The Space Between My Peers

Mainly an excuse to share more pictures with you, I will also use this post to illustrate a basic “personal best” what-to-wear principle:

The best neckline shape to flatter your face is roughly the shape of your jaw

This seems like it should be obvious, but we miss it because most advice is from the paradigm of what flatters the figure rather than the face.

(Read more back here, where I explain the basics of how deep the neckline should be.  And see dcrmom model several different t-shirt necklines, noting the lines they emphasize in her face, in this fashion lab.)

In the pictures of me at the Torri d’Europa, Karen noticed my square jaw.  Which totally explains why I long for square necklines and despise v-necks.  Yet I was wearing a v-neck in the picture.  Ugh!  I should just get rid of that top! (Oh, and one more link, and one more thing I did wrong: combining colors in layered necklines.)

But then I found a headless pic that I had overlooked, one in which I was wearing the offending tee but cleverly combined so as to form a (rounded) square neckline. 

What do you think?  (Click on the pic to see it bigger.)

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Remember I mentioned that Angie said cap sleeves often aren’t flattering (at least as flattering as sleeveless)?

Here, from a previous fashion lab, is a picture of me in cap sleeves. For some reason I thought this tee-shirt was going to work for me.

What was I thinking?

Actually it will work well this fall, as an under-layer. The neckline hits a good spot on me, it’s brown (my eye color), and long enough to wear with any pants. Presently it’s hanging in my closet underneath a soft black v-neck.

(Please overlook needed ironing and etc. in the picture. I had to hurry up and grab the shirt and get shot before someone ran off with the camera.)

Here, though, is a cap sleeve shirt I love and I can wear with or without something over it (not to mention my daughter found it for me at Value Village for $1 with the tags still on). So what is it that makes the difference?

My money is on the tautness of the fabric.

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First off, I love what dcrmom has done with these pictures: we see enough of her face that we can determine both the second balance point and the shape.  Did you know that she took modeling classes as a teen?

In order not to inhibit y’all from making your honest comments, I’m not going to say too much about these upfront.

My (few) comments:

1. There was a concern about scoop necks accentuating *ahem* certain elements of the figure. While I can see that a bit in the blue, for some reason, perhaps the depth of the scoop, I don’t see it in the red.
2. Speaking of the red, IMHO it is stunning!
3. I still don’t understand what makes crew necks work. But they do. Both black tees look good, don’t they?

Now I want to hear from the rest of you. See you in comments!

(BTW, thank you in advance to Alyson, who is going to model for next week’s fashion lab about combining black and colors. Email me if you would like to help with a future edition.)

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As in anything, once the rules are understood they can begin to be broken.

My #1 Rule = the face should be the focal point of every outfit. If some element in the construction of your neckline, or some accessory you add, is placed correctly in reference to your face, this is achieved.

Finding that correct placement (use either method):

1. Measure from the hairline or bangs to chin. Starting at the chin, drop down that length to a point on the chest.
2. Measure from the center of the widest point of the face to the chin. Beginning at the base of the neck, drop this measurement down to a point on the chest.
3. Never before mentioned on this blog: adapt shorter necklines by widening them. In other words, the area of the open space inside your neckline ends up equaling the area of your face. Should I have considered teaching math as a profession?

Here we have a lovely model to demonstrate these principles for us:

And here’s something tricky: photographers know these things, as well as the fact that your best neckline shape is like the shape of your jaw, so a good one will have you turn your head in such a way as to alter the apparent line or proportion.

Look at my blog photo.

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Oops! Between fighting the plague on one side and technology on the other, I totally spaced that I have a regular feature to write on Tuesdays. And I see that I forgot last week, as well. Double oops!

Well, since I remember now, I’ll just share this fun little tip:

When choosing colors for t-shirt and tank layering, consider combining your eye color with the color of the ring around the outside of the iris.

What does this have to do with teens? A few things:

1. It’s fun to examine eye color. Teens like fun.
2. Layering t-shirts and tanks is ubiquitous among the young.
3. If they know what colors make them look good, they will be more than happy to fill in the necklines which sometimes leave a little to be desired. And not enough to the imagination.

To take this concept one step further in modesty, consider the contrast between the colors.

• Least modest = skin color with a bright or deep shade.
• A little better = white or black with a color.
• Most modest = two colors similar in value.

(Don’t believe me? Ask a man.)

Does this give you an idea for a color scheme you want to try?  Last weekend I wore a pewter v-neck tee with a longer brown scoop-neck under it and liked it so much it is folded together in my drawer now.

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Many thanks to the fashionable Joy for sending us her uniform to use for this week’s fashion lab. (Her pictures turned out so great, even taking them by herself with the timer! Sorry, but I can’t seem to adjust the size without losing resolution.)

