posted by Masters Designers on Aug 6
1 Everyone has at least one part of her body that she wishes were larger or smaller. Fortunately, you may not have to resort to plastic surgery to adjust your body part to your liking. Clothing can aid you in creating the optical illusion of a better-proportioned body.
2 Make a list of the following body parts: shoulders, chest, waist and hips. When finished, look closely at yourself in the mirror. If any of these parts look disproportionate on your body, place a check mark next to them on the list and write a short explanation of the problem. Some common examples include narrow shoulders, small bust and wide hips. When finished, look at yourself again and make note of any body parts you especially like.
3 Determine which illusions you would like to create based on what you have written.
4 Learn how color and pattern create the optical illusion of changing size.
5 Learn how texture affects a garment’s illusory capabilities.
Apply your new knowledge next time you go shopping for clothes. Before you remove something from the rack to try it on, ask yourself, “Do the colors, patterns and textures in this garment draw attention to the right places?” Don’t be afraid to be picky. For any given person, there are many more unflattering clothes out there than flattering ones; but this makes it all the more gratifying to find the right piece.