Proportions experiment ETA: tucked top pics added

From my last post, I got some valuable feedback about pants length and using a 1/3: 2/3 ratio when dressing. I was still not completely sure how that would look in real life with my own body proportions, so I did a little experiment with a white bottom/colored top combination.

1) Shorts with top - this seems like less than 1/3, but it was my husband's preferred length,
2) shorter skirt - this is probably the closest to the 1/3 ratio, and I do think it has a nice balance to it
3) longer skirt- yikes, this doesn't look right, but I think the volume of the skirt may be part of the issue
4) YLF-recommended pant length - more than 1/3 but not not splitting in half either
5) my original length (ankle-length)- spltis body in half, very "stumpifying", when viewed alongside the others

Am I getting closer? This was my summary (untucked)
1- maybe?
2- yes
3- maybe, with a more fitted skirt
4- yes
5- no!

ETA: as requested, tucked top version are now included - it really does change proportions!

- The longer skirt (3) and pants (5) don't look quite as unbalnaced with the extra leg length from tucking

bonus pic of my sidekick- just up from his nap so I'll check back in at bedtime

9 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I think that #1, #2 and #4 all work wonderfully!

Anonymous

I like the version with the shorts best. Nice color combos!

Suz

(website)

What a great post! I love these kinds of comparisons. It's great you could do this with all light bottoms as well.

It's really hard to understand that 1/3 - 2/3 ratio thing with respect to individual bodies, but you've given a great illustration. I always wondered if it was just the clothing I should measure or should I include my head and the rest of me (whatever is not covered by the clothing) in these ratios. From your example, it seems just the clothes?

Hmmm.

Anyway, I concur that 1, 2, and 4 work very well while the other two are not as good.

You can fudge a bit with these proportions by making the outfit lower contrast.

You can also wear this top semi-tucked, for a different type of proportion entirely.

Alana in Canada

Fascinating. What we're evaluating here is the amount of leg showing--and how that balances the dark top. In every case, where there is more leg, things look better. Is that because of bone structure--or proportions? I haven't a clue.

What Tanya said.

However, I would be curious to see this experiment repeated with the tops tucked or semi-tucked. I wonder how much of a difference that would make?

I love this colour combination on you--that shade of red is gorgeous.

This is interesting- and a good exercise for us all to test our "eye" on proportions. Glad you did this. I like the same ones you do, but also do not mind at all the "maybe" skirt version. I can't quite articulate why, but I think it works - fluid and casual, looks very easy to wear.

This was such a great lesson for my eyes too! I really like the shorts & the shorter skinnies, as well as the straight skirt. So I agree with you & all the other commenters.

I need to do something similar to figure out the best topper lengths for me.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I agree that 1 and 4 are great. I almost want the top in 2 to be a tad bit shorter. I often find that tops that work with pants don't work well with skirts, and vice versa.

Great colors on you, by the way.

gardenchick

This is interesting, thanks for sharing!
I love the top, where is it from? Very flattering on you, really like that color.

Gardenchick - the top is the Pleione mixed media tunic, an Angie pick that a lot of forum members have purchased. It looks especially great on N-Marie!

I like the semi-tucked versions, too -- you are right, it changes the proportion. Again, if the top and pants were less high contrast this would be less noticeable.

Nordstrom

Pleione Mixed Media Tunic (Regular & Petite)

$58.00

View Info

Top Pick

N-Marie

Thanks Suz! Yes, it's the Pleione top (Angie's pick). It looks a bit red in the pic above but the color is rendered more accurately in Suz's pic above and in my previous post:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....leione-top

It's a really versatile piece and super comfy to wear as well! I wish they had the "moroccan teal" color in my size because I would buy that one in a heartbeat too.

Truecolors

Active Member

I prefer the looks: 4,6,7,9, and 11. Here's why:
- shows off your figure
- the proportions are more flattering
- when your top is loose, wearing slim or structured bottoms looks more put-together

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