FOR BALANCING A WIDER SHOULDER LINE AND
ELONGATING THE UPPER BODY
BODY CHARACTERISTICS
• Inverted Triangle
•Elongated Legs
• Standard Shoulder
• Elongated Neck
• Angular body lines
• High Hip Line
• Curvy Lower Body
YOUR BODY'S NATURAL BALANCE
Your shoulders are the broadest point on your frame, naturally drawing the eye upward. Our
styling goal is to create visual harmony by enhancing the hip and lower body area to balance
proportions and elongate the silhouette. We do this by minimizing volume and attention up
top while adding softness, volume, and detail below the waist.
STYLING PRINCIPLES
Key Objective:
Balance your silhouette by visually softening the shoulders and creating subtle volume on the
lower half while elongating your silhouette.
Balance Focus:
✔ Draw attention to: Neck, Hips, Wrists, Waist, Shoes to create balance between shoulder and
hip proportions.✘ Avoid emphasizing: shoulders, upper chest, and outer arms
5 Golden Rules for Balancing Your Shape
1. Clean lines on your Upper body:
o Less is more
o Halter Cut and Raglan shoulder lines
o Dropped shoulders
2. Keep it fun - Lower body
o Details, Volume, Print, Pockets, Pleats, should all be applied on your lower body.
3. Watch Your Proportions
o Tops/jackets/Coats/sweaters should all at your hip line or bellow
o Extra long sleeves
4. Use Accessories
o Create volume on hip area wearing Bracelets/Bulky watches
o Long necklaces
o Bags should be held, shoulder bags should sit at hip area.
5. Think straight lines
o shapes in prints, seams, jewelry, buckles, lapels, pockets, shoes and bags.
o Structured garment and fabrics
FABRICS & TEXTURE
General Notes:
• Match texture to skin: Mature skin benefits from texture (e.g., crepe silk instead of shiny
smooth silk).
• Youth, Shiny, Oily Skin requires smooth, sleek or shiny fabrics
Fabric weight and structure:
Consider fabric weight across all categories (jeans, leather, cashmere, cotton blends, synthetics,
corduroy, polyester, velvet, spandex, crepe, rayon).
✔Invest:
Upper Body:
• Lightweight
• Must have structure to them (hold shape)• Stretchy and light weight for Fitted Pieces (paired with fun pants/skirts)
• Flowy fabrics must have a layer over (ex. jacket over the shoulder, scarfs, sweater of
shoulder)
Lower Body:
• Medium to heavy weight
• Structured or flowy fabrics that hold shape without hugging tightly
• Minimal Stretch
✘ Avoid:
Upper Body:
• Flowy
• Heavy weight fabrics
• Thicker knits (must be oversized/with dropped shoulder line)
Lower Body:
• Fabrics that hugs your hip line
• Stretchy
• Lightweight
• Bias- Cut
GARMENT STRATEGY
UPPER BODY: Keep it Clean, Simple, and Fitted
✔ Invest In:
• Silhouettes: Straight lines, Shift, A-line, Tent, Empire, Peplum, Balloon, Tunic, Trapeze,
Princess.
• Tops, Shirts, T-shirts, Sweater, Jackets: Solid Colors, Fitted (must be paired with a loose
bottoms), Oversized, Spaghetti Straps, Button-down shirts, halter styles, V-necks, crew
necks, wrap tops, straight-cut blouses (flowy fabrics needs to be layered for structure),Tube, Halter Tank, Vests, Pin tuck, Vertical Ruffled front shirts, Tunic, Turtle neck,
Cardigans, Vertical Zippers.
• Necklines: Jewel, Crew, V-neck (not too wide), Sweetheart, Keyhole, Sabrina, Strapless
(Straight or Sweetheart), Tie Neck (loose tie), one shoulder, Wide Lapels, Stand Up
Collar.
• Sleeves: Short sleeves: one palm below shoulder max, role up if needed for balance
proportions. Halter, Raglan, Kimono, Batwing, Cuffed (roll up sleeves), Cap, Loose
rolled-up T-shirts (roll up sleeves), Bell, Poet, Dropped shoulder, Long Layered, Bat,
Long Cape, Butterfly, Cowl, long Sleeves should always be extra long.
