Traditional fitting techniques and instruction result in garments that conform to the shape of your body. But can a garment that doesn't conform to the shape of your body still fit well? Of course – boxy t-shirts, barrel-leg pants, capes, and more can all look good on you.
Whether you are making your own garments or shopping for ready-to-wear clothes, it's important to know what the effect different shapes and styles will have on your appearance, or more specifically, your silhouette and your perceived gender.
The two gray figures below show an example. Their clothes are slightly transparent so that the outline of the body can be seen. They both have the exact same body (well, except for the hair)! Their outfits are very similar, and both sets of clothes fit well. But the shape of the clothes has a huge effect on their apparent gender. Take a look from farther away from the screen to better compare them.
What are the differences between their clothing?
- Pants:
- The feminine pants are high waisted compared to the masculine pants
- The feminine pants have more ease around the hips
- The masculine pants have more ease around the thighs and knees
- The masculine pants have a lower crotch
- Shirt:
- The feminine shirt has shorter sleeves
- The feminine shirt has smoother, more tightly fitted shoulders
- The feminine shirt is more tightly fitted at the armpit (higher armscye)
- The masculine shirt has more ease at the waist
- The feminine shirt is longer, and it gets wider towards the hips
- The masculine shirt is buttoned farther up
- Hat:
- The feminine hat has a rounded cap
If the gray figures gain some weight, the same differences between feminine and masculine clothing are maintained, even though their clothes change shape:
But that's not all there is to it. It's possible to wear a more masculine item of clothing and end up looking more feminine, and vice versa. I'll write about and illustrate this in a blog post coming soon!