The last step in evaluating prints is to analyze the print shape. You might think: why isn’t this step first because it’s an easy step and it can eliminate options quickly? The reason is because color, color combinations and scale are more important for enhancing your natural beauty. It’s hard to get all the elements perfect and print shape is an area that doesn’t need to be as perfect.
My Body Element clues say to wear angular shape prints; however, I find it difficult to find them in my colors, color combinations and scale. As a result, many times I wear floral prints with elements of angular shapes.
I also love poke-a-dots. Don’t know why, but they make me happy. I made two black and white dresses, one an angular print and the other a poke-a-dot print. Both dresses are made from the same pattern. When I wear the angular print dress I always get tons of compliments. On the other hand, I don’t receive any compliments when I wear the poke-a-dot dress. But more importantly, how do I feel? I feel much more confident in the angular dress even though the poke-a-dot one makes me happy. On days I know I need that extra bit of confidence I wear the angular dress. When I don’t need that bit of confidence, I’ll wear the poke-a-dot one.
In this series of analyze print posts you have learned thus far:
In this post you’ll learn:
- What Body Elements give you clues as to the shape of prints
- Angular vs curved
- How to analyze print shape
Analyze Print Shape -- Body Element Clues
The print shape clue comes from the Body Element Face Shape. If your face is angular, you look for prints with the overall feel of angular. On the other hand, if your face is curved, you look for prints with the overall feel of curved.
Analyze Print Shape -- Angular Vs Curved
It’s easy to determine if a print is angular or curved when it’s 100% one or the other. The problem comes in when designers create prints with both angular and curved shapes. This happens a lot of the time.
The key is to look at the overall shapes. Ask yourself, does it feel angular or curved? Also try it on and ask yourself: do I feel light or heavy when wearing it? Do I feel like I can conquer my world?
Remember you’re looking for prints that help you tap into your confidence and personal power. If you’re like me and a print just makes you happy, wear it on days when you don’t need that extra boost.
Analyze Print Shape
In this post I’ll analyze print shapes on prints I used in the last 3 blog posts. This way you can see the whole process of analyzing a print. When I first picked these prints I wasn’t thinking about their shape, only their colors. Unfortunately this is a typical representation of print shape in the ready-to-wear market. (You’ll find all of these dresses at Macys.com.)
To analyze print shape first look at the detail of the print and then look at the overall feel. Let’s get started.
The first print pattern is angular when looking at the close up picture. You can see the colors create horizontal and vertical lines. You don’t see any curved shapes.
The second print is full of curved shapes with very little angular shape created by the flower stems. Also when you look at the whole dress the overall feel is curved.
The last print is also a floral print. The flowers are larger in shape and there are spots on the flower that are angular along with many stems. The overall feel is curved. However, if every other element, color, color combination and scale, works for you this could be a candidate if you have an angular face. Try it one to determine how you feel in it.
The flowers in the first print have mostly curved edges with some angular lines. If the colors, color combinations and scale work for you and your face is angular, it might work for you. You just need to try it on to see the overall feel of the dress.
The second and third floral prints have an overall curved feel.
This first print is paisley and is a classic curved print.
The second and third floral prints are full of curve lines which are great for a curved face.
The overall feel of the first and second floral prints are curved while the third one has angular elements in the stems and leaves. If you have an angular face you might consider the third print.
Summary
As you can see most prints in the ready-to-wear market are curved shapes. The ideal face shape is oval and that’s what they design for. However there are seasons in which you can find geometric shapes. This season it’s floral.
If you have an angular face and you like floral motifs, look for ones that have elements of angular lines. When you find one make sure every other design element: silhouette, placement of horizontal and vertical lines, color, color combinations, and scale of prints and accessories match your Body Element clues.
Next week’s post will be the final one in this series. I’ll bring all the print elements together. It’s called Analyze Prints — 4 Step Process.
Wear Your Greatness!!
