Line in clothing design is important and can fool the eye into thinking a person is thinner or fatter than he or she actually is.
Look at Rectangles A, B and C. Which appears wider?
A appears wider but in fact all are the same width. The
vertical lines in B and C make the rectangles appear
thinner. So too do cleverly sewn garments which make the
wearer seem thinner. Omitting lines can add bulk to
thinner body types to create better balance.
So next time when you buy a garment (or have something designed) pay particular
attention to where the seams are and what effect they have on your overall appearance.
