Fashion Lab: Length Balancing with Gap Dresses
Since I was just talking about length-balancing, a topic which never gets many comments, I suspect because it’s so confusing, I’m going to try a few illustrations here. Remember, the basic proportion we’re looking for is 3 to 5.
This first one is a little complicated (there are often multiple ways to look at a problem). I suggest that the dress + shoes = 5 (the reason I think mid-thigh dresses are hard to wear is because by themselves they are 4 head-lengths). In this case, I am not figuring the head into the equation. The legs = 3. It works.
The next one is super simple: knee-length is the easiest length to wear. The dress = 5, everything else = 3.
Here are pictures of looks I DON’T think work:
Nevertheless, feel free click on the images to buy!
I think I get it. You’re right, I find this concept difficult to understand….AND I always think, “as if shopping weren’t complicated enough already…watching for length balancing is beyond me!” But I should learn, I suppose.
So I have a question. Do you count the ARMS when you’re looking at balance on the top picture, or just legs? In other words, would it still work if she had sleeves? Would the sleeves need to be the same color? And does the gray stripe help it work by giving a distinct visual “three”, even though you get two more heads out of the skirt and shoes? Hmmm….
I don’t know that you need to learn; I try to explain it more as an exercise in understanding it myself.
I have often wondered the same thing about sleeveless versus sleeves, and I don’t know the answer for certain. In theory, I think it’s supposed to be like cuisennaire rods, so a narrow sleeve of the same color would add a little to the dress, but I’m not certain it would make a bunch of difference. The other thing about sleeveless is that it just makes a stronger vertical line, which probably compensates.
The gray stripe starts just where the big part of the dress would start if you broke it down by itself, so it makes it better, but also more complicated.
See what I mean? I’ve been trying to explain it for years and I still struggle! The big thing is to just avoid 50/50.
I confess, these posts always make my head spin. ;=) I agree with the ones that do and don’t look good, but I don’t get the head length thing at all.
I guess you don’t need to learn how to do it - since you already agree with me. lol
I’m not sure I get the whole explanation, but I can definitely tell instinctively which ones do and don’t work…
I totally agree with you on what doesn’t work! =), I really love that first outfit with those shoes too.