Your Horizontal Body

Horizontal Styling Tips

Once you know your generic Body Type, the next step is to look at the individual areas that affect how clothes fit and flatter your figure.

What is Horizontal Styling? 

Horizontal styling is concerned with width and fullness across the body, any measurement that is 'around' your body. It allows you to focus on the parts of your figure that may appear broader, fuller or more dominant than you'd like - the shoulders, bust, arms, tummy or hips.

Everyone's figure is different and there is no right or wrong way to be!

The aim is not to “correct” your body, but to create balance in the way you dress. By using different shapes, lines, fabrics and colors you can soften width, reduce emphasis, add balance or draw attention to the parts you like best.

What can Horizontal Styling help with?

Horizontal styling can help you:

• downplay a fuller bust

• balance broad or narrow shoulders

• flatter wider hips

• soften a tummy area

• make fuller arms less noticeable

• create a slimmer-looking outline

Small changes in cut and proportion can make a big difference.

Necklines, sleeve shapes, jacket lengths, skirt cuts, fabric weight and how you use color all influence how wide or narrow an area appears.

How to create Horizontal Balance

If one part of your body feels fuller or broader than you would like, the simplest aim is to avoid adding extra width there and instead guide the eye more evenly over the whole figure. 

A few useful principles are:

Keep Detail away from the Fullest Areas

• Large pockets, gathers, bold prints, heavy texture and fussy trim can all add emphasis.

• Use darker or quieter colors to reduce attention.

• A more subdued color often helps an area recede visually.

• Choose clean lines over bulk.

• Too much fabric, stiff layers or bulky shapes can make the body look wider.

Use Shape and Structure Carefully

• A well-cut shoulder, a smooth fit over the bust or hips or a gently shaped waist can improve balance. 

• Draw attention to your best features.

• A flattering neckline, an interesting accessory or good color near the face can shift the eye where you want it to go.

• The idea is not to hide your shape but to dress it with confidence and the best proportions. 

Explore the tips below

Use the links below to find the horizontal styling tips most relevant to you.

• 10 ways to look slimmer
• Body shapewear
• Body type and weight gain
• Dress to flatter fuller arms
• Dress broad shoulders
• Dress a large bust
• Flatter small breasts
• Flatter wide hips
• 5 ways to hide tummy fat
• Narrow or sloping shoulders

If your main concern is more about height, length or overall proportion, visit Vertical Styling Tips.