The next step the Girls need to take to create their dream closets is to analyze their favorite outfit. That means to analyze the design lines and colors of these outfits. They’ll compare the design lines and colors on them to the clues their bodies give them.
Over the last 6 weeks Sam, Alice, Monica, Grace and Veronica have learned about their Body Elements and the clues they give them. Each one had a different experience. Some were surprised by the results, while others were able to connect the dots and get a better overall understanding.
Each week each Girl will learn how to evaluate her favorite outfit’s design lines and colors, compare them to her Body Element clues and learn what she needs to look for when shopping for new clothes.
This week it’s Sam’s turn to analyze her favorite outfit. She knows she has an easier time finding clothes than the other girls. Unfortunately she just hasn’t figured out the magic formula to duplicate her favorite outfit and why it works for her. She has big dreams and needs that extra confidence that this outfit somehow gives her. Sam’s tired of being stuck and not being able to take steps toward this dream.
Let’s start evaluating Sam’s favorite outfit.
Sam’s Body Elements
Over the past 6 blog posts, Sam learned the clues her Body Elements give her when determining which design lines and colors enhance her natural beauty and help her tap into her confidence and personal power. By understanding these clues her perspective on clothes has totally changed. Her Body Element clues are:
- Body Shape — H (Body Shape — The Girls)
- Angular clothes silhouette
- Can place horizontal and vertical lines almost anywhere when considering Body Shape
- Face Shape — Oval (Face Shape — The Girls)
- Curved design lines, prints and accessories
- Color Skin, Hair, Eyes — High Color Contrast (Color Skin, Hair & Eyes — The Girls)
- Favorite Colors — Blue, Pink (red/violet), Green
- Color Combinations (other colors) —
- Triadic — Blue
- Triadic or Complementary — Pink
- Complementary — Green
- Color Combinations (relative lightness and darkness) — High contrast
- First Scale Clue — Large
- Body Proportions — Short between chin/bust, Long between waist/crotch (Body Proportions — The Girls)
- Horizontal lines — Don’t place them between her chin/bust but do place them between her waist/crotch
- Vertical lines — Limit the amount between her waist/crotch but do place them between her chin/bust
- Second Scale Clue — Decrease overall scale between chin/bust and increase it between waist/crotch
- Body Frame Size — Medium (Body Frame Size — The Girls)
- Third scale clue — Medium
- Scale Strategy — Medium/Large (Scale Strategy — The Girls)
- Decrease it to medium between her chin/bust
- Increase it to large between her waist/crotch
Analyze Favorite Outfit -- Favorite Outfit
Sam’s favorite outfit in her closet is a pant and blouse combination. She bought it years ago and every time she wears it she feels more like herself and always gets a lot of complements. She would love to duplicate it but hasn’t figured out how to do it.
Sam has always been more of a tomboy and isn’t really interested in clothes. She grew up playing softball and helping her dad in his construction business. Until she became an architect she mostly wore athletic clothes.
She loves wearing clothes that don’t restrict her. As an architect, Sam sits at the drawing table creating designs, meeting with clients and contractors, and going to the job sites to make sure everything is going as planned. In one day she can go from a job site to meeting with clients so her clothes need to be versatile. Sam’s drawn to classic design lines which have stretch allowing her to move easily.
Sam’s favorite outfit is a solid blue faux wrap long sleeve knit top and pull on slim leg, black knit pants.
She thought it would be easy to duplicate this outfit but has found it difficult, especially the top. There’s something about the other tops that didn’t work for her which she hasn’t figured out yet. She’s excited about learning how to analyze her favorite outfit.
Analyze Design Lines & Colors -- Top
Sam wears this top a lot, especially when meeting new clients. First of all, she loves the color. Every time she wears it she gets compliments. She also loves the neckline; mostly because it’s high enough not to bring attention to her bust line. Sam finds other similar necklines are too low and bring attention to this area. Working in a male dominated environment she finds she gets more respect for her ideas and knowledge when bringing their attention higher.
Sam loves all the tucks because it brings visual interest and texture to the top. When designing homes she’s always looking to create texture but at the same time a simple elegance just like this top.
Analyze Favorite Outfits -- Design Line & Color
The overall silhouette of the top is angular which matches Sam’s H Body Shape. She’s lucky because her Body Shape allows any placement of horizontal and vertical lines. She just needs to look to her Body Proportions to determine their placement.
Sam’s short between her chin and bust. This means she doesn’t want any horizontal lines in this area, however vertical lines are perfect. The faux wrap on this top naturally creates vertical lines in this area from the neckline to just under the bust.
