Hello, Darlings! Today’s topic is the Power Of Prints. Prints are hard, but if you get them right they become workhorses in your wardrobe. Print can minimize or maximize. Which print you pick out and where you put it on your body is key. But remember, knowing your BEST colors, body type, personal style, and lifestyle are key. Our goal is to have a smaller wardrobe that we love and can mix and match.
With swimsuit season just around the corner, I went to Lands’ End website for lots of examples of how you can use color. Lands’ End is my favorite retailer for swimsuits. Their swimsuits are well made, with great support, and hold up to the sun, salt, and chlorine.
The Power Of Prints
Know Your Body Type And Challenge Areas Before Picking Out Prints
If you know your Body Type and Body Type Rule, picking out prints can be easier. Not everyone can wear or should wear printed pants. A great print scarf can draw attention to the face and make you look more balanced. Here is a quick recap of Body Type Rules as it pertains to prints
- b Body Type or Apple– You want attention UP and DOWN, away from the belly. Use prints on the bottom, scarves, dresses, and layering pieces. You can wear a printed top that is darker, especially if the background matches your pants (Column of Color). Printed layering pieces that are lighter than the top will work best.
- d Body Type or Pear- You want attention UP and OUT. Stay away from printed bottoms unless it is a very dark print and your top is much lighter. Use prints on tops, scarves, layering pieces, and dresses.
- O Body Type– This person is overly endowed and tends to gain weight in their chest area. Printed tops and dresses are their friends. The eye doesn’t know where to go and this helps minimize the chest area. They can also wear prints on pants. Stay away from printed scarves as it draws attention to the chest area.
- X Body Type or Straight and Curvy– You can wear prints anywhere and can have fun with them. If you have a “challenge area” use the rules above to address it.
Power of Prints – Choosing The Right Print Can Make You Look Smaller
Yes! Choosing the right print can make you look smaller. The keyword here is “right”. Not all prints will do this. We have already discussed choosing prints to match your STAR STYLE. This is key in that a print that is too large, or too small for your body frame can work against you.
Power Of Prints- Choosing The Right Color Print
If you are a d Body Shape or Pear, you want prints to be on the top half of your body and lighter than your bottoms or the background the same as your bottom. What you don’t want is your bottoms lighter. Choose dark bottoms and pick a great print.
This is an example of how a print can maximize. The lighter color draws attention UP and makes the top half look bigger. This is good if you are a d Body Shape or Pear. It helps to create balance.
Here the darker background in the print and the matching darker bottom create a column of color, minimizing and creating a slimmer look.
Power of Prints For b Body Shape or Apple
Our goal is to draw attention away from the belly area. So we need to make sure we put our prints in strategic areas. The most important detail for b Body Shape women is that the swimsuit should not be too tight in the belly area. Size up or look for styles such as tankinis that are flowier and longer.
Power Of Prints For An O Body Shape
An O Body Shape is someone who is “Overly Endowed” so the goal is to draw attention away from the bust line. Strategically selected prints will do the job perfectly. Prints can minimize or maximize, the eye doesn’t really know where to focus.
Power Of Prints X Body Shape And Curvy
For the most part, X Body Shape and Curvy gals can wear whatever print they want but continue to emphasize the waist area, showing off their hourglass shape. But if they do have a “challenge area” they can use prints strategically. Here are some examples from Miraclesuit.
Know Your Challenge Areas!
Before you go shopping, know your challenge areas. Patterns are powerful tools to have in your wardrobe. But you need to know how to use them. Don’t forget your “Star Style” when choosing patterns. Too large a pattern will overwhelm a Petite gal. Small prints will make a “Rock Star” look larger. Be strategic when selecting prints.
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