This is a tongue-in-cheek title for one of the most math-y videos I’ve ever done. (That is too a word! Look it up!). Anyway, YouTube liked the title, so I’m going with it, although these details are less about getting it right and more about tweaking it until you’re happy with the result.
It’s less Right vs Wrong and more Good – Better – Best.
These are the minute details that the best-dressed women in the world pay attention to, women like Kate Middleton and Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston.
It really puts the focus where it belongs – on finding the best possible fit for your body, and honoring your body’s unique proportions. And if you’re goal is to look the absolute best in your clothes and to curate your most flattering wardrobe, these are a great start.
Of course, these are based on the most mathematically accurate and historically proven system of proportions in the world, the Fashion Fit Formula, which has been used on royals and first ladies and regular women like you and me for over 50 years.
As with everything I share, take what works for you and skip the rest. You’ll be amazed at what adopting one or two of these small tweaks can make to your style.
How can I make my arms look longer and slimmer?
One of the ways that you can make your arms look longer is to figure out where your arms are short and where they are long. If your forearm is shorter, for example, then minimize the width of cuffs, bracelets, watches, etc. If your upper arm is shorter, then keep the sleeves and other details simple.
If you have an average waistline, ask yourself if your elbow falls below the waistline or above it.
Can I pull off a midi skirt?
Midi skirts have been trending for years, but they can be hard to wear. For one thing, they can often look frumpy if not styled properly or if the skirt itself is frumpy. They also tend to look better on a slimmer person and a person with longer legs. More fabric does not necessarily equal more flattering.
For a midi skirt to work, it needs to be the perfect length for your legs.
The next thing to ask is whether your lower leg (knee to ankle) or upper leg (leg torso to knee) is longer? If your lower leg is shorter than your upper leg, midi skirts will be a little harder to wear.
What’s the most flattering skirt length for every woman?
The most flattering skirt length for everyone is the classic “street length” that is 1″ below the middle of your knee. This is the most flattering length in terms of lengthening your legs and also creating a slimmer look.
What’s the best sleeve length?
The best sleeve length is one that intersects your arm at a narrow part. (You don’t want to draw a line where you don’t want someone to look). Drawing a line where the arm is wider will emphasize that.
If you have a full bust, don’t let your sleeve end at the fullest part of your bust, or it will amplify it. It will also draw attention to a very small bust.
How can I make my upper arms look slimmer?
This little alteration, which I’ve shared in the past, can go a long way towards making your arms appear slimmer. It’s about angling the outside of the sleeve and making it higher than the inside of the sleeve. A little tweak that makes all the difference.
Why don’t booties look good on me?
A lot of women struggle to wear booties, especially the newer ones with the higher leg shaft. This goes back to the principle about the proportions of your legs. If your lower legs are shorter, booties might be less flattering. Consider going for a lower shaft, choosing a boot close to your skin tone, or skipping the boot and going with a pump or similar leg-lengthening style.
Why don’t knee-length boots look good on me?
Knee-length boots worn with a shorter skirt break up the leg in two places, creating a shorter overall look. This is especially challenging for women who have a shorter lower leg (knee to ankle) and a longer upper leg.
Instead of wearing the boots below the hem of your knee (first picture), consider concealing the top of the boot under the hem of the skirt to create an unbroken line (second picture).
How can I make my legs look longer?
If your torso is longer and your legs shorter, then consider keeping the interesting parts of your outfits on the upper half of your body.
Where you have length is where you can put detail. Where you don’t have length, keep it simple.
Keeping details like volume, pattern, color, etc to the top half of the body and keeping the bottom simple can elongate your legs. A skirt like this one, for example, will definitely have the effect of shortening your legs.
What kind of patterns can I wear?
Patterns can be tricky, but one key to getting it right is nailing the scale of the pattern to the proportion of your body. The main motif (flower, dot, etc.) should not be bigger than the palm of your hand.
Color and contrast also play a role, but in terms of proportion, the scale of the motif matters the most.
How do I make my body appear more proportional?
Using the principles I’ve shown here, keep detail, pattern, and interest where you are longer and keep it simple where you are shorter. This can help you control the proportions in your body and create the illusion of a proportional body.
For example, colorblocking can create the look of a longer torso and shorter legs, or the reverse. Understanding these principles can help you pinpoint why some looks work and others don’t.
Nada Manley says
Hi Barbara! Thank you so much for the comment! It means a lot to me! So glad you found it helpful. I would say to keep the different elements in mind. Pattern, shape, silhouette, external details all play a role. If you want to downplay your hips as an Orange body type, consider a small or more subtle print to check both boxes. Take those daily pics so you can play with these concepts and decide what works best for you. I hope that is helpfuL!
Barbara says
This is absolutely brilliant and more detail than I’ve heard before! I instinctively knew some (I never like patterned tops) , but the why helps me to implement them better. How do you reconcile these tips with body type guidelines? I’m longer from waist to ankle, so bottoms can have pattern, but I’m also an orange/pear body type, so need to downplay that area.