The Style Company Personal Style Consultants

'Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions” – Coco Chanel

Most of us have a pretty good idea of what our body shape is. So we understand roughly which areas of our bodies are wider, longer, shorter, thinner, heavier or lighter than other areas of our bodies. These long, short, wide, thin, heavy and light areas are our proportions – and to achieve great style, you first need to get your proportions balanced. Our brains are wired to like symmetry and balance. For our bodies to look visually pleasing, we like to see balance.

Leonardo DaVinci theorised that the human body be divided into eight equal head lengths. Try it out for yourself. Four of your head lengths should fit from the top of your head to the top of your leg crease (or top of your thigh), then another four equal head lengths from leg crease to the floor.

What is most important when you measure your proportions is to find out if you have a longer or shorter body as compared to your legs (so top of head to leg break, compared to leg break to foot).

You'll be pleased to learn very few people have these exact proportions. Most of us are longer in certain proportions and shorter in others.

You will also probably learn you are proportionally short where you tend to put on weight first.

For example, pear-shaped woman will find, if you measure your proportions, you are short in your thigh proportion. Because you are more compacted (short) in this area, you tend to carry more weight here and appear to have visually bigger thighs and hips. The upside for a pear shape is you probably have a long waist and flat stomach, as this is where you are proportionally longer.

Proportions are important, as they tell you where to end your clothes, such as hems on skirts, hems on tops and jackets.

If one proportion is longer than the other, you will need to visually balance this proportion to change the apparent length. Otherwise, you risk the possibility of looking boxy or swamped by your clothes.

Kourtney Kardashian sports an hourglass figure and is slightly shorter in her upper thigh proportions.
The first photograph shows an unflattering length of shorts paired up with a shapeless boxy top.
This combination makes her appear shorter and frumpier than she actually is.

Photo credit : STAR Style Kourtney Kardashian

Compare this to her ‘look' below, which is beautifully balanced, cinched to show off her waist, skims (doesn't cling); and ends at a flattering length on her calves. The effect is slimming and absolute symmetrical gorgeousness.

Photo credit : STAR Style Kourtney Kardashian

Being aware of your body proportions, as you can create a beautiful balance, which is aesthetically pleasing and is a real style winner.

Do you know where you are proportionally short and long? And, how to balance them with your clothing choices?

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