Alice is learning how to analyze design lines. She needs a formal dress for an upcoming small and intimate event. She window-shopped but didn’t see anything she liked, so she went to Macys.com to get inspired.
Alice is drawn to this dress because it has the V neckline front and back. She also likes that it’s not black because she really doesn’t like wearing black. This is an Xscape dress from Macys.com: Lace Sleeve Chiffon Dress, Web ID 10465896.
In this post I will help Alice analyze the design lines and color of this formal dress. And help her determine if it’s right for her. If this dress ultimately doesn’t work for her, I’ll help her pick out another one.
This post is divided into the five different Body Elements plus Scale Strategy:
Body Shape
Face Shape
Color Skin, Hair and Eyes
Body Proportion
Body Frame Size
Scale Strategy
Analyze Design Lines -- Body Shape
Body Shape gives you clues to the silhouette of the clothes and placement of horizontal and vertical lines. To review the different Body Shapes and the clues they give, go to What Are Your Body Shape Clues.
In a previous post, Analyze Design Lines — Meet Alice, you learned that Alice has a V Body Shape. Her shoulders are wider than both her waist and hips. Her bust line is larger than the average one and she carries weight at her stomach. She has no butt and skinny legs.
Silhouette
A V Body Shape gives Alice the clue to look for dresses with an angular silhouette, with the shoulders, waist and hips all the same width.
This dress at first glance has a curved silhouette. Why I say at first glance is because the fashion industry has tricks to make dresses fit models and mannequins. They will pin an outfit at the waist to make it look like a curved silhouette when it’s an angular one. Also many dresses and clothes are made with Lycra causing fabric to be stretchy. As a result an angular silhouette can transform into a curved one. If Alice likes all the other design lines and color, she should try this dress on to see how the silhouette fits her body.
One fitting problem Alice will run into quite often is when clothes fit her shoulders, the waist and hips might be too big. As a result, she will need to have this area altered. In most cases it’s an easy alteration.
Horizontal Lines
This dress has a horizontal line just below the bust line. Because Alice’s bust line is larger than the average woman this could be a problem because it will bring attention to this area. She would need to try it on to determine if the line works or doesn’t work for her.
Vertical Lines
There are two vertical lines affecting her Body Shape on this dress:
Neckline
Sleeve line
The neckline (front and back) is V-shaped. It starts in the middle of her shoulders. This is perfect for her because it visually makes her shoulders appear to be slimmer.
One problem this neckline presents is at the point. It brings attention to her bust area. Along with the horizontal line this dress emphasizes this area. This isn’t always a bad thing; however, it totally depends on the setting. If the event is work related, Alice should think twice about it because attention will go to this area instead of her abilities.
Think of it in this way: Alice has crafted a certain brand for herself at work, and this dress might be off brand for her.
The raglan lace sleeves are perfect for her wider shoulders. This type of sleeve creates the illusion that the shoulders aren’t as wide as they are, creating overall body shape balance.
Alice has blonde hair, light skin and hazel green eyes. Her favorite colors are olive green, coral and violet. Of these colors, olive green is her power color. Every time she wears it she feels like she can conquer her world.
Alice’s Color Contrast Profile is low.
Favorite Colors
The color of this dress is plum, which is in the violet family of colors. Alice is right to believe black isn’t a great color for her. It would overpower her coloring.
Because Alice’s coloring is light, the dark plum might be too dark for her. She would need to try it on to determine if it is. Once she really understands the intensity of color that works for her, she will know if the color works or not.
A lighter color closer to her favorite colors of olive green, coral and violet would most likely be better.
Color Combinations
This dress has just one color. However, Alice will create color combinations through accessories: jewelry and shoes. When picking out accessories they should create a monochromatic or analogous color scheme for the whole outfit.
Scale
Alice’s Color Contrast Profile is low, which translates into a small scale clue. To discuss the scale of jewelry and shoes she should select for this outfit, go to the Scale Strategy section below.
