Imogen's guidelines don't work for me!

Elly

Did the exercise-- was slightly confused about it once I got down to the legs, but wasn't too worried since my legs are almost two "heads" longer than my torso. I have proportionally long legs.

Normal chin-to-peak, about half of that is neck. Very short peak-to-waist, and short waist-to-leg-crease. Long legs.

However, here is the stickler . . . . although my rib cage almost rests on my hips, I do have a very defined natural waist. Therefore, all her recs for the large-chested, and all her recs for the short-waisted actually don't flatter a leggy hourglass figure. I look very best with waist definition-- clothes have to nip in and then glide over the hips or have to be tucked or belted at the waist.

Not sure these work for everyone--- also, I didn't learn anything new--- are there some subtleties I am missing out on?

12 years ago

Body Type

11 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Claudia

Veteran

Elly, did you read Imogen's information on the "8 Shape" hourglass?

http://www.insideoutstyleblog......shape.html

Do you see yourself as this shape? This is what I learned I am.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elly, this does not surprise me for three reasons:

- guidelines are guidelines, not rules

- we all see different things

- guidelines can be successfully broken!

But I'm sure it was an interesting exercise nonetheless. At the end of the day you have to go with what YOU see and what feels right when YOU look in the mirror. And when you don't know, you ask for help but filter the responses.

12 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Hi Elly! goodness, Angie wrote my response for me while i was cooking breakfast - thank you "A" !!!

Elly, i'm also not surprised because you have a great observational skills and a very analytical way of going about things. My impression has always been that you have a strong handle on how your body is put together (not many women have any idea what their 'wingspan' is!). It sounds like this method confirmed what you knew - so it could be very helpful for women who don't already have that knowledge. And, as Angie points out, guidelines are just that - a starting point for people to work from.

You'll just have to live with that bombshell figure of yours, no two ways around it! Have a great day Elly!!! steph

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Elly, I think most of us will find some contradictions between the guidelines for our vertical proportions and those for our horizontal body type. I certainly do. I learned (to my surprise) that I'm short-waisted, but hey, I still wear wide belts and high waists and guess what? I wear them really well! And I would NEVER wear the empire style she suggests for me; it cuts me right in half! So it's a question of fiddling, thinking it over, looking, and making up your own mind. Because at the end of the day, we're all individual!

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Yep, like Suz, I can't wear the empire waist, either. Bodies vary so much - Imogen and any style expert will have a lot of experience with a range of bodies, but only you have the most experience with YOUR body. If you feel you've got it handled, you probably do. In a lot of ways, these rules are to help those who are less connected to their shapes and need a place to start.

12 years ago

Patty

Veteran

This is the kind of proportions clothes are designed on (taken from a fashion drawing site)
1) Basic generic female proportions
2) Fashion model scale proportions sketch----I don't know what they are thinking and this isn't even as tall and thin as I've seen!!!!!! If ever there was evidence for aliens on earth !!!

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12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Elly, I often have this problem too... I think it's because there are two ways of looking at a non-"normal" figure feature like a short waist - either you want to hide it or you want to flaunt it. I feel like a lot of guidelines assume that you want to hide it or make it look more "standard." Like you, I have a very high, short, but very defined waist, and I definitely look better when I dress to show that off rather than to hide it. I love looking like I have mile long legs! (Plus it helps balance out my pear). So a lot of conventional guidelines that say you should dress to visually lower your short waist don't work for me at all. Yes, it's not the "normal" look but that doesn't make it any worse!

ETA: I don't mean to imply that there is anything wrong with Imogen's guidelines, just that people need to remember that they are just that - guidelines.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Patty, thank you - that is so cool! And look, it is interesting...because in example, 1, according to Imogen's guidelines, that figure is short waisted (and a whole lot of other things). I.e. she is not 8 heads lengths tall! Fascinating stuff....

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Very well put, Diana. I agree absolutely. Elly, because our waists are well defined, we are more interested in showing that than in covering up our length of torso (or whatever).

12 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Thanks ladies-- I guess I was just surprised because so many people had "revelations" (even ladies I consider to be quite stylish and self-aware) and or liked the guidelines. I don't really fit the recommendations for any one type as I seem to have plenty of "modifying factors." Of course-- thanks for reminding me that guidelines are just that!

Steph-- thanks for the compliments. I think that studying bipedal locomotion and human osteology might have something to do with this-- it is pretty amazing all the adaptations women have that allow us to both walk upright and give birth to children with large brains! Even our elbows are different then men's! Of course, I was kind of an analytical and observant comparative freak before studying too!

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I had revelations because I'd never really given much thought to my body's vertical proportions before, beyond recognizing that I have short legs. Turns out that is true (in a manner of speaking) but I also have a short torso (relatively). And that is complete news to me because I am always struggling to find pants with a long enough rise. I think that might be explained by my basic X shape (so /derriere/crotch are a bit lower than average).

For me it is helpful in confirming that I will quite simply fit better into petite jackets and tops, so that makes shopping easier!

12 years ago

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