Clothes, Choose Well
Buying clothes can be a difficult and confusing process. When you make your way into a department store, you have an idea in mind, but when you arrive you have no idea where to begin. Having so many different styles, cuts, sizes, colors, and brands is likely to make you feel a bit overwhelmed. You will find it easier to choose good clothes if you have a concept of what looks good on you.
Decide What Features To Emphasize
Wearing an outfit can make aspects of your appearance look bigger, smaller, more obvious, or less obvious, depending on your preferences.
Patterns. In general, clothes with vertical lines will tend to make the area of the body on which they are worn look thinner when worn. Conversely, horizontal stripes tend to make the area of the body seem larger. Bright, bold patterns will draw the eye towards the area where they are worn, so if you’d like to draw attention to your bust, opt for a shirt with a patterned design. It is also true that dark, solid pieces can detract attention from certain areas of your body, especially when paired with vibrant patterns.
Waist Styles. Wearing low-waisted clothing can give your body a more well-defined waist. Empty waists make your chest look fuller.
Structured Tailoring. Clothing with structured tailoring can draw attention to certain parts of your body. Boxy outerwear can make your upper body look bulkier, while shoulder pads can make your shoulders look wide. Flaps on trousers can make your legs seem longer.
Types of hemlines. If you want to add curves to your legs and make your lower half look wider, A-line skirts are ideal for achieving this. Also, straight skirts are a great way to achieve this effect. Wear a tapered skirt when you want to de-emphasize your lower body; this will work in reverse to your goal.
Fit. The general rule is that baggy clothing covers definition, while tighter fit clothing will highlight it.
Taking Body Measurements
Measure your body for a variety of reasons. It could be you’re making, tailoring, or purchasing clothes, or you’re weighing yourself. Different uses require different measurements, but all are easy to take with basic tools and maybe some help. Here are the steps you need to take.
Measure With The Right Type Of Tape. To take body measurements, you need the correct tape measure. You will need a soft cloth or flexible plastic/rubber tape measure. You should not use a metal measuring tape such as those used in construction.
Stand correctly. Stand straight, breathe normally, and stand tall. Measurements may be taken better exhaling, some inhaling (depending on the purpose of the measurement). Get a friend to help you if you’re having trouble.
Measure correctly. Be sure that your tape is straight and centered on the appropriate body part when you measure. Circumference measurements are most accurate when the tape is parallel to the floor, but length measurements should be parallel or perpendicular (depending on line orientation).
Wear appropriate clothing. When wearing baggy or bulky clothing, it’s impossible to get an accurate measurement, so try to wear clothes that fit closely or not at all. Women should wear a well-fitting, unpadded bra when taking breast measurements.
- Measure pants and shoulders with clothing on, if you are measuring for clothes tailoring.
- Wear undergarments you would normally wear. When wearing a bra, wear the type you normally wear. Bind your chest or go braless if you normally do that.
Measuring Circumference Vs. Length.
Different measurements will need to be circumference (the measurement around something) or length (the measurement between two straight points). What is needed should be obvious, but all will be described in the instructions below.
Mark your measurements.
Make sure that you write down the measurements as you take them, so that you can remember them and do not need to take them again.
Measure Your Upper Arm. Take the circumference of the thickest part of your upper arm, usually the bicep.
Measure Your Chest. At the widest point of your chest, measure the circumference. Most men will find this in the armpits, and most women at the nipple line.
Measure Your Waist. Take measurements around your natural waist and your lower waist. The natural waistline is typically an inch or two above your belly button (unlike where clothing’s waistlines are today). Your lower waistline is the widest part of your waist, usually just below your belly button.
Measure your hips. You can measure your hip circumference at its widest point. The widest point is usually the top of your hips.
Measure Your Upper Thigh. In the widest part of your upper thigh, measure the circumference. From the knee, this is 12 to 3/4 of the way up the thigh. Click Here