What To Wear -- Body Proportion
The clues Body Proportion give you are:
Placement of horizontal and vertical lines
The second clue to the scale of prints and accessories
This dress has one horizontal line, just below the bust line.
Alice’s Body Proportion in this area is the same. This horizontal line works well for her Body Proportion.
Vertical Lines
There are two vertical lines in this dress that affect her Body Proportion:
Neckline
Chiffon ruffle flowing down the left side starting at the hip
Alice is long between her chin and bust and the dress’s neckline creates vertical lines in this area. These lines will make this area appear even longer. However the right necklace can create a horizontal line in this area. Another reason to create a horizontal line in this area is to de-emphasize the bust line. Putting a horizontal line in this area can also be tricky because of Alice’s shoulders.
If Alice chooses on this dress or one with the same type of neckline, she should look for necklaces (right shape and scale for her) that work for her. The best way to do this is to try on various necklaces to find the right placement of the horizontal line.
Scale
The scale clues from Alice’s Body Proportions are:
Chin to Bust — Increase
Bust to Waist — Same
Waist to Crotch — Decrease
Crotch to Knees — Same
Knees to Floor — Same
Torso — Same
Legs — Same
Alice doesn’t need to worry about scale for the dress but will need to consider it for the jewelry and shoes.
Go to Scale Strategy below for the scale of the jewelry and shoes she should pick for this outfit.
Analyze Design Lines -- Body Frame Size
Body Frame Size gives you the third clue for scale of prints and accessories. To review this Body Element and the clues it gives you, go to Body Frame Size — Bone Size Clue.
Alice’s Body Frame Size is medium resulting with a scale clue of medium.
Go to Scale Strategy below for the scale of the jewelry and shoes she should select for this outfit.
Analyze Design Lines -- Scale Strategy
Scale Strategy is determined by bringing together the scale clues from:
With respect to her body proportions, this overall Scale Strategy is adjusted:
Chin to Bust — Increase
Bust to Waist — Same
Waist to Crotch — Decrease
Crotch to Knees — Same
Knees to Floor — Same
Torso — Same
Legs — Same
Because Alice is long between her chin and bust, she can wear necklaces with a medium scale. However the scale for earrings, bracelets and shoes should remain small/medium because the areas where they are worn are the same.
Summary
Because Alice can’t go to the store to try on this dress, she will need to order it and then try it on. If it doesn’t work she can go to her local Macy’s store and return it.
First she will need to make sure the silhouette works for her. Because the description doesn’t give her enough information about the type of fabric other than chiffon, she needs to try it on to test the silhouette of the dress.
Problems she might encounter: the waist might be too small because Alice carries weight in this area. As a result the dress won’t work.
On the other hand, if the waist fits (or is a little big) and the hip area is definitely too big, she will need alterations.
Alice will need to look at the horizontal line just below the bust line. She will need to determine if it’s right for her.
She will also need to look at the plum color and determine if it’s too dark for her coloring.
Finally Alice needs to determine if the point of the V-neckline is in the right spot for her. She will need to consider the setting of the formal gathering.
If everything else is doable, Alice might need to have the dress hemmed. This is because the fashion industry is making long dresses a little longer because there are so many women who are tall and need the length. As I tell my customers, it’s easier to take off lengthen than it is to add to it.
Alternative Dresses
Since this dress doesn’t appear to be 100% perfect for Alice she should also order other dresses. These are a few Alice should consider:
These colors and most of the design lines should work well for her. However, the scale of the print on the first dress might be too big and the shape appears to be more curved than angular. With the right accessories she could over shadow that.
If Alice wants all the design lines and colors to reflect all her body element clues, the easiest way is to have a dress custom made.
The next post is the last one for Alice. She is looking for a new suit for an upcoming presentation that she is making. It’s called, Analyze Design Lines — Suit.