Information on Style, Design and Detail lines.

These details are only basic information to give you a better overview. Most of the information can and/will vary when put together with other style details, lines, designs, patterns and fabrics.

What is a STYLE LINE?

It will allow you to create the illusion of balance and proportion with basic knowledge of some important style lines.

	1. Waistless Style Line Contains no waistline Has ability to make you appear taller and thinner by hiding the waistline and minimizing a broad figure.
	2. A-Line Style Line Contains no waistline Has ability to make you appear taller and thinner by hiding the waistline and minimizing a broad figure.
	3. High-Waisted Style Line Serves to make the upper body appear shorter while broadening and emphasizing waist area. Makes your leg line appear longer Camouflages the tummy
	4. Low-Waisted Style Line Tends to broaden the hip area. Makes the figure appear long waisted by lowering the waistline.
	5. Waistline Style Line Benefit of making an average figure appear well proportioned. Enhances natural waistline whether medium, thick or small. Should be used with caution by any person with a high, low or wide-waist body because of the focus it brings to that area.
	6. Empire Line Typical of 17th century ladies, low cut dress with a high waist line and short bodice A high-waisted seam that sits directly underneath the bust line Good for shorter, petite figures and those with big tums as the empire dress creates the illusion of length and skims the body, camouflaging wide hips or a thick waist. A flattering style for almost any bodyshape, but women with a shorter body and longer legs or who have a short waist and bigger bust should stay away from this line and shape.
	7. Mini Dress Basically denotes a short dress, above the knee. You need to have a good pair of nice shaped legs in order to wear it. Also, it should be appropriate to occasion and age. No good for women with big calves, knees and thighs.
	8. Maxi Dress A figure-friendly dress-style for all shapes and sizes. Restrictions depending on sleeve-, neck-, and waist lines. On the bottom it is floaty and feminine, covering hips, tums and bums. Avoid voluminous skirts if you are petite, so it doesn’t overpower your scale and height. Wear a maxi with platform shoes or wedges to lengthen the silhouette. When tall try to avoid a maxi in uni colour or/and with a straight shape from top to toe. It will not only make you look shapeless but as well taller. Try to opt for multi colour maxis e. patters( opt for medium to big) and have layers in your dress. Visually it will shorten your height.
	9. Shift Line Dress Tailored enough for business and sexy enough for eveningwear. A sophisticated classic black shift is the all time little black dress. Not good for pears- it will sit tight on the bottom and loose on top. Also, women with a tiny and/long waist should avoid this shape since it will cover up your curves and make you look fuller than you are. Bigger-busted women should avoid a high neck, and go for a lower, wider neck to break up the line between neck and bust.
	10. Sheath Line Dress A sheath dress is a variation on the shift, often with a deep V-neckline. It usually has a defined waist and a figure-hugging silhouette Good for curvy figure and less for straight bodylines. Since it is as well figure hugging you need to have a well toned body – neat hourglass- in order to pull it off. Bad for fuller figures e.g. apples or for women with a rectangle bodyshape when the dress has a wrap, is belted or has any waist details.

DESIGN LINES
What are DESIGN Lines?

Design lines are major lines created within the style line by e.g. openings, pleats, sizable prints, larger accessories such as sashes. They will create an effective illusion of height, width, length and curves to actual figure or contour of your body.

• Use of vertical lines gives the impression of height and slenderness by leading the eyes from top to bottom.
• Single vertical lines are the most effective in creating an illusion of a slender figure.
• More than one vertical line causes the eyes to move from left to right, so two vertical lines close together will make you thinner while two vertical lines far apart will make you look wider.
• Straight, unbroken style line will also create the illusion of the vertical line, accenting height and length.
• Avoid placing vertical line at unflattering points e.g. bigger hips and/or thighs- never a good option for pears. Apples and women with fuller tummies should stay away from any details that adds more volume or brings the wrong attention to this area.
• Vertical lines include pressed pleats, vertical tucks, buttoned front closures, V-necklines and vertical visible seams, such as a princess seam.

• Horizontals tend to broaden and shorten your figure by emphasizing width-dividing height, especially when more than one line is used at a time.
• Avoid placing horizontals at unflattering points e.g. bigger bust, fuller tummy and thighs. It is creating the wrong attention to this part of the body.
• Horizontals can be toned down by placing an off center, opposing vertical line or by relaxing the line into a curve or diagonal.
• Although horizontal lines can be difficult to incorporate into your wardrobe, but they are great for pears, women with a long waist and who are flat chested. They will shorten the longer waist, add volume to the top for pears and create curves for flat chested women.
• Styles that accent the horizontal line are: yokes, wide waistbands, extended shoulders, bateau necklines dropped and empire waistlines.