• Shoulders: Halter cuts, Raglan, Dropped Shoulder, shoulder seams placed directly on or
slightly inwards the shoulder bone towards neck, Keep seam lines at or inside the natural
shoulder or dropped of shoulder)
✘ Avoid:
• Silhouettes: Garment should NOT be fitted on your Hip Area, Sheath, Bodycon, Slip
Dress, Mermaid, Column
• Tops: Over Sized shoulder Paddings, Off-the-shoulder, Wide V-Neck, Scoop Necklines,
Sailor, Fitted T-Shirts (Under jackets or paired with over sized bottoms), Bulky Sweaters,
Over all Pockets Placed on your Chest Area.
• Necklines: Enhance your chest area, Off-the-shoulder tops (must be paired with a loose
bottoms), wide scoop necklines, horizontal necklines, Strapless (must be curved), Wide
Lapels, Sailor, Boat Neck, Wide Open Collar, Oversize lapels
• Sleeves: Petal, Bishop, Puffed, Circular Cap, Marie, Peasant, Button Tap, French, Ruffle,
Leg-of-mutton, Juliet, Cap Cape, Shear Sleeves, Peplum, Roll Up, Lantern.
• Shoulder: All kinds of Details, Busy Prints, Textures and Volume, Cut Of, Shoulder Pads.
Seam Line Exactly at the Outer Shoulder Line.LOWER BODY: Create Volume, Movement, and Detail
✔ Invest In:
• Bottoms: Loose Fit Pieces with Volume on Hip Area, Pleats, Pockets, Details, Prints,
Side Buttons
• Pants: A-line cuts, Wide-leg, Flare, Boot Cut, Parashoot, Palazzo, Sailor, Pegged,
Straight, Skinny (only when paired with oversized tops), Pant-skirts, Tiered or Layered
Pants, Pleated,
• Skirts/Shorts: A-Line, Pleated, Short Skirt, Pleated, Gipsy, Godet, Accordion Fix Box
Pleat, Layered, Paneled, Ruffled, Cowl, Peplum, Bubble, Wrap (tied on the side),
Semi/Full Circle, Asymmetric, Sarong (tied to the side), Peplum, Gipsy
• Dresses: A-line, Shift, Empire, Wrap, Shirt dress, Trapeze, Tent, Peplum, Ball Gown,
Yoke, Princess Cut, Jumper, Slip Dress (only if A-line from waist down)
• Rise: Low to Mid Rises, High Rise (only if A-line Fitting)
✘ Avoid:
• Bottoms: High-rise, fitted at hip, clean lines, side zippers, fully buttoned instead of
zippers, Stretchy Fabrics.
• Pants: Cropped Bell, Curved on hip, with no pockets, side zippers, Bell bottoms, straight,
boot-cut, flares (fitted until thigh), cropped bells, jodhpurs, sailor cuts.
• Skirts/Shorts:, • Pencil, Dropped Hip Pleat, Bias Cut, Straight, Wrap (tied in front),
Trumpet, Fly Skirt, Skirts with Vertical Frontal Seam line, Centered Buttons, Tulip,
Sarong (tied in front), Mermaid, Tube.• Dresses: Bodycon, Sheath, A-line, Slip dress (bias cut fabric), Shirt dress, Wrap, Pegged,
Mermaid, Column
• Rise: High Rise (only if A-line Fitting )
PRINTS & PATTERNS
✔ All prints Shall be Applied on your lower body
• Small to medium scale prints
• Angular shapes (geometric, or straight-line prints, stripes..)
• Vertical stripes on upper body
✘ Avoid:
• Big scale.
• Curvy prints (florals, abstract curves, polka dots, puzzle prints).
Print Scale Guide:
• Small prints = enlarge.
• Large prints = reduce.
• Angular prints = create volume.
• Curvy prints = emphasize body angles.
LINES & SHAPES
✔ Angular Shapes With slightly Curved Corners - Eye Wear, Buttons, Lapels, Earrings, Jewelry,
Buckles, Nails, Bags silhouettes, Darts, Seem lines
✘ Curved, round, oval details in prints, jewelry, buckles, sunglasses, nails, and bags. Curved
darts, seams, lapels, and buttons.