One downside of faux wrap tops or dresses is that they create a v-shaped neckline which is angular and her Face Shape clues say wear curved necklines. However the ruched tucks help soften the neckline. One way to lessen its effect is to find it in curved shaped prints.
Further down the top the vertical tucks start turning into horizontal ones. Between her bust and waist her Body Proportions are the same which means horizontal lines in this area are fine. On the other hand she’s long between her waist and crotch and placing horizontal lines in this area is perfect. By placing them there this area will appear to be in proportion with the rest of her body.
The color of the blouse is perfect for Sam. It’s one of her favorite colors.
Analyze Favorite Outfits -- Pants
What Sam loves most about her favorite pants is the fabric. She’s found it easy to find pants to fit her body. What she has a hard time finding are pants that move easily with her active lifestyle. On job sites she’s climbing ladders and getting on large construction equipment. Then she’s meeting with clients at their houses or in the office. She finds suit trousers are too restrictive at the job site and leggings aren’t professional enough when working with clients.
Sam also likes the width of the pant legs. This width of pants works best for job sites. The same goes for the length. She mostly wears flats which allows her to go anywhere on the site. An added bonus is she can easily change into work boots when needed.
Design Line & Color Analysis
This pair of pants also has an angular silhouette, which is perfect for her Body Shape. The horizontal line which the waistline creates is perfect for both her Body Shape and Body Proportions. The vertical line created by the center front and back seams isn’t great for her long proportions between her waist and crotch. But wearing her tops/blouses on the outside creates a horizontal line which makes this area appear shorter.
The length of Sam’s torso and legs are equal allowing her to wear any length of pants. Ankle pants are perfect for her.
Summary
Top
In most respects this top is perfect for Sam. So how can she duplicate it? First, this top is long sleeved and most likely it’ll be sold during the fall and winter months. She should look for the placement of wrap in the side seam. It should be somewhere between just under the armhole and bust line. In this area the point of the v-neckline will be high enough for her.
Sam should also look to make sure the tucks or gathers on the side seams go below the waist so they create horizontal lines in this area.
Options for Sam are to look for long sleeve knit tops with tucks or ruching down the sides which creates horizontal lines from under the bust line to mid-hip. Another option is having them down a center front line. Examples of these options are:
Pants
What Sam loves about the pants is the fabric. It’s one that can be hard to find. The name of this fabric is ponte roma. It’s a type of double knit. The fibers used to create the knit can be either rayon or polyester. Rayon is a natural fiber made from a tree and polyester is a manmade fiber. The benefits of rayon are that it’s breathable and can be worn year round.
The reason why Sam has a problem finding it is because it’s mostly in stores during the fall and winter months.
Final Thoughts
Because Sam isn’t really into clothes, she doesn’t like to shop either in stores or online. The thought of always needing to be on the lookout for clothes doesn’t thrill her. Sam has three options to help her in this matter.
Option One
She can bring in her favorite outfit to the store where she bought it. If it’s a big box store like Macy’s or Nordstrom, she can get to know the personal shoppers. Sam can tell them exactly what she’s looking for and have them call her when the items arrive in the store. If it’s a boutique, she can get to know a salesperson and have them call. This option is free.
Option Two
Sam can hire a professional personal shopper who can be on the lookout at big box stores, boutiques and online. This method casts a wider net upping the chances of finding the clothes Sam’s looking for. This option does have a fee attached.
Option Three
The third option is for Sam to find a tailor/seamstress to create tops and pants with the exact design lines, colors and fabrics she loves to wear. This option will cost more but the benefits can be worth it. Sam won’t always be at the mercy of designers and manufacturers. She can be proactive. When she needs new clothes she just calls the tailor/seamstress to tell them what she wants and they can create the clothes. The only limiting factor will be prints. This option does cost the most. However in many cases the benefits outweigh the costs.
Sam can create a closet full of clothes she loves to wear, allowing her to tap into her confidence and personal power. A closet full of clothes doesn’t mean a giant closet. It just means enough to fit her needs. Sam will be able to wear these clothes longer because in most cases they’re better made which means the cost per wearing goes down. Also she doesn’t need to fill her closet all at once. She can do it over time.
Next week Monica will be learning to analyze her favorite outfit. Unlike Sam, Monica loves to shop. She’s excited to learn how to create a closet full of clothes she loves to wear. The blog post is called Analyze Favorite Outfit — Monica.
Wear Your Greatness!!
