An example I wish I had given you that didn't make it into video, but it's on the blog. It doesn't always have to be 1:2 - shirt to pants. It can be 2:1 -dress to legs, or dress to boots, for example. The concept still applies!
Perfect! Love the 2:1. I think I've been dressing this way, but will be aware of the rule of thirds now. I hadn't heard of this concept prior to your video. I really like your videos! Thanks for posting them.
I have a belly, and I'm not happy about it, so I used to wear loose tops and leave them untucked. Major mistake, because I'm also short, with ample bosom and hips to match. I looked shapeless and frumpy! Now that I've started to pay attention to my proportions, I wear higher rise bottoms and make sure to tuck my tops and/or wear a belt. While the belly is still there, the added definition above the waist helps me appear leaner and a little taller. One has to pick one's battles wisely!
This makes so much sense, but I haven’t heard anyone talk about it related to fashion before! Thanks for another interesting, easy, and helpful piece of theory! I really enjoy these kinds of videos/understanding why a certain thing works (eg, the high waisted pieces I own tend to give me the 2:1 - but I didn’t realize before that that’s probably a big reason I like them)!
This is why the favorite outfit of my age group (50s-60s), capri leggings/pants and a tunic, is so unflattering, it gives a 1:1 proportion, which cuts the legs down to stumps visually. I think following the golden rule (tuck in those tops!) is so much more important than covering the mature butt and/or belly. I have a rounded tummy, too, but I look so much better over all with a high-waist bottom and tucked-in or short top.
I agree!! It's like retailers just decided that if you get older you have to cover up and in my opinion, the opposite is actually way more flattering!!
I loved it, I just have one question, I have a wide legs jeans, the problem is the length of the coat during the winter, I live in Germany. At the waist it looks great , but because of the cold it is not the best option. Do you recommend the coat, just where the hip ends, above the knee, a little below the knee or long to almost the ankle? I am 5'7" tall. / 1.70 The problem I see here is the width of the jeans.
This was very interesting, informative and helpful. At the end when you mention tall women and 'you always have the tall section'. oh how I wish that were true!!
Fernanda, I am really curvy so the kids section won't be a help for me. Also, here in Spain, I haven't seen many options for petites. So when I buy a skirt, I know that a midi for everyone is a maxi for me.
I love all your videos Fernanda, especially the outfit combination try-ons, but I have to say this one is totally gonna rock my world!! I'm currently half way through a weight loss journey- 40 pounds down and 40 to go- and with the help of your channel am trying to reinvent my whole style as I progress. I have already had a play with some outfits since watching this video earlier and it absolutely works!!! Can't wait to see how I can evolve my look with my weight loss combined with your styling expertise!! 😘 xx
Thanks Fernanda, this is very helpful. My son who did a photography course told me about the rule of thirds but it never occurred to me to apply to clothes 🙂
If you’re in a wheelchair, how can you do this? I struggle with this a lot! When I’m sitting my stomach looks huge but when I stand I’m thin. It’s hard to have the break anywhere than your hip bend. It’s so frustrating! Lol
While I agree with this in theory, it doesn’t always suit my gamine body type and it presents real difficulties for those of us who are noticeably short waisted. Sigh.
I love all her videos. I think though that it can totally depend on your body type. However, with that being said, her comment in this section changes things. I like her comment in this section stating that it can either be 1:2 or 2:1 meaning that the top can be the longer 2/3 and the bottom can be where the 1/3 is. At least that's how I understood it. Hey I'm still learning and trying to understand this concept. It sounds interesting, and the idea of the 2:1 concept seems like a game changer. I will be trying both.
Fernanda, I just found your channel and absolutely love it! I have tried the French tuck but being chubby, all I do is to reveal my tummy. I did like your 80's look though! Nice plaid long sleeve shirt with that belt and leggings. Thanks for all of your tips. Hopefully, one day I will get how fashion works.
Hi Patty! The french tuck works well if your pants hit you at the 1/3 mark (high waisted) - but if they hit you at the 1/2 mark (high hip), then yes, it can make for a less flattering look. How high are your pants?
Yes, that's true for everyone! I don't have a flat stomach either, but it's well camouflaged by the garments I wear. I prefer it this way because anything lower cuts my belly in half and then makes it so that it looks like my pants are too small, because it causes spillage at the top. I personally would rather have a smooth, rounded belly (if you see me sideways you can see it) than spillage over the top of my jeans, but it's all preference though! I wish I could show you a side by side photo or low-rise vs. high-rise!
Love it! Thanks for all the examples. Would love to know what you would suggest for a maxi skirt. Cropped blouse/sweater seems a little too short, but mid hip (although at 1/3) just looks like a lot of fabric. Maybe I need to scrunch up the sleeves or something. (I am a modest dresser but still want to show a tailored silhouette)
Same thing applies! Hide the tummy by bringing the attention to the line of thirds. The key is to make it hide in plain sight - not actually hiding it, but instead bringing the attention elsewhere. Look for soft tops that gather to one side at your narrowest point, and color block garments where the front is a contrasting color than the sides of the torso also help! Here is an example of one that gathers, don't be afraid of the fact that it's formfitting, it actually looks better! www.venus.com/productlanding.aspx?BRANCH=7~63~&ProductDisplayID=82552&clr=CRLN&sc=FS75&cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-Z96077-14-CRLN-_-BKT_G-UN&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjo2JBhCRARIsAFG667XQeWqM3MDK9qd168N4uKLFweONH1JiTkqXscsuJMH3PFgEWIW3d54aAnUyEALw_wcB
One reason I live in A-line cuts and Beige heels- Heels elongate foot, adding on to the 2 portion of the 2:1 ratio, and beige helps that visually. In the example with the jean skirt and pink french tucked casual tank top, a pair of heels elongating the front of the leg would have elevated that outfit to new levels- even a little heel works. Aline- cheat the 2:1 ratio, especially if you have a waist, and instantly make you look fit, and feminine.
Fernanda, another thing I do is open the buttons of a long sweater from the waist to the bottom and if I’m wearing a long button up top, I unbutton the buttons from the waist down revealing more of the pants.
That one single lonely dislike must be from that someone who's been doing this wrong for far too many years before coming across your video. 😂 Jokes aside, I wanna thank you for sharing this with us! All your videos are super useful and I can't stop watching even though I'm not doing much shopping during the pandemic.
Not every brand has them, but many do! All the gap brand (Gap, Banana Republic, old navy), many denim companies do too. I’ll see if I can compile a list. Definitely more options if you shop online!
Love this video I’ve been looking though your past videos and I liked the concept where you built your summer capsule around a floral skirt. could you do the same thing for winter please, maybe around a plaid wool skirt for warmth.
Have you seen the spring 2021 capsule? I did something similar, but I actually just built a capsule for someone else around a scarf. I’ll ask if I can share it. Noted for winter!!
This completely goes against everything I teach as a stylist because it literally chops your body in pieces. Just because it works for photography and for architecture doesn’t mean it works for fashion. Fashion is built around creating bounds proportions not shop in your body into sections
Some body types do look better when having a few horizontal 'breaks' in the outfit though; as opposed to one long unbroken line (see Kibbe body typing). The former concept usually also looks more interesting.