Rule of Thumb: Straight lines amplify body scale; curved lines reduce it.ACCESSORY STRATEGIE
✔ Invest In:
• Small to medium scale necklaces should sit on the collarbone
• Neck Scarfs
• Highlight the wrist area: Bulky accessories on wrist area, Bracelets, Cuffs, bangles,
stacks
• Medium belts at the smalless part of your waist (high waist)
✘ Avoid:
• Bulky Necklaces
• Shoulder bag with long strap
LENGTHS & PROPORTIONS
✔ Key Balance Points:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Neckline: Collarbone (for tennis necklaces, button down shirts, scarfs)
Chest: Length of face (chin down) → guide for buttons
Waistline: Smallest part of waist (belts), Jacket should be button at this point, ¾ sleeves
should hit that line
Hip line: All upper body garment should end at the hip line- tops/jackets, anything
shorter than that should be slightly tucked on the sides and paired with A-line or wide
legged garment.
Bellow hip area: All upper body garment longer than hip line should hit widest part of
your thigh.
Widest part of your thigh: Shorts/skirts/Dresses/Coats/Jackets
Long Sleeves: Should partially cover top of your hand.
Widest part of your calf: Skirts/Dresses
Floor: Pants extend to ground/Maxi Skirts
✘ Avoid:
Garments ending at smallest points (hips, thighs).
Thickest points of your arms
Highter than hip area
SHOES✔ Invest In:
• Bulky shoes.
• Ankle straps/boots
• Fun colored
• Prints, Fun details.
• Boots tucked in.
• Thick Soles.
• Boots over pants.
• Foot-top decorations.
• High-tops.
• Squared
• Chunky
✘ Avoid:
• Nude tones.
• Footwear matching pants/skirt/top.
• Thin, delicate straps.
• Drivers, ballerinas, wedges, low-tops.
• Some Heel, pointy-toe or rounded shoes.
STYLING RACKS
✔ Tips:
• Build a strong neutral base.
• Keep neckline emphasizes
• Tuck tops (slightly tuck for shorter tops).
• When tucking your tops make sure to have all the extra fabric on the back and make the
front flat and smooth.
• Belts always at smallest waist.
• Jackets open; or one to two buttons done at smallest part of wait line
• Sweaters thrown over shoulders.
• Stick to monochromatic or low-contrast palettes.
• Match metals to your palette.
• Metallic bags and shoes are easy to mach.
• Mix fabric types for depth.
• Always coordinate one color used on your upper body to the lower body (ex. Lip color
with shoes, hair band with shoes, bag and shoes.
• Mix prints carefully (different scales, same undertones).
• Bulky Jackets or Tops require bulky shoes
• Light weight fabrics on tops and jackets should be paired with delicate shoes• When covering your shoulder – close toe shoes
• Exposed shoulder – Open toe
✘ Avoid:
• Statement earrings
• Low-slung bags or belts.
SHOPPING RACKS
• Stay true to your color palette.
• Add shoes and earrings often.
• Invest in timeless quality leather, shoes, and jewelry.
• Metallic shoes and bags are a great investment as they don’t require to match with other
specific colors (refer to your color palette to learn your metallic)
• Shop multiple key neutral staples you love (clothes do not last for ever)
• Layer pieces are great to create new options using neutral base looks.
WARDROBE RACKS
✔ Capsule Wardrobes:
Group items by occasion and season. Simplify by keeping each capsule together.
Examples:
• Fall/Winter, Spring/Summer.
• Daily (work), Home Office, Errands, Airport, Travel, Resort, Athleisure, Gym,
Weekends, Lounge.
✔ Organization:
• Hang most clothing.
• Fold tees in drawers (envelope style).
• Shelves for shoes and bags.
• Lounge/athleisure in drawers.
• Keep seasonal capsules separate.
• Display purses, keep accessories visible.
• Use matching velvet hangers.
• Remove dry-cleaner bags.
• Keep a pouch in handbags for easy transfer.FINAL NOTE
The source of all answers is within you!
I trust this guide will support you in building a wardrobe that reflects your essence, enhances
your features, and empowers you—while simplifying your daily routine.
With love,
Thays Vick