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Friday, March 18, 2011

In Defense of Horizontal Stripes

I love stripes. Particularly horizontal stripes. A good striped long-sleeved tee or cardigan or sweater... I swoon. The potential for exciting colour combinations aside, I just think they're beautiful. (Yes, boring old stripes = beautiful. I'm far more interested in lines and patterns than I am in florals.)

The funny thing is, despite what people say about horizontal stripes, I've always felt good in them. Even back when I was younger and heavier and less confident. And now, whenever I put on my favourite striped shirt, I feel incredibly sexy. Why is that? This goes against all the "rules," doesn't it?

Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered this while reading through my Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (1979):

stripes
Stripes running vertically can make a figure look wider than similar stripes horizontally arranged, though the opposite is often assumed


Some Googling has verified that there are studies to support this:

Vertical stripes 'less slimming'; Wearing horizontal stripes can actually make a person appear thinner, a university research project has found.(Source: BBC)

Now, here's the thing... ultimately, I don't really care. I'm past the point of obsessing about being slim, you don't need to be slim to be drop dead gorgeous, and I think everyone should just wear clothes that make them feel good. But it's still somewhat fun to find research that validates something that you've always felt to be true.

3 comments:

  1. It's amazing how this philosophy has inverted in the popular consciousness! I agree that horizontal stripes are v. flattering (and we are both curvy, the body type that's supposed to eschew them). Long stripes - esp. thick ones - look strange to me.

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  2. Totally. I also think that most people do know this subconsciously, even if they don't realize it... especially considering how infrequently you see vertical stripes in RTW as compared to horizontal!

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  3. Interesting article. I wore horizontal stripes in thinner days, but have been reluctant to try the newest fad for them. Do I dare? Hmm...you've given me some food for thought.

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