When Monica suggested that they each determine what to wear to the gym based on what they learned recently, Sam thought it was a crazy idea because she already goes to the gym on a regular basis. But, she knows several of her friends need to start going too.
Sports have been a big part of Sam’s life and as a result she’s spent a lot of time in the gym. After college, she figured out that going to the gym not only helped her physical health but also helped her mental health.
In school Sam’s sport was soccer. She excelled at it and even won a soccer scholarship to go to university. To stay in shape for soccer, Sam ran and did strength training. Today running and strength training are her core forms of exercise.
Sam was surprised that wearing the right design lines and colors for her body did make a difference.
Sam’s Body Elements
As a review, these are Sam’s Body Element clues:
- 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
What To Wear To The Gym -- Top
During the summer, Sam likes running and strength training in a tank top. It keeps her cool during the hot summer months. She likes this one because of the color and the fact that it has a high neckline. Also she likes the back neck/shoulder areas design lines. It elevates it from being just another athletic tank top.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Silhouette
Sam learned that she has an H Body Shape and it gives her the clue that she should wear clothes with an angular silhouette. This Ideology tank has an angular silhouette meaning that the waist and hips appear to be the same width. If the waist was significantly smaller, then it would have a curved silhouette.
Because the tank has an angular silhouette, she knew the silhouette was perfect for her.
Horizontal Lines
Sam now knows that horizontal lines stop your eyes, emphasize that area, and make it appear wider and shorter. She also knows that her Body Shape and Body Proportions give her clues as to the placement of these design lines.
With respect to Sam’s Body Shape, she learned that she could place them anywhere. Having an H Body Shape, her shoulders, waist and hips appear to be the same width, she can bring emphasis to any area and doesn’t have to be concerned that one area is wider than another. Her friends Alice, Monica and Grace have this concern.
For her Body Proportions, Sam is short between her chin/bust and long between her waist/crotch. She now knows that she wants to limit the amount of horizontal lines between her chin/bust because they’ll make this area appear even shorter. On the other hand, she wants horizontal lines between her waist and crotch because these design lines will make this area appear shorter.
This top has two horizontal lines: the neckline and hem. With respect to this neckline, Sam has learned that a V-neckline is better for her because it’ll make this area appear longer. The problem she had was that she couldn’t find a tank top with a V-neckline. She tried on tops with lower necklines and didn’t like them. Through experimentation, she figured out her shortness in this area is between her neckline and bust. Therefore, having a horizontal line at the neckline doesn’t make the area appear too short.
For the horizontal line created by the hem, Sam determined that it’s perfect for her. She’s long in this area and the horizontal lines make it appear shorter and in balance with the rest of her body.
Vertical Lines
Sam now knows vertical lines move the eyes up and down and make the area appear thinner and longer. Also her Body Shape and Body Proportions give her clues as to the placement of these design lines. She learned that she can place vertical lines anywhere for her H Body Shape and should look at her Body Proportions to determine the best placement.
Sam is short between her chin/bust area and long between her waist/crotch area. She learned that this means she wants vertical lines between her chin/bust area and avoids them between her waist/crotch area.
Sam determined that this top has only one vertical line and that’s in the back between the neckline and shoulder blades. This a great place for vertical lines because it lengthens this area. A better placement would be on the front side which would create length in this area.
Shape Of Design Lines
Sam learned that the shape of design lines is an important component in understanding design lines. Her Face Shape gives her clues as to the shape of them. She has an oval Face Shape which is in the curved category. This means she should look for curved design lines.
This top only has one design line shape: the crew neckline. This neckline also falls into the curved category, which is perfect for Sam.
Color
One of Sam’s favorite colors is pink and the color of this top is close to that color. This is one of the major reasons she was attracted to it. Over the last 10 months, she learned that color is an important component that changes how she feels. Her friends Monica and Veronica showed her how important this is.
What To Wear To The Gym -- Bottoms
Sam loves wearing tights when working out. She can go from running to strength training easily. She tried regular running shorts. The problem was they worked great for running but not for strength training.
Design Line & Color Analysis
Silhouette
When Sam looked at the difference between the waist and hips on the shorts, she thought they appeared to be the same, which means they have an angular silhouette. This silhouette is perfect for her H Body Shape.
Horizontal Lines
Sam determined that these short tights have two horizontal lines: waistline and hem. She’ll always wear a long running top so the waistline won’t show. As a result, the horizontal line will be created by the top hem which works best for her body proportions between her waist/crotch.
The horizontal line created by the short tights’ hem is mid-thigh. Sam knows she can wear horizontal lines anywhere in her leg area because her legs and torso are equally proportioned. She considers herself lucky.
Color
The color of these short tights is black and black is one of Sam’s neutral colors, which she wears often. It goes well with all her favorite colors: blue, pink and green.
Final Thoughts
Sam was surprised by the fact that understanding design lines for her workout clothes made a difference when she worked out. She already liked working out because she knows it makes her feel better. But by wearing the right design lines, she had more energy.
In the next blog post, Monica will be sharing her experience in determining what to wear to the gym. She was the one who got this ball rolling. She knows she needs to exercise more because it’s great for her mind and body. The problem is she always finds excuses not to do it. Go to, What To Wear To The Gym — Monica, to learn about her experience.
Wear Your Greatness!!