Trying to empathize with the circumstances of others is somewhat of a hobby of mine. Since I hang around with alot of mothers of little ones, lately my thoughts have centered around silhouette issues and specifically how to work with the uniques challenges of being at least 2 sizes bigger on top than on bottom. Like how to manage to be modest without being frumpy. And the flip side, how to be stylish without being sleazy. Does that about cover it?
A couple of principles I notice:

• She is using fitted styles and clothes that fit.
• In the first shot, the layered t-shirt necklines break up the upper area.
• There’s virtually no difference in silhouette between the skinny jeans (black) and boot-cut (with the fading).
• The fading on the jeans does add curve.

Isn’t that last dress just fun?

This is as good a time as any to refresh on the concept of balancing the face with the neckline. The lady who wishes people to look at her face should wear her neckline no lower than the length from hairline to chin. If everyone lived by this rule, the “cleavage wars” would surely die out for lack of fuel.

So if you want to wear a lower neckline, don’t wear bangs. Right?

Update: After reading everyone’s comments and questions, and re-reading what I posted here, it is obvious I neglected to explain one important thing. When measuring for this face-length neckline, the starting point is your chin. In other words, from your chin to the lowest point of the neckline should not exceed the length from hairline to chin. So sorry! Does that seem better?

Here’s a link to my post where I explain this better, with a link to an actual illustration of how it’s done.

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I’m telling you, the Armani thing scared me! Some of the suits were lovely, but how wearable is something with only one (long) sleeve?

Try this fun project: take a picture of your face and split it in half vertically. Mirror image each half of your face to complete the picture. In other words, make a face that is just what the left side of your face looks like, and another one that is just your right. How different do they look?

Who wears asymmetry:

a) One who is going for a high fashion, high drama look.

Yigal Azrouel

b) One with a greater than usual degree of physical asymmetry.

Twinkle

Or

c) The fashion victim. Aka foo.

For those of us with a somewhat classic style and fairly regular features, the risk of looking like we’ve been had is just too great. Other than possibly evening wear, how about we just sit this one out?

Photos via Coutorture, courtesy of ShopStyle.

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Focus on the Face

Rule number one states simply that the face should be the focal point of every outfit. That seems obvious. Focal point = the point which the eyes are drawn to. But, have you wondered how that is accomplished?

A primary tool in directing attention to your face is the use of balance points. There are two measurable points that determine how far down the upper body the neckline should go. In addition, the collar or neckline should be at least as wide as the face. For additional information on this topic, I recommend The Triumph of Individual Style, by Carla Mason Mathis and Helen Villa Connor (which I just noticed has a reduced “best price” offer. It makes a wonderful Christmas gift). Bridgette Raes illustrates this concept in her blog, with reference to accessorizing.

Here’s more:

This tells you how deep your neckline should be to draw attention to your face. Wonder what your best neckline shape is? Roughly the shape of your jaw.

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I picked on the liberals, now I’m picking on the conservatives. Fair’s fair.

Speaking of Timeless, Traditional, Classic, Preppy, Conservative, & Simple, here is a person who may well be suited to those type of clothes. But what manner of clothing is this? An old lady swimsuit? And speaking of suits, what would be wrong with being pictured in a high-authority business suit?

Since I don’t actually read Ann Coulter, I couldn’t tell you whether Timeless fits her personality or not; so I shall simply deal with the book cover as I have magazines in the past.

The obvious:

• The out-of-balance neckline is not only less-than-modest, it makes a pretty face look boring.
• The all black is also heavy and boring, not at all supported by her natural coloring.
• And one more thing: I don’t mean this bad, but she’s kinda bony looking. Allow me to re-phrase that; she has a great smooth, straight, linear thing going on. Nothing wrong with that, but it looks more natural with stiffer, crispier fabrics. Drapy fabrics contrast with a skeletal body type to create drama. Or else they just plain look wrong.

My suggestion: a pretty boat neck sheath; but rather than the ubiquitous black, how about navy? Creates a patriotic color scheme for the cover, as well.

Hey guess what? Yep, you guessed it: I picked up a dress just like that (Alfani, perfect condition, size 6), this Monday, at Value Village, for $1. Anybody interested?

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Based principally on face-to-face conversations I’ve had recently, it has become obvious that there exists alot of misunderstanding surrounding the issue of necklines. In this post, I will use the glamorous Kristopher Dukes to illustrate balance point how-tos.

• First, the picture of her with the giant soy latte: measure from top hairline to chin. This measurement approximates the distance from chin to the lowest point of the V. This is her first balance point.
• Second, the picture of her wearing the muumuu: measure vertically, not diagonally, from the widest point of her face to her chin. This measurement approximates the distance from the base of her neck to the neckline of the dress. This is her second balance point.

Parenthetically, the hallmark of the glamorous personality, either in full or mixed as in the example here, is that, no matter what she is wearing, she always looks fabulous.

Obviously not everyone who reads this blog feels the way I do about modesty, but it appears that, among those who do, there is another misconception. To set the record straight:

• When a man sees a camisole, he sees lingerie NOT CLOTHING. (Sorry to raise my voice.)

Only one other little thing: fashion authority. I have such a laid-back personal style that, I am beginning to conclude, I will never have it among the people who see me on a daily basis. That’s okay. I began this blog as an outlet for my superflous words, and it works for me.

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