Step 3 when shopping for pants is to evaluate vertical line placement. (Step 1 was evaluating pant’ silhouette and step 2 was horizontal line placement.)
When determining vertical line placement, Body Shape and Body Proportion gives you clues.
Overall the placement of vertical lines isn’t as critical as horizontal lines. However, placing vertical lines in the right places can create better balance.
I broke this step into two posts. In this post we will:
- Review of the effects of vertical lines
- Learn how vertical lines are created in pants
- Determine vertical line placement for Body Shape
In the next post we will:
- Determine vertical line placement for Body Proportion
- Bring it all together
Vertical Line Placement -- In Review
In my post, “Vertical Lines Can Be A Foe” I said vertical lines:
- Draw the eye up and down
- Elongate your appearance and make you look taller
- Cut the body vertically, creating a slimmer profile
In the rectangles with vertical lines above, notice how your eye moves freely from the top to the bottom. Also notice how the rectangles containing vertical lines appear slightly slimmer and taller than the rectangle without vertical lines.
Vertical Line Placement On Pants
There are four ways vertical lines are created on pants:
- Center front and center back seam
2. Pockets
3. Design Lines
4. Seams or crease lines down the center front and center back of the legs
Vertical Line Placement Based On Body Shape
When considering the placement of vertical lines with respect to Body Shape, ask yourself two questions:
- Where do I want the eye to look?
- Are there areas I want to appear thinner?
In determining vertical line placement, it’s important to keep the whole body in mind. When placing vertical lines in one area, you also need to understand how they affect other areas. In the pictures below, you will see how vertical lines on the pants impact the overall look.
H Body Shape
As with horizontal lines, if you have an H Body Shape, you’re in luck. A well-proportioned H Body Shape can place vertical lines anywhere. Notice how vertical lines are placed in various places on the pants below and the body stays in balance.
O Body Shape
For the O Body Shape, place vertical lines between the waist to crotch because it helps this area appear slimmer and moves the eye away from this location. However, vertical lines down the legs emphasize the O shape. So avoid vertical lines placed in the legs.
V Body Shape
V Body Shapes naturally have thin hips and legs. Putting vertical lines in this area will only make this area appear even slimmer and as a result the shoulders will appear even wider. If you’re this body shape, then avoid extra vertical lines in the pants so you can create balance.
A Body Shape
A Body Shapes naturally have wider hips and thighs. Vertical lines can help make these areas appear slimmer creating balance.
I had this body shape most of my life and I used leg creases on all my non-jean pants as my vertical line to slim down my hip and thigh area. It’s an easy fix for creating vertical lines by just pressing in the crease. To learn how to press in a crease go to: How To Iron and Crease Your Dress Pants
S and X Body Shape
When it comes to vertical line placement on pants, S and X Body Shapes have it easy like the H Body Shape. If this is your body shape, vertical lines can be placed anywhere on pants.
In the next post you will learn about the vertical lines’ placement on pants keeping your Body Proportions in mind.
Did you learn anything new? Or were you able to connect the dots; you instinctively knew the placement of horizontal lines on pants did or didn’t work but now you know why? Make comments below.
Wear Your Greatness!!
