Balance Your Body Type

So last Friday, MaryBeth and I went to a balance your body type workshop with Alicia Richmond. She is on Good Things Utah alot and is the creator of Chic on a Shoestring. And the top designer for Downeast Basics clothing was there too! It was a lot of fun. Here are some tips that I thought I would share...

80/20 Working wardrobe rule:
80% Should be your core or go to items and 20% is fashion items that give you freshness

Balance your body type by:
shoulder to hip
ribs to naval
naval to hip bone

*Your clothes should make you feel alive!

To determine if you are a short torso with long legs or a long torso with short legs...
Put your hand sideways at the bottom of your rib cage so your thumb is at your ribs and your pinky is at your naval. If your hand is a little squished in that area you have a short torso. If you have a little extra space, you have a long torso. FYI You can never have a long torso with long legs or short torso with short legs.

If you have an Hourglass Figure:
You need to show your curves
Do not wear baggy shirts

Triangle Figures or Pear Shape (That's me!)
The rise of your pants is key
Need to elongate legs
Minimize your hips

Inverted Triangle
You need to elongate your neck

Rectangle Figure
Make your figure look more curvy and define your waistline

Circle
Elongate Waist
Minimize stomach and hips
Draw attention to your legs

Tips:
-Clothing should skim the body, not cling.
-Watch out for too baggy
-Check sleeve lengths and hems to make sure they are not too short or too long.

Fit Points:
-On your shirt, below your armpit or the side of your bust, if you can pull out the fabric more than 2 inches, it is too big!
-Your waistline on your shirt shouldn't stretch out more than a couple inches.

Fabric:
-Choose fabric that will drape
-You want stretch in everything. It holds the fabrics shape.
-Stiff fabrics accentuates every bump or bulge

3 things you should consider when buying clothes... Cost, Care and Comfort

You should have at least 5% spandex in denim (No more)

Length:
Tops:
An inch above your below the widest part of your hipline
Pants:
Inch above the ground with shoes on
Skirts or Capris:
One to two inches above or below the widest point of your calf (The fleshiest part of your calf)

Cropped Pants: Are longer, 3 inches above ankle
Capris: Right below the widest part of your calf, wider pant
Bermuda Shorts: At knee, or slightly above your below

Color:
-Learn what looks best on you
-Monocramatic look with a contrasting jacket or sweater is slimming
-Use color on your assets and minimize with darker shades
-Never give color a season
-Everyone can wear yellow. You just need to find the right shade!

Patterns:
-Color, size, directions, stripes
-Make sure that you are waring the pattern and that the pattern in not wearing you.

Proportions:
-Always check ratio: Legs to torso and shoulders to hips
-For layering shirts, always wear either short over long or long over short
-Mix fitted with loose

Rule of Thirds:
First: Neckline
Second: Waistline
Third: Hemline

Denim:
-If you have a flat bum, need the flap pockets
-Dark wash on inner thigh and outer thigh makes your thighs look skinnier

I hope you find this info helpful and I hope I didn't bore you! If you have questions, you can email Alicia by going to chiconashoestring.com