Vertical body types

The following factors in combination, influence which styles suit you best:
  • Your vertical body type.
  • Your horizontal body type.
  • Your bone structure.
  • Your height.
  • Your weight.
  • Your shoulder width and angle.
  • Your neck length and circumference.
  • Your age.
  • Any problem areas such as a large bottom, saddlebags or a dowager’s hump.

These factors will be fully accounted for in your a personalised version of the Style Solutions Portfolio.

Vertical Body Types

A woman’s body is divided into four sections that determine her vertical body type (see figure):

  • The top of the head to the nipple line (with bra on).
  • The nipple line to the hipline (fullest part of the bottom).
  • The hipline to the centre of the kneecap.
  • The kneecap to the floor.

Although there may be a woman somewhere with perfect vertical proportions, I am yet to meet her. This perfectly proportioned woman would be equal in distance between all four sections. From your completed questionnaire this style program will determine your correct vertical body type.

All women, fall into one of three vertical body types:

The Balanced Body

This is the most common body type. At the hip line this woman is almost perfectly divided in half at the hipline. Above and below her hipline she has one long and one short segment. The short segments (bust-to-hip and hip-to-knee) are similar in length as are the long segments (head-to-bust and knee-to-floor). Having two short sections together poses a problem! With increasing maturity or weight gain, she often complains of feeling short-waisted. Petite women also fall into this category, these women need their accessories and garment details scaled down to their proportions.

Basic Dressing Guidelines Include:

  • Medium to medium-long over-blouses, tops and jackets.
  • 7.5 cms (3") under the navel to knuckle length.
  • Waistbandless skirts and pants and narrow belts.
  • No contrasting colours at the waistline.
  • Dresses that flow through the waist.
  • Medium to medium-long necklaces, vests and scarves.

Please note: the above are general recommendations only. Your portfolio will be created taking all of your body's characteristics and lengths into consideration and therefore, may differ from the above.

Long Legs, Short Torso

This body type is generally seen in tall women, though some short women* will also fall into this category. When you measure the four sections between the head, bust, hip, knee and the floor, it becomes apparent that this woman not only has legs that are very long in relation to her torso length, but that she also appears high-waisted. She will often feel the need to pull her blouse out, rather than tuck it in to visually lengthen her short torso. The first place she usually notices weight gain is around her midriff.

Basic Dressing Guidelines Include:

  • Crotch-length and longer over-blouses, tops and jackets.*
  • Eyes-down accessories.*
  • Skirts and pants without waistbands.
  • Narrow non-contrasting belts.
  • Dresses that flow through the waistline.
  • Long-line accessories.
  • Low to medium heels.

A woman with these vertical proportions who is under 161 cms (5’3 1/2”) should wear jackets, tops and over-blouses no longer than her knuckles and eyes up accessories to avoid looking shorter.

Please note: the above are general recommendations only. Your portfolio will be created taking all of your body's characteristics and lengths into consideration and therefore, may differ from the above.

Short Legs, Long Torso

Generally short to average in height, this woman is longer from her head to hipline than her hipline to the floor. She also tends to have a low, heavy set bottom and her most common horizontal body type is the triangle. Any excess weight will usually accumulate first at the bottom and thighs. The aim will be to visibly elongate her legs to balance her long torso.

Basic Dressing Guidelines Include:

  • Short to medium-long, tops, blouses and jackets (boleros to knuckle length).
  • Eyes-up accessories.
  • Straight skirts rather than wide or flared styles.
  • Stockings that blend with the shoes and hemline.
  • Medium to wide belts.
  • Waisted as well as non-waisted dresses.
  • Classic-width pants.
  • Medium to high heels.
  • Belts that are medium to wide depending on weight and age.

Please note: the above are general recommendations only. Your portfolio will be created taking all of your body's characteristics and lengths into consideration and therefore, may differ from the above.

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