Tips for Dressing to Look Thinner

Believe it or not you can look up to 20 pounds thinner just by changing a few things in your wardrobe.  You can dress to look thinner instantly just by changing your wardrobe through colors, lines, and fabrics.  When you make some of the following changes you will look at least 10 to 20 pounds thinner instantly!

Color and Tone:  One color, one tone, from head to toe – elongates the body and makes you look taller and slimmer.  Wear pants, and skirts in the same color family.  The deeper the color the more slimming. Includes hose and shoes – match to skirt or pants or go darker. No sharp contrast. Dress in one color – dark outer silhouette

Lines are important: Vertical lines, narrow stripes, narrow pin stripe all have a slimming affect.  Vertical seaming – Princess style or wrap dress are good. Vertical stitching.  

Neck line counts: V neck lines.  A deep V neckline is slimming. Create a deep v-neck by unbuttoning the first few buttons.  A deep V is best and it should be narrow.  

·        Long vest with v-neck and pointed bottom especially below the hip vest are good. 

The wrap works well: Wrap dresses and wrap blouses.  Are very slimming. Wrap around Shaw collar items are great.  

Skirts can slim:  Slim skirts – with soft pleats at the waist create a slim line.  A-line skirts and dresses.  Slit at sides or on one side.  Front slit overlap.  Wear slim skirts on the short side but not boxy looking.  Avoid pleats unless Skirts with sewn down pleats, tucks or some flat gathering.  Length mid knee or just below knee is ideal.

Pants will slim with the right pleat:  Pants with front pleats that lie flat are best for protruding stomachs.  No zipper in the front unless they have front pleats.  Side closed pants should have front pleats or gathers. Tapered pants at bottom or straight leg.

Verticals on verticals is very slimming. 

Shoulder lines on the shoulders  not falling off the shoulder.  Wear tailored set in sleeves. No shoulder pads unless sloping shoulders or small shoulders.

Colors:  Basic colors for me are Black, Gray and Navy.  Have major pieces like pants, jackets and skirts in these colors. 

·        Accent colors – emerald green, sapphire blue, violet, or silver 

Fit is very important.  Purchase clothes that fit well and that are well cut. Quality over quantity.  Well fitted clothing is very slimming.

Fabrics that slim – gabardines, silks, flat knits, lightweight flannels, silk crepe, and jersey. Wool, linen, silk, cottons.  Blends of natural and part synthetic make sure the higher percentage is in the natural fabric.  Orlon & Dynel are great acrylic fibers.  Avoid shinny, stiff, or bulky. Skim don’t cling.

·        Knits need to be flat kits, jersey, double knits, anything that doesn’t hug the body too tightly. 

Detail – hems, tucks, darts – high quality clothing has generous amount of fabric and detail.  Finishing – look at inside – are the seams finished carefully?  Are the buttonholes clean, no fraying.  

Style – the finest quality is usually conservatively styled.  

Buy later in the season for bargains.  

V necks over turtlenecks is a sharp sporty look.  Turtlenecks are always a sporty look.  Elongate turtlenecks with a vertical vest or top.

 ·        Square neck is ok – low one is best.  Square neck jumper over a cow neck or turtleneck is a sporty look.

 ·        Avoid round necks.  Wear something to lengthen them.  Like a scarf or vest.  A V-neck over it.  

Avoid big over blouses, and tent dresses. They tend to make you look bigger.
No tuck-ins

Shirtwaist collar with a vest is good.  Classic notched collar shirts or blouse.

Shawl collar is great if it is deep.

For the thinnest line, keep the V-neck narrow. 

Jeans that fit.  Gloria Vanderbilt are the best.  Next is Adolfo, Ralph Lauren, Calving Klein, Liz Clayborne, Pierre Cardin.  

Underwear fits if there are no red lines along the waist, bust line or top of thighs.  Wear what doesn’t cause bulges.   

If blouse or jacket gaps, moving buttons over a bit may help.  Jackets with Hidden pockets.

To see if a top is long enough, bend at a 90 degree angle and see if the back is showing, if it does show then the top is too short.   Add a cloth triangle to back with a point down.

 Waist fits – if you can place the two thumbs inside the waistband easily.  If you hold stomach in as far as possible there should not be less that 1” and no more than 2” of material while pinching the waistband.

 Shoes – avoid chunky.  Go for pump or sling back or moccasin look.

Roll the sleeve of a jacket or dress a turn o two. 

Shoulder pads that snap on a bra strap – medium to small.

Belts same color as out fit and narrow.  Wide belts draw too much attention to the

 middle. 

Sarong skirts are ok. 

Jackets – hip length

Accent your best features.  If you have great legs show them off.  If you

 have a great bust line show that off.  Great eyes - accent them.