Style advice for the Mabel top

The Mabel top’s hemline creates a horizontal line across your body. That means choosing the right length is crucial, which also depends on your horizontal proportions (body shape) and vertical proportions (leg length, torso, etc.).

Horizontal proportions

Would you like to conceal your bum or your stomach? In that case, make sure that the hemline of your top doesn’t end at either of those points. Why? The hemline creates a horizontal line on your body, and horizontal lines really catch the eye. That’s why your hemline should never land where your body is widest. Tops with a hem that stops under the hips/buttocks make your legs look shorter, which in turn makes you look smaller and heavier. To avoid that, remember the following:

  • If you have wide hips (A-types, X-types and 8-types), the top should end just above the widest part (around your hips).
  • If you have narrow hips (I-types, V-types and A-types), then the top can be worn somewhat longer (around your thighs).

Vertical proportions

  • Is your torso long and are your legs short? Don’t make the top too long.
  • Is your torso short and are your legs long? Lengthen the top somewhat to make your torso look longer.

Find out how to alter the length of the top here.

mabel briqck

The Mabel top for H-types

H-types have well-balanced proportions between the shoulders and hips. The only thing missing is a waist. Your challenge is to create a subtle waist that discretely disrupts the straight lines.

The puffed sleeves make your shoulders look wider. Pair Mabel with trousers or a skirt that are flared (e.g. the Babette trousers or the Alix skirt) to create the illusion of a slender waist.

 

The Mabel top for I-types

You’ve hardly got any curves and no waist to speak of. The solution? A little more volume, please. The puffed sleeves and ruffled flounce down the front automatically add shape and visual interest.

You can amplify that effect by pairing Mabel with a flared skirt or trousers, such as the Alix, Claudie or Ginny skirts, or the Bea, Bertha, Benita, or Babette trousers.

Play with colours, prints, and textures. Anything that contributes to making your outfit look more interesting as a whole is a good thing!
Consider making Mabel in a thick, bulkier sweatshirt fabric for more volume. Avoid light, flimsy fabrics that drape lifelessly over your body. They won’t do your straight figure any favours.

Mabel lila

The Mabel top for A-types

The hips are the widest point on the A-type’s body with shoulders that are somewhat narrower in comparison. The A-type's perfect top should go all out on highlighting the torso and making the shoulders look wider to restore your silhouette’s balance.

The round neckline and puffed sleeves draw the gaze up and away from the hips.
Don’t make the sleeves any longer than 3/4 length to keep the focus as high as possible.

The best way to accent the top of your silhouette is to make the top in a light or striking colour in a textured fabric. Pair with trousers or a skirt in a medium to dark shade. A-line bottoms are an excellent choice (e.g. the Alix, Dixie, or Ginny skirts or the Bertha or Babette trousers). Colour contrasts are a fantastic way to balance your figure’s proportions.

Mabel

The Mabel top for O-types

Being an O-type is about accepting your midriff area. Once you’ve done that, you can focus on emphasising your face, shoulders, or slender legs. The puffed sleeves are the star of this pattern and draw focus away from your midriff. Make sure that the puff at the bottom of the sleeves is far enough away from the widest point of your body.
Either make the sleeves short to create volume between the top of the bust and shoulder line or make them long enough to create volume at the hips.

HACK HINT: If you prefer the original sleeve length, simply taper at the bottom to make sure there isn’t too much volume where you’d prefer to avoid it.

Since your objective is to create as many vertical lines as possible, and the hem band adds a horizontal line to your figure – your top’s length is a crucial factor. The hem band is an eye-catcher, so you’re best served positioning it under your midriff.
The flounce version is a definite go because the ruffle creates a vertical line on the torso. However, be careful not to make the flounce too wide.

Mabel will look loveliest on you in a solid, medium to dark shade in an understated fabric. Achieve the perfect lengthening effect by choosing the same colour for the top and bottom pieces. Put on a pair of eye-catching earrings, a necklace, or add a bracelet for extra bling

mabel

The Mabel top for V-types

Are you a V-type? Then you have athletic shoulders, and your figure gradually tapers towards the bottom. You don’t have a clear waist. 
Your job? Distract from your shoulders by highlighting your lower body.
Inverted triangles look great in tops that make the shoulders and upper body seem less bulky.

The puffed sleeves are oh-so-pretty and oh-so-feminine, but they draw oh-so-much attention (i.e. too much!) to your shoulders. Compensate by making the bottom of your silhouette the undeniable star of the show.
Either way, you should make Mabel in a medium to dark shade to keep things sufficiently understated.

Lengthen the sleeves to situate the puffed effect at the bottom as close to your hips as possible.

 

The Mabel top for X- and 8-types

The secret to making your body shape shine? Highlight your feminine curves and accentuate your waist wherever possible.
T
he puffed sleeves add plenty of structure/volume at the shoulder line, which works well on your figure. They also create a wonderfully feminine look.

The Mabel top doesn’t have a fitted cut, so you’ll need to dig into your bag of tricks to find other ways of highlighting your waist: The hem band creates a horizontal line, adding interest. And that’s the perfect reason for making sure the hem band ends somewhere in the vicinity of your waistline. Pair Mabel with trousers or a skirt with a high waistline. Full hourglasses, be careful not to make your torso look shorter. Make the version with the ruffled flounce down the front to create a vertical (lengthening!) line on your torso.

X-types? Pair the Mabel with straight leg or slightly flared trousers (e.g. Benita, Bertha or Babette) or an A-line skirt (e.g. Alix, Ginny, Jutta or Claudie).

8-types? Pair the Mabel with straight-leg trousers (e.g. Benita), slightly tapered trouser legs (e.g. Ebony), or a pencil skirt (Pina).

mabel