Friday Fashion Lab: Sleeve Length
I know precisely one rule concerning sleeve length:
If your legs are short, pushing up the sleeves will optically elongate them.
I have no idea why this works. Does it follow that a person with long legs might choose a longer sleeve?
In this first set of pictures you can see the contrast between a super-long sleeve and a pushed-up sleeve. Not only do my legs look longer in the second picture, they look thinner as well! Optically it’s almost the equivalent of putting on heels (but much easier to walk).
Now I mentioned in my post prior to Thanksgiving that I felt the sleeves of this blazer a little too short, as seen in the picture on the bottom left. While each of the other pictures shows a technique for adapting a jacket with a too-short sleeve, my FAVORITE is this last one. And the white accent does a visual drawing up of the eye, as well.
(It may seem counter-intuitive to wear a white shirt with a brown print jacket. But think about the guys: what color dress shirt would a man wear with a brown print suit?)
One final thought about sleeve-length: most of us must consider practicality when choosing our sleeves. After all, much of life is “done” by the hands. (Diapers and extra-long bell sleeves? Let’s just say no!)
And nothing beats 3/4 sleeves when it comes to doing dishes.
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Warm-up For Sleeve Length Fashion Lab
In preparation for the upcoming Friday Fashion Lab, I’ve been thinking about sleeve lengths. How do you like this Gap Lightweight fleece peacoat? (I like the blue. On sale for $49.99)
Are we getting back to pushed up sleeves?
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Vogue March 2006 Cover: Natalie Portman as Art
So perfectly refreshing that it stopped me in my tracks, was that really a magazine cover without cleavage? Closer examination revealed a composition of simplicity and beauty.
What elements make this arrangement so aesthetically appealing?
Clothing selection: Natalie Portman’s pixieish crop significantly decreases the visual weight of the star’s hair. Thus, with her fair-skinned luminosity, the painted linen Prada balances her visual lightness.
Photography: Balance is not all about symmetry. Note how the neckline acts as a frame for the face.
Color: The overall beauty of the composition includes the background (matching the dress and framing the face) and the surrounding print layout (the black enhancing her hair and eyes, the pink bringing out her cheeks and lips).
Rip it off and take it home (not the magazine cover, the artistic concepts):
Visual weight: Choose clothing that harmonizes with your personal presence. Volume, texture, and depth of color all add visual weight.
Balance points: Simply stated, a neckline that is deeper than the face is long is a distraction.
Color: Try a neutral that is the same color value (dark or light), but not the same color, as your skin; accent with colors from your own personal coloring (eye, cheek, hair, or lip color).
Natalie Portman is a work of art, but so are you!
