Excerpted from Modern Home Sewing by Drucella Lowrie and Sylvia Mager printed in 1952, this guide is intended to be a period style guide for those wearers of 1950s vintage clothing.

Dressing to Suit Your Figure Type

There is no “secret” to dressing well. If you will analyze your figure carefully, you will learn to select pattern lines that emphasize your good points — and that minimize your bad ones.

Women who have ideal or “average” figures can wear almost any line or style. But most of us are not that fortunate. You will probably find that you fall into one of the four basic figure classifications — or that you have one or more of the minor figure problems studied below. You may also find that you do not come under just one figure type of have just one problem. For example, you could be short with a short neck and full bust. You would have to look under the suggestions for the short figure and the full bust figure and under the suggestions for the short neck. On the other hand, you may be tall with a flat chest and wide shoulders. You would then look under the suggestions for the tall figure and under the suggestions for the flat chest and wide shoulders.

If you will combine the lines and style features suggested for your figure type with those suggested for your minor figure problems, you will find the styles that are flattering and right for you.

Basic Principles for the Four Figure Types

ARE YOU LARGER OVER THE HIPS? This is your figure type if your hips measure 12 or more inches larger than your waist. You should wear lines that draw attention to the upper part of your figure. Be careful to wear skirts that are not too tight fitting as they will emphasize your hips.

ALL FULL-HIPPED FIGURES

1. Contrasting yokes and sleeves draw the eye away from hips. 2. Keep skirt flared even in “straight skirt” seasons. 3. Wear boxy straight or tuxedo front coats.

AVERAGE WITH FULL HIPS FIGURE

1. Tapered lines from waist to shoulder on dresses and suits are good. 2. Contrasting darker skirts make hips appear slimmer. Try dresses with front fullness, plain back.

PLUMP WITH FULL HIPS FIGURE

1. Wear interesting shoulder details. 2. Fly front or buttoned front dresses are slimming. 3. Contrasting vestees or blouses to draw attention to upper part of figure are flattering.

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