GOAL

• Refocusing attention from your middle to your legs or face and creating one long vertical

BASIC “RULES”

• Long tops that don’t tuck in

• Fabrics that drape but don’t cling

• Monochromatic outfits

• Clothes must hang from the shoulder

• Keep detail above the bust and below the knee

• Soft, structured jackets

• Create interest with accessories

• Shoulder pads can help to balance

• Dense patterns with little negative space

WHAT TO AVOID

• Waist detail (belts, pattern, gathering, pleats or pockets)

• Bias cuts

• Stiff fabrics, textured or shiny fabrics

• Large repeating spread patterns over the torso

• Overly structured clothing

THE DETAIL…

JACKETS

• Single breasted flowing or straight cut styles that reach below the bottom or even longer

• Keep all detailing vertical and narrow

• AVOID cropped jackets, flap or patch pockets, double breasted styles

TROUSERS/JEANS

• Flat front, straight leg trousers without pockets and with no waistband

• Mid rise jeans that sit on your belly button – trouser, straight or bootleg

• Skinny jeans and tunics can work well

• AVOID belts in contrasting colours, high waisted, pleats and patch pockets

SKIRTS

• Slightly tapered pencil skirts, straight skirts, flat front (side or back zip), wrap, paneled styles

• A light coloured skirt, with tummy covered by a darker longer top

• AVOID bias cuts, pleats, wrap styles, bulky or gathered styles

DRESSES

• A-line, trapeze, empire waist or a dress with matching jacket that has no waist detail.

SHIRTS/TOPS

• V neck or U neck empire waist tops that don’t tuck in and that fall just below the waist/tummy with vertical detailing such as narrow lapels and high armholes

• Match the tone of tops to bottoms

• AVOID too much flourish or detailing, bias cuts, belted, cropped or very fitted styles

COATS

• Single breasted with no waist detail or pockets

• Longer lower closure to elongate

• AVOID high closing, double breasted, pockets on the upper body