Knowing how to analyze the design lines and colors of an outfit is the easiest way to create a closet full of clothes you love to wear.
You met Alice and followed how she analyzed design lines and colors that would enhance her body. Now you’ll meet Monica.
You can become inspired by outfits in stores and online. By knowing how to analyze design lines and colors on these outfits along with understanding which ones enhance your body, you can transform these outfits into ones you love to wear. Outfit by outfit you can create that elusive closet full of clothes you love to wear.
In this next series of posts helping Monica, the outfits will come from mannequins in Macy’s at the Galleria Mall in Roseville, CA and Macys.com.
In this post you’ll learn about Monica’s Body Elements and the clues they give her. Then in next week’s post we’ll evaluate a mannequin she’s inspired by and learn how to change various pieces of clothing so the design lines and colors match her Body Elements.
Let’s meet Monica!
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.
Monica is 5’5” and has an O Body Shape. Her waist is wider than both her shoulders and hips. She’s always been this way even though she was very thin in high school. Now that she’s in her mid-40s she’s gained some weight and it all goes to her waist and stomach.
She has such a hard time finding clothes that fit her body. To get clothes to fit at the waist, they seem to swim on her at the shoulders. She hates going shopping because nothing fits right or looks good on her.
Analyze Design Lines -- Clothes Silhouette
Since Monica has an O Body Shape, her silhouette is angular which translates to an angular clothes silhouette.
Because her waist is wider than her shoulders, the shoulders and hips of the clothing items will be big on her. As a result she’ll need many of her clothes altered at the shoulders and hips. With time, Monica will realize that going through this extra step and cost are small prices to pay because she’s creating that closet full of clothes she loves to wear. She’s also able to tap easily into her confidence and personal power.
Analyze Design Lines -- Horizontal Lines
The best placement of horizontal lines for Monica is in the shoulder area because it balances out her waist area. She can also wear horizontal lines in the bust and hip areas. These areas might be important for her depending on her body proportions.
Horizontal lines are not her friend when worn in the waist area because they bring attention to it and make it appear even wider.
Analyze Design Lines -- Vertical Lines
Most vertical lines allow the eye to flow over her waist area, making it appear slimmer.
Face Shape
Face Shape gives you clues as to the shape of:
- Inside design line details
- Prints
- Accessories
To review the different Face Shapes and the clues they give, go to How To Keep Your Feet From Resembling Olive Oyl’s Feet.
Monica has a round Face Shape which is a curved shape.
Analyze Design Lines -- Shape Of Design Lines, Prints And Accessories
Having a round Face Shape, Monica will wear design lines like collars, cuffs, and pockets with a curved shape. The same goes for prints and accessories.
Color Skin, Hair And Eyes
The color of your skin, hair and eyes give you clues to:
- Colors
- Color combinations
- The scale of prints and accessories
There are four posts explaining this Body Element and the clues it gives you. To review them go to:
Monica has medium skin, black hair and medium brown eyes. Her Color Contrast Profile is medium.
Analyze Colors -- Favorite Colors
Monica’s favorite colors are green, yellow and orange/red. Of these colors, orange/red is her power color. Every time she wears it she feels like she can conquer her world.
You’ll find these colors on the Value Color Wheel.
Her best neutrals are black, grey and tan.
Analyze Colors -- Color Combinations
Because Monica’s Color Contrast Profile is medium, her best color combinations are analogous and triadic. Here are some color combinations she can pick from.
The relative lightness and darkness of her colors is medium, meaning the analogous and triadic colors can be one or two rungs above or below on the color wheel.
Analyze Colors -- Scale Of Prints And Accessories
Since Alice’s Color Contrast Profile is medium, her clue for scale is medium.
Body Proportion
The clues Body Proportion give you are:
- Placement of horizontal and vertical lines
- The second clue to scale of prints and accessories
To review Body Proportion and the clues it gives you, go to Body Proportions — Out Of Balance?
Monica’s Body Proportions are:
- Chin to bust — Same
- Bust to waist — Long
- Waist to crotch — Long
- Crotch to Knees — Short
- Knees to floor — Short
- Torso — Long
- Legs — Short
Analyze Design Lines -- Horizontal Lines
Monica has a dilemma: she’s long between her bust and crotch which is a problem because right in the middle, her waist, is the best spot to place a horizontal line. Also she has shorter legs compared to her torso, meaning no horizontal lines should be placed in her leg area. The best places for Monica to put horizontal lines are just under her bust and at her hips.
Analyze Design Lines -- Vertical Lines
Monica can use vertical lines in her leg area to create length. Pants would be a perfect vehicle to create the vertical lines.
Analyze Design Lines -- Scale Of Prints And Accessories
The scale clues for Body Proportion are:
- Chin to bust — Same
- Bust to waist — Increase
- Waist to crotch — Increase
- Crotch to Knees — Decrease
- Knees to floor — Decrease
- Torso — Increase
- Legs — Decrease
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.
Monica’s Body Frame Size is large.
Analyze Design Lines -- Scale Of Prints And Accessories
Her third and final clue for the scale of prints and accessories is large.
Scale Strategy
Scale Strategy is determined by bringing together the scale clues from:
- Color Skin, Hair and Eyes
- Body Proportion
- Body Frame Size
To review or determine your Scale Strategy, go to Scale Strategy — Bringing It Together.
Monica’s scale clues are:
- Color Skin, Hair and Eyes — Medium
- Body Proportion
- Chin to bust — Same
- Bust to waist — Increase
- Waist to crotch — Increase
- Crotch to knees — Decrease
- Knees to floor — Decrease
- Body Frame Size — Large
Analyze Design Lines -- Overall Scale Strategy
Monica’s overall Scale Strategy is somewhere between medium and large. She’ll need to test the exact size by trying on different sizes of prints and accessories to determine which size she feels the lightest in.
Analyze Design Lines -- Scale Strategy For Body Proportion
Monica can increase the scale of accessories and prints between her bust and crotch. For example, handbags usually hang in this area so she’s able to increase the scale to large. However because she’s short between her knees and the floor, she needs to decrease the scale of shoes to medium.
You now understand all of Monica’s Body Elements and the clues they give her. In the next post we’ll analyze an outfit on a mannequin at Macy’s. Several of the design lines won’t work for Monica. So in the next post, you’ll see how you can swap out different clothing items to create an outfit with your body’s best design lines and colors.
It’s called Analyze Design Lines — Calvin Klein Top And Pants.
Wear Your Greatness!!
