Blocking: Lead In Lines

Last time, I showed the Rule Of Thirds, which is a really simple way that you can make sure your outfit looks balanced.


This time, I'm tackling the concept of lead in lines. There's many names for it, but the basic principle is the same.

I also tried to keep the outfits pretty well the same - other than the items I was trying to highlight - so hopefully the effect is more obvious.

What Are Lead In Lines:

Lead In Lines are lines of focus - they're designed to draw your eye to or from specific areas within any image or art piece. In real life, this is used with everything from architectural designs to paintings, sculptures and photography. Even real life stylists and clothing designers use this trick! So it's perfect for you dolls outfit or suite.

Vickylicious10

LoveGina13

Munieki

How You Wore It:

Knowingly or not, I found a bunch of dolls who are using lead in lines to make the best of their doll's figures.

How To Do It:

Draw It In:

To create the illusion of a smaller waist, use lines that look like an hourglass. It's most effective when using a dark item.

Vertical = Tall & Horizontal = Wide

Stripes - especially when placed over wider parts of the body, like the chest and hips  - can make you look bigger or smaller than you really are.

Long Lines, Long Legs

Vertical lines make legs look longer, and if the dark line is on the outside with the light in the middle, it can also make your legs look skinnier. This is because the eye is pulled down the body, making the legs seem longer, plus it makes the center of the leg look closer to you, with the outsides farther away, hence seeming skinnier. The same effect can be said for using contours or highlighters.

Most good quality jean washes are designed like that, while other pants may be printed, have a feature - such as these ones have a zip - or have different coloured stitching.

This tip isn't just about pants, either - shoes, especially lace up ones, will often be lighter in the middle where skin shows. and darker on the outside where the leather or other fabric is.

Pleated skirts can also have the same effect, as seen on the "draw it in" outfit, because again, you have a long, straight line running down the body.

Grow Tall Like A Tree

The same idea can also be used for coats - using long, straight lines - especially when layered - make you look taller by drawing the eyed down the body.

What Goes Across, Comes Across

All vertical lines widen when placed across the body. This is because the eye looks straight at them, and has got nowhere else to go but across, making everything seem larger.

Contradictory to this, often high waistlines and belts are used to make you look skinnier - this is because, in the real world, it will create the hourglass shape out of clothing that otherwise wouldn't pinch in around the waist. On stardoll, items won't change shape because of what you wear with them, so a waist belt may not affect how the outfit looks at all.

So to create a bigger hip line, make sure there are stripes in the middle of the hip going across. 

You don't even need to use stripes - a low waistline, boxcut shirt, peplum skirts,  or wearing a bandeau bra will widen the areas they're worn on.