• A diagonal line can have two effects, depending on whether it is more vertical or horizontal of the lines.
• Eyes always move from the upper to the lower end of a diagonal line.
• A shorter diagonal (more horizontal) will cause the eye to move quickly from one end of the line to the other, creating an illusion of width.
• On the other hand, the longer diagonal (more vertical) will lead the eye more slowly, creating a longer, thinner appearance.
• Remember, for the most pleasing results, the diagonal should follow the same direction the eyes move: from left to right, top to bottom.
• The rules are the same as for horizontals and verticals in regards who should avoid what. Plus women with a short waist or women unbalanced body shape need to be very cautious of wearing this design line.

• Produce the same illusion as straight lines; however, curves are more flattering in clothing.
• Curved lines can be used to re-emphasize or define your figure because the female body is naturally curved.
• Often a less desirable straight line can be modified into a more appealing curved line.
• The curved line used in the bodice seam of front closures creates the illusion of softness, while a horizontal or vertical line is more pronounced.
NOTE: When lines come together (converge), the eyes follow them to the point at which they meet and become a focal point making that part of your body look smaller. Conversely, when lines move away (diverge) from each other, the eyes follow them to the end, which become a focal point, and make you look wider. So the idea is to have lines come together or move away from each other to that point on your body that you either want to look smaller or wider.

• Selecting the right textures and fabrics is important in creating a desired illusion.
• Each fabric has its own characteristics derived from its fiber and construction--making it stiff and textured, or soft and fluid.
• Stiff textures tend to hang straight down with little movement, persuading the eyes to move up and down rapidly, creating the impression of a slim shape e.g. textures are taffeta, pique, linen and denim.
• Clingy fabrics generally persuade the eyes to move slowly, absorbing all contours. They serve one purpose--to reveal. Unless you have a well-proportioned figure, use clingy fabrics in a softly draping style or avoid them altogether e.g. are silk jersey, lycra and rayon jersey.
• Transparent fabrics – they leave little left for illusion or imagination with clingy fabrics. Use them as accents unless well-proportioned body parts are being exposed e.g. gauze, organza or chiffon.
• Some fabric textures help develop the illusion of a larger size. Material such as corduroy and tweeds, or other fabrics with thick, rough textures will make you appear larger. If you wish to wear these thick, rough fabrics, wear them at a slender point of your body so they won't emphasize broad areas.
• Shiny, light-reflecting materials, such as lurex, cracked ice or sequins have the same effect as bulky material as they attract light, defining you as deceptively larger.
• Fabrics which absorb light, lessen the illusion of size e.g. velvet is an excellent
• Thinner fabrics, smoother textures and dull finishes tend to reinforce this image, lessening the illusion of size.
  
  
  

• When choosing a fabric, pay careful attention to the fabric pattern.
• Small prints and fine textures neither add to nor detract from any part of the figure they cover.
• On the other hand, larger prints tend to emphasize and enhance the figure lines they overlay, thus creating an illusion of larger size.
• Keep in mind that vertical lines lengthen and slim; horizontal lines broaden your figure.
  

• The hemlines and lengths are detail lines you can use to good advantage towards balancing your shape, proportion and height.
• Horizontal lines of hemlines and lengths draw attention; but placed improperly, they can serve to broaden an undesirable feature.
• Your individual height, arm and leg length must be strong considerations in selecting the location of your hemlines and lengths.
• Long, mid-calf hemline lengths give the illusion of height to most style lines; however, shorter figures may want to avoid this hemline.
• The long, mid-calf hemline makes a short figure and someone with a short body/ long legs unbalanced, creating an unflattering short-waisted or bottom-heavy – unbalanced appearance.
• Above-the-knee hemline lengths are most flattering on tall and/or slender figures.
• Above-the-knee hemline lengths are generally reserved for those who have attractive knees and legs and wish to draw attention to their legs. It tends to shorten the figure and create a broader illusion.
• Camouflage heavier thighs and/or bony knees by wearing a below-the-knee or mid-calf length.
• Below-the-knee and mid-calf lengths also benefit those women with broad hips by moving the line farther away from them.
  

More Style Information