Grow taller visually

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Horizontal stripes can effectively elongate just like vertical stripes

Which of the two squares is higher?

Our stereotypical thinking should suggest that the left one. But here’s how our brain sees them.

In reality, horizontal lines appear to be higher by about 5% - an effect discovered by Helmholtz. And if you combine them, the illusion will be even stronger.¹

Figure. The horizontal Helmholtz square appears elongated when additional orientations are added.

Researchers applied this principle to clothing, and it has been found to work the same way, at least for slim body types.²

However, the power of stereotypes should not be underestimated. Many of us have heard recommendations to wear vertical lines if we are short or overweight. This may lead to a biased attitude towards horizontal stripes.

Therefore, for a slim body, it seems optimal to wear thin horizontal lines that are broken up by no more than 2-3 vertical segments.

For wider body sizes, use vertical thin stripes.³

1. Pinna B. (2015). Directional organization and shape formation: new illusions and Helmholtz’s Square. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 9, 92. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00092 ↩

2. Koutsoumpis, A., Economou, E., & van der Burg, E. (2021). Helmholtz Versus Haute Couture: How Horizontal Stripes and Dark Clothes Make You Look Thinner. Perception, 50(9), 741–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/03010066211038158 ↩

3. Ashida, H., Kuraguchi, K., & Miyoshi, K. (2013). Helmholtz illusion makes you look fit only when you are already fit, but not for everyone. i-Perception, 4(5), 347–351. https://doi.org/10.1068/i0595rep ↩

Posted on 23 Apr 2023
Last edited on 07 Sep 2023