Dress to Look Thinner Hints and Tips

Not everyone can wear the 'perfect' size 6. If you are a woman who seeks to slim her appearance when she dresses, this article is just for you. There are ways, even when you are not overweight, that you can dress to show off the best assets of your appearance, but when you do have a few extra pounds you'd like to hide, these simple tips below can help you show off your best features while hiding those that aren't your favorite.

Let's look at how to dress to look thinner:

Dress Thinner Tip #1: Wear the right size.

No outfit is going to take 20 pounds off your hips, but choosing the right clothing that fits properly can go a long way to slimming your look. If clothes are too tight, all the bulges, rolls, dimples, or any other flaw you may have will show through. If clothes are too big, they add bulk and can make you look heavier than you actually are.

Instead, wear the right size for your build, and don't be afraid to let some parts of your clothing be form fitting but not tight.

Dress Thinner Tip #2: Long skirts for tall women, below the knee for short.

If you are very tall, you can wear a longer skirt that will elongate the look of your body and thus make you appear leaner. If you are shorter, a longer skirt might make you appear even shorter, but a skirt that falls right below the knee will help you appear a bit taller and leaner. Avoid ankle length skirts if you are short and avoid above the knee skirts if you are tall.

Dress Thinner Tip #3: Patterns fool the eye.

Optical illusion patterns, diagonal stripes, zig zags and the like can fool the eye and detract from problem areas. However, avoid horizontal and vertical stripes because these both can cause you to appear heavier. Also try to avoid bold floral prints with oversized designs and large polka dots, since these tend to add to the appearance of 'size' and bulk.

Dress Thinner Tip #4: V-line neck and waist.

A V-neck outfit can help draw attention away from the middle area, thus slimming your entire appearance, while a V-line waist on a skirt or dress can really help reduce the appearance of bulk at the waist and top of the hips.If you have a small waist for the size of your hips or are very shapely and curvy, a V-line waist can really accentuate your best features.

Dress Thinner Tip #5: Boot-cut pants, no flared or tapered legs.

If you have larger hips and thighs, when you wear pants, you do not want to wear the slim ankle or flare cut pant legs. The best cut for slimming is the boot-cut pant leg, because this will give a more symmetrical appearance and thus make you appear thinner. If your legs and ankles are thinner but you have a larger posterier and hips or belly, the taper-cut legs will make you appear top heavy. Also be sure to ensure pant legs are long enough. Pant legs that some up too short on the ankle can make the legs appear shorter and cause the body to appear a bit bigger.

Dress Thinner Tip #6: Avoid middle/waist bulk.

Avoid bulky scarves and belts around the waist, especially if your problem area includes your hips and waist. Also avoid tight fitted clothing that bunches at the waist and opt rather for form-fitted looser items and elastic waists that don't bind.

Dress Thinner Tip #7: Wear heeled shoes.

If you can, wear at least a small heel on your shoe. The higher the heel on your shoe, the more slimming the effect. Heeled shoes slightly change the center of gravity as well as accentuating the usually smaller lower part of the legs while adding height - all things that cause you to look thinner.

Dress Thinner Tip #8: Minimum jewelry, size appropriate.

Avoid bulky jewelry, especially around the neckline. However, at the same time, if you are a larger women wearing very small pieces of jewelry, this can add to the illusion you are bigger than you really are. Pick jewelry appropriate to your size, without a lot of bulk.

Dress Thinner Tip #9: Avoid pleats.

Where it's darts in shirts, pleated pants or skirts, pleats will pull when moving and if you have a bit of extra weight, they will not help accentuate your best features. This is especially true of your stomach area when wearing skirts or pants - avoid pleats.

Dress Thinner Tip #10: Foundation garments.

Yes, ladies, this means your underwear! It's ironic this article ends where the dressing begins, but foundation garments make all the difference.

Bra straps that are too tight cause rolls or bulges. Panties that bind and don't move with you can do the same not to mention those unsightly panty lines. Hosiery also can help slim your appearance. Body slimmer undergarments or foundation garments that fit properly can make a huge difference in how you look once you put on your clothes.

The best tip of all, though, is to wear clothing that makes you comfortable and fits your style. Being yourself and feeling good in the clothes you wear makes all the difference in your overall appearance.