Originally posted to our Substack page.

A Quick Note

In full transparency, this post is landing a little later than we originally intended.

The past two weeks have been… full. Between clients, work, meetings, socializing, and the beautiful chaos that is Calgary Stampede season, we found ourselves in a very disproportionate chapter – which feels fitting, given the theme of this episode.

What’s funny (and humbling) is that we ended this conversation reflecting on just how much we wanted to bring more balance into our own lives. And then promptly lived out the exact opposite.

So rather than overthink it or try to tie it up perfectly, we’re sharing this with you as-is, two weeks “behind schedule,” but exactly on time in the bigger scheme of things.

Here’s to noticing the imbalance… and then slowly, gently recalibrating.

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Episode Summary

Today we’re diving into our very first principle of beauty: proportion.

We weren’t sure this was the right one to start with. It didn’t feel like the sexiest topic. But as we sat with it – not just in terms of aesthetics, but energetics – we realized: proportion is everywhere. It’s everything. And more often than not, it’s off.

From oversized lamps in awkward living rooms to the chaos of a jam-packed calendar, proportion isn’t just about visuals. It’s about weight, attention, and what we allow to take up space – in our homes, our wardrobes, our businesses, our relationships… and within ourselves.

Proportion as a Design Principle

Let’s start where most people think proportion belongs: interior design. Walk into a room where everything is the same size – couch, chair, coffee table, art – and your eye doesn’t know where to land. It feels flat. Stagnant. Off.

On the other hand, when something is too large or too small for a space (like tiny rugs in massive rooms, or giant lamps that dwarf everything else), your nervous system reacts. You might not be able to name it, but you feel it.

Proportion matters because beauty isn’t just visual – it’s somatic. The psychology of space impacts how safe, grounded, and inspired we feel. When proportion is off, it jars us. When it’s aligned, we exhale.

We pulled a few visuals – one of a living room with tiny art and furniture floating awkwardly in a vast sea of white space. Another with everything oversized and clashing. Then, a few with just the right balance: a couch anchoring the room, art scaled to the wall, pops of color used sparingly but intentionally.

Pro tip: The 60-30-10 rule for color balance is a great rule of thumb. 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, 10% accent. The same goes for scale. Most people undersize their rugs. (Don’t be that person.)

Dressing in Proportion

The same rules apply to fashion. Dressing for your proportions isn't about hiding, it’s about creating harmony which subconsciously signals beauty.

For example, Robyn’s legs are long in proportion to her torso, so certain styling tricks (like French tucks and avoiding tight high-rise pants) help balance that out. Alexa’s legs are shorter, so high-waisted silhouettes help elongate her frame.

Knowing your proportions gives you the power to dress in a way that feels like you – not like you’re fighting your body, or blindly following trends.

Here are some visual examples to illustrate the concepts: too tight, too oversized, then juuuust right.

Makeup & Visual Hierarchy

Even in makeup, the art of enough matters. If you go full glam on eyes, lips, cheeks, and contour all at once, nothing stands out. The face becomes overwhelming. It’s not about minimalism – it’s simply about hierarchy.

We showed how playing up either the lips or the eyes (but not both) allows each feature to shine. When everything competes for attention, beauty becomes noise.

Same goes for branding…

Proportion in Branding & Business

This is where it gets juicy. We mocked up two versions of a text-based graphic. Same copy, same fonts. But one was a chaotic mess, and the other was clean and clear. (Take a wild guess at which is which.)

Same words, different proportions.

Design isn’t just about looking good. It’s about directing focus. What do you want your audience to see first? What do you want them to feel? Too many brands throw everything on the page, hoping something sticks.

This applies to your business overall, too. It might help to think about your business like a room:

• What’s your anchor piece? (Your signature offer?)
• What’s your accent furniture? (The smaller add-ons or bonus services?)
• Where’s the white space?

If you have 8 core offers, 12 social content themes, 3 websites, and a 9 email funnels – your audience is overwhelmed before they even begin. When everything is loud, nothing is heard. (And when you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one.)

Soul-Level Proportion

Now, the part that really hit home.

We asked: Where in your life are you giving too much weight to the wrong things?

Maybe you’re like Alexa – needing a little “man-tox” to redirect energy away from external validation and back into your business, your friendships, your center. Or maybe you’re like Robyn – noticing how being “the good girl” has led to giving every relationship, request, and obligation equal weight.

At a soul level, disproportion looks like this:

• Saying yes to everyone, but no to yourself.
• Obsessing over one voice in your head (the critic, the achiever, the perfectionist) and letting it crowd out your joy.
• Giving all your energy to others and wondering why there’s none left for you.

We’ve both been there. And we’re practicing – gently, imperfectly – rebalancing the scales.

Current Obsessions

In the spirit of curating beauty, we’re closing each episode by sharing a few of our favorite things – the small details that bring us joy, spark presence, or just make life feel a little more delicious.

This time it’s all about scent.

Robyn’s go-to is a cold-pressed air diffuser from Aromatech that instantly, easefully elevates the room. Alexandra’s is The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods perfume that always turns heads.

Subtle. Intoxicating. Just enough.

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Enough

Proportion is the art of enough.

Enough time for work and rest. Enough space for ambition and intimacy. Enough room in your home, your brand, your closet, your heart for what truly matters.

It’s not about shrinking. It’s about adjusting. Holding space intentionally. Guiding the eye – and the energy – to where you want it to go.

So, as you go through the week ahead, here are a few reflection questions:

• What in your space (physical or digital) feels disproportionate?
• Where are you leaking energy or giving too much attention?
• Which relationships or projects have taken up more weight than they’ve earned?
• Where can you pare down – not from lack, but from clarity?

And our favorite one:

👉 Where in your life are you still trying to prove you’re “enough”, instead of simply living like you are?

We’ll be over here, lighting our metaphorical (and literal) candles, sipping our coffees, and re-calibrating with you. One principle at a time.

xo Robyn & Alexandra

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