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Study Finds Horizontal 'Pencil' Stripes Often Look Slimmer Than Vertical

The peer-reviewed test shows pattern details, not orientation, drive the illusion.

Overview

  • The i-Perception paper reports that horizontal pencil stripes with 1×2 spacing, meaning thin lines separated by wider gaps, drew the strongest slimming ratings from front views.
  • The researchers found that the effect depends on three factors: stripe direction, stripe type, and how far apart the lines are.
  • The team tested photos of one woman wearing five stripe patterns and surveyed 241 undergraduates in Taiwan.
  • Some vertical layouts looked slimmer from other angles, including standard 1×1 vertical stripes when viewed from the back.
  • The authors urge caution about one-size-fits-all advice and note an unpublished, non-significant hint that a 2×2 horizontal pattern may look visually neutral for maternity wear.