional dressing will help you create the illusion that they are balanced.

Next, measure from the top of your head (your face) to the floor ______
from your inseam to the floor ______

Is the length of your legs half the measurement of your whole body? If your top half is longer, you may be long legged. If your legs are longer than your top half, you may be short legged. The amount of the difference will determine the need to make adjustments for balance.

Finally, measure the length from armpit to wrist ______
from wrist to elbow ______

Is your forearm half of your arm length? If your forearm is longer than your upper arm, you may be high-waisted. If you have a longer upper arm and you may be low-waisted.

Now that you know where your assets are, proportional dressing can help you maximize them.