Wardrobe Architect: Worksheet 3

yay to the v-neck, nay to the turtleneck

Exploring Shapes

When I was little I remember having to wear turtlenecks in the winter. I grew up in New Hampshire, so winter spanned from October to March. I hated it. I was always pulling at the stupid polyester top in hopes of freeing my small confined neck. It felt so strangling. I will admit, it is a bit of a dramatic reaction to merely a shirt, but none-the-less I hated turtlenecks. After completing the next step in my road to my new wardrobe, it was clear (even after many, many, many years!) there is still no love lost between us.

The third worksheet in the Wardrobe Architect, if you haven't already guessed, is to figure out what shapes you most lean towards. Colette created a chart where you rank the shapes, or style lines, of particular garments to see what you feel good in and what you don't. The scale was a typical 0-10 comparing aspects like: ease, length, waistline position, sleeve options, and fullness. The categories were: skirts, dresses, pants, tops & blouses, jackets & blazers, cardigans, and outerwear.  Then we rated necklines and sleeves. These worksheets were finished in about twenty minutes. This was the one exercise that was pretty easy to do. So, what did I find out that I loved and hated?

Loved (rated a perfect 10):
Dresses: somewhat fitted, a-line, knee length, natural waist
Skirts: mid thigh, natural waist, a-line
Pants: somewhat fitted
Cardigans: above hip length
Neckline: v-neck and sweetheart

Now, on to the stuff I hated.

Hated (rated an absolute 0):
Dresses: very loose, no waistline
Skirts: midi-calf length
Pants: very loose
Tops: cropped/midriff length
Jackets: very loose
Neckline: strapless, and (surprise!) turtleneck

Left Vogue 8896: Yes! Right Vogue 1372: No. No. No.

The rest was a mish-mash of above and below average. Not too tight, not too long, not too short, blah blah blah. It was interesting what my gut rated as absolute 10. I tried to not over think it. You can imagine how hard that was for me! As soon as I put down a number, I wouldn't change it. Of course, but now that I look at this...

Honestly, I think this was a bit easier for me as I think I do have an idea of what I do and don't like to wear when it concerns shape. It was still fun to see it on paper and look at it in an analytical sort of way. We know for certain now that I won't be headed for a very long loose sack of a dress anytime soon ;)

Do you instinctually know what you like to wear? Or what you don't like to wear? Do you also feel that turtlenecks should be banned forever and ever? I should start an anti-turtleneck movement ;)

Ciao ciao!