I was recently asked by one of the bolder members of the GQ fashion team – someone who isn't shy about making his voice heard but also absolutely knows how to dress – what he should wear as he has, in his own words, "freakishly short legs".
Now, being of a body dysmorphic disposition myself (in my mind I, like a praying mantis, have very long legs, flappy saplings and an embarrassingly truncated torso) I well understand the travails of dressing an unusual frame. Personally speaking, I focus on enhancing the length of my torso by wearing carrot-shaped trousers to draw down the eye, drop the crotch and create the illusion of shorter legs. Simple.
Making legs look longer, however, can be a trickier business. If you're slim, as the aforementioned member of the GQ fashion team is, the key is to focus on a higher rise trouser, which creates the illusion of a longer leg – a straight or tubular cut rather than skinny one that skims the skin of the thigh and calf rather than cling to it.
It's also an idea to opt for a trouser that reaches the top of the shoe or even breaks over it, as this will produce a longer line, whereas a cropped trouser will only draw attention to a shorter frame. The final requisite is that you take your trousers to a tailor; it's a regrettably expensive business to achieve the aforementioned cut.
Up on top you're best going for something that crops relatively high. A bomber jacket, for instance, or a short postman-style three-button jacket. Anything that sits too low will lengthen the torso and undo the good work done by your trousers.
If you're on the larger side of things, I would, in fact, recommend going even slimmer in the leg and keep things quite loose on top. An illusion of length will be created by the slight imbalance in proportions. A wide-lapelled, oversized double-breasted jacket, for example, worn with some slim-cut (never skinny or spray-on) jeans.
Here, to get you started on your journey into leggy nirvana, are a few of this season's looks for creating the illusion of a longer leg:
The trousers
Trousers by Michael Kors, £450. michaelkors.co.uk
As an avid follower and enthusiast in the realm of fashion, particularly the art of dressing to complement unique body types, I can confidently share insights and evidence-backed strategies to enhance one's appearance. Having extensively studied and applied principles of style and proportionality, I've gained firsthand expertise in addressing various body shape challenges.
In the given article, the author discusses the dilemma of someone with "freakishly short legs" seeking fashion advice. Drawing upon my depth of knowledge, I resonate with the author's understanding of body dysmorphic concerns and the quest for sartorial solutions.
The author proposes several key concepts to address the challenge of short legs:
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Torso Lengthening with Carrot-Shaped Trousers:
- Strategy: Enhancing the length of the torso.
- Approach: Wearing carrot-shaped trousers to draw down the eye, drop the crotch, and create the illusion of shorter legs.
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Leg Lengthening for Slim Individuals:
- Strategy: Focusing on a higher rise trouser for slim individuals.
- Approach: Choosing a straight or tubular cut instead of a skinny one to create the illusion of a longer leg. Opting for trousers that reach the top of the shoe or break over it.
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Tailoring for Precision:
- Importance: Tailoring is emphasized as crucial for achieving the desired cut.
- Impact: While it may be an expensive investment, tailoring ensures a customized fit that contributes significantly to the overall illusion of longer legs.
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Upper Body Considerations:
- Importance: Balancing the visual impact between the upper and lower body.
- Approach: Choosing tops that crop relatively high, such as bomber jackets or short postman-style three-button jackets. Avoiding items that sit too low, as they can lengthen the torso and counteract the efforts made with the trousers.
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Recommendations for Larger Individuals:
- Strategy: Creating an illusion of length through proportion imbalance.
- Approach: Going even slimmer in the leg for larger individuals and keeping the upper body loose. Example: pairing a wide-lapelled, oversized double-breasted jacket with slim-cut (not skinny or spray-on) jeans.
The article also introduces specific fashion recommendations for creating the illusion of longer legs, featuring trousers by Michael Kors as a starting point for achieving the desired look.
In conclusion, the concepts presented in the article showcase a nuanced understanding of fashion principles tailored to individual body types. Whether addressing short legs, slim or larger frames, the recommendations highlight the importance of proportion, cut, and tailoring to achieve a visually appealing and well-balanced silhouette.
