Please settle my stripes debate

[pomonasprout]

I always thought vertical stripes were meant to be slimming and horizontal not because horizontal cuts across the middle and makes you look wider.
My friend thinks vertical stripes are not slimming because the fabric will stretch and look "bendy" IFYSWIM. Horizontal stripes would stay "straight"
Please help - I'm very confused and feel like I've been living a lie

I have heard that horizontal stripes are slimming because they end at the edges of your body (or something) Especially if the stripes are spaced closer together at places toy want to slim, ie the waist

you want to slim not 'toy'

I'm 5ft2 and euphemistically curvy. Horizontal stripes look much better on me than vertical.

I agree that vertical stripes are not usually slimming - especially if you are busty. Horizontal stripes really depends on the thickness and placement.

i've just got a horizontal striped dress...tunicy/three quarter sleeve, round neck, navy white and it's very flattering on.

stripes are narrow though, and I am a hefty apple shape...16-18, but with fabulously skinny wrists and ankles

I agree that horizontal stripes are more flattering in tops, skirts & dresses.

I always thought vertical stripes being slimming is complete bull shit. I look terrible in vertical but slimmer in horizontal. Size 14-16

I graciously concede that I'm wrong then! Probably just waffle I heard from Trinny and Susannah and retained for a decade and a half

I think it's a fairly common view so you're probably not alone in thinking it. I realised a few years ago that many fashion "rules" don't apply to me, so I tend to use the mirror and dh test instead (he's diplomatically honest )

Now I always thought vertical were flattering and horizontal were not, until one drunk evening I tried my (largish) friends horizontal top on and everyone was amazed as it gave me a really great hour glass shape! But op you are right horizontal was supposedly unflattering.

I think it might have been Trinny & Susanah who started the 'fashion rule' that horizontal stripes are unflattering. Or maybe they were the ones that busted the myth, can't quite remember. It was definitely a 'rule' at one stage OP, albeit an incorrect rule, so both you and your friend are right OP

Crispy just when I'd accepted I was wrong you get me with the technicalities

Yes Op it definitely was a rule once upon a time!

It's a myth ! Horizontal are actually more flattering !

I'm not sure if this is slimming or not. Kinda like it anyhow - Vertical stripes!

Thinking maybe you have to be v slim already for vertical stripes to slim you even more?? Defeats the object

This was actually the subject of scientific research, see here.

From the conclusion: there is no evidence to support the widely held beliefs that horizontal stripes make the human form appear wider and that vertical strips have a slimming effect. All the evidence here points in the opposite direction.