I love learning about principles of style, and when it comes to putting a great outfit together, the Rule of Thirds really helps. This concept is all about proportion, and can be used for any trend, occasion, body type or age. When things are off balance or uneven (rather than symmetrical) they look more pleasing to the eye. This principle applies to all types of visual arts—like photography, architecture, interior design—as well as personal style.
I’ve been aware of the Rule of Thirds, but it really hit me how true it is when I cleaned out my closet earlier a few weeks ago. When deciding whether to hang onto a piece of clothing, I tried to determine the reason why I liked it or didn’t. It’s easy to get rid of things with holes or stains, but what about a perfectly good sweater that I never reach for? More often than not, the rule of thirds came into play.
How the Rule of Thirds Makes an Outfit Better
Take the blue silk tunic below for example. I like the color, weight and feeling of the piece, but I never felt great in it. When you look at the photo, you can see that the tunic hits me across the hips and takes up about the same amount of my vertical body as the white pants, giving a 50:50 ratio.
Compare the photo on the left to the similar outfit on the right with the top tucked in and a belt. Now the focal point is higher and the ratio is closer to 1/3 top, 2/3 pants. It’s more visually pleasing, don’t you think?
You can adjust proportions by wearing things longer as well. The sequined jacket below looks much more balanced with the longer jeans than it does with the midi skirt.
I’m only 5’3″, so it’s easy to be overwhelmed by longer dresses. I’m kind of lost in the sweeping pattern of the dress below. Just adding the contrasting belt at the 1/3 mark makes a big difference to how this dress looks, even though the fit is exactly the same.
You can also break up a single block of color by adding an outer layer to create interest at the 1/3 or 2/3 mark.Below, the black vest merges with the black jeans and looks blah. The outfit on the right is similar, with a black top and pants, but the cream jacket creates the off-balance proportion and pulls it together. The jacket makes it look more streamlined even though it has more bulk.
Not everything has to be tucked in or cropped on top. The duster and trench coat below hit at the 2/3 mark, making the outfit feel balanced.
I’m not saying we should follow this (or any) fashion rule all of the time. Style should be fun and flexible, and reflect each person’s individuality. But learning how to use the Rule of Thirds has given me a tool to figure out why an outfit feels off and how to improve it, and I think it’s worth sharing!
If you’re interested, here are a couple other style bloggers that illustrate the concept better than I have.
As. does this stylist, Jennie Jacob:
What do you think, is the Rule of Thirds something you find helpful?
Fully Fabulous 