25 DRESSING TIPS that can make you look slimmer

Welcome to the world of reality where not everyone is built like Miley Cyrus or Jennifer Lawrence. Thunder thighs, pot bellies, fat rolls in the back, large saggy breasts, muffin tops – all issues which greatly perturb us  – far more than maybe global warming and terrorism.

Accepting our body for what it is and what it will be and going ahead choosing the best for it seems to be the right way out of this problem – the persistent feeling that “I am not thin enough”. Some tips ( common sense ones that you already know ) can go a long way in letting go of that awkward feeling.

Related post : Dressing tips to hide a big belly.

Tips for smart dressing that make you look thin

Similar colors for the top and bottom

Choose the same colored fabric for the upper and lower part of the body – Different colors will divide the body and make it look stocky and big.

Prints that make you look slimmer

Too loud prints can make you look bigger. A patternless, printless fabric is best for a slimming look, but if you want to wear print, choose smaller prints or limit prints to problem areas of your body.   

You should go for small and vertical patterns that make you look slimmer.

Fabrics that make you look slimmer

Lightweight and thin fabrics are always the best choices. Checkout this post on the names for lightweight fabrics

Choose flowy, drapey fabrics like chiffon, georgette, crepe to sew your clothes. Lightweight, soft cotton is great as well. Especially if you are on the heavier side, fabrics that skim over your prominent areas will camouflage them, but ensure the fabric is not clingy.

For, e.g. a thin knit fabric will cling to all the wrong places emphasizing the flaws.

So are there fabrics that make you look fat? In a way, yes. Thick and heavyweight fabrics like denim, corduroy, fleece, fake fur, leather, and stiff fabrics can make you look heavier because they create a thicker silhouette.

Heavily textured fabrics ( like embossed velvet or cut work) look good, but they are not exactly slimming.

The straight lined silhouette is slimming.

Choose straight lines for skirts/ pants/trousers and jeans to make you look taller and thinner.

Do not go for boxy jackets. Choose one which is slightly Fitted at the waist to give you shape.

A beltless fitting one-piece dress in a single color can make you look slimmer.

Necklines for a slim look

V necks are the best slimming neckline; it gives a leaner, longer silhouette which we want. But if you have big breasts watch out for too much plunging v-neck.

I like the look of sweetheart necklines as well; The curved shape of the sweetheart neckline can elongate the neck, making it look longer and more slender. A longer neck can contribute to an overall slimmer appearance. (But it may make your bust look curvier, so avoid if you do not want that)

It is better to avoid high necklines like polo-necks if you are top-heavy (unless you wear them with long thin necklaces). A scoop neck can work well for a hip heavy figure.

Choose best sleeves

Say no to puffed sleeves or cape sleeves – both will make your arms bigger than they are. Long straight sleeves and Raglan sleeves can have a slimming effect.

If you have a big bust and want attention away from it, never choose a sleeve ending near your bust line; the same goes for the waist and the stomach.

If you have a protruding stomach and your sleeve ends near it, the eyes will be drawn to your stomach naturally.

A long bell sleeve may look good on a girl with a big bust and thin waist but not on someone with a big waist; Short sleeves  that end near bust level can look good on a pear-shaped figure.

Avoid round shapes

Avoid rounded collars, rounded pockets on your clothes.

Try to balance the figure

Always dress keeping in mind your bodyshape and how certain clothes or colors look on your particular shape.

If you have a top heavy body (inverted triangle shape), you may want to balance the shape by wearing darker colored blouses, or top (preferably in solid colors) with a lighter color pants or skirt. Clothes that can add volume to the lower body, like a fit and flare dress or flared pants can help to balance the top-heavy figure. 

If you have a bottom heavy body (pear shape), you may want to balance the shape by wearing lighter colored blouses, or top with a darker color pants or skirt. Go for high-waisted pants and skirts to elongate your legs and create the illusion of a longer waist. Clothes that can add volume to the upper body, with embellishments like ruffles, embroidery can help to balance the bottom-heavy figure. 

Choose well-fitting underwear under your clothes

Bulging of breasts near the armholes and rolls above panty lines can look fattening.

Underwire bras give good support to sagging breasts, so choose the one that fits you, to avoid looking sloppy. An upright-looking bra will give you a slimmer look but take care that it is not awkwardly up.

Checkout this post on how to choose your bra size

Choose the best slimming colors.

Light-colored clothes are fattening and Dark colors are slimming – but that doesnot mean you should go full on monochrome in blacks, browns and navy blues only; there are more interesting dark colours like emerald green, maroon, indigo blue (Denim).

Learn more about the color combinations based on the color wheel here.

Choose to wear dark colors in your problem areas or different shades of the same color, layering them for some interest to the monochromatic look.

The look of the fabric

Avoid shiny fabric if you want to look slimmer. The shiny fabric brings attention to the problem area. Fine textured/ matt fabric is best for making you look thin.

Choose vertical lines

Vertical lines in the patterns of your fabric will elongate your body and make you look slimmer. Avoid horizontal lines like the breton stripes in the picture.

Add vertical lines to the garment with trims or add fabric bands to elongate the look.

Vertical stripes are always a favorite.

Create vertical seam lines

The Princess line will work like a vertical line across your dress. This will elongate your silhouette

Narrow standing collars, Narrow panels or gores, Narrow belts – all these create slender lines and thins you.

Choose accessories that elongate

Compliment your clothes with the right accessories that elongate, like high heels , long earrings, long necklaces, thin bracelets.

Wear a Long scarf

A scarf or shawl printed and worn down the body can bring a good contrast, especially with a single-colored dress. Wearing the long scarf around your neck will bring attention away from the body and give an illusion of length. 

Learn different ways to wear a scarf here

Types of tops

Avoid empire line tops if you are full-breasted – they can make the bust area look even full. Avoid cropped tops as well.

Advantage of bias cut

Choose dresses which are cut on the bias. The fabric falls beautifully when it is cut on the bias and skimmed over your body, making it look slimmer.

Avoid too many pockets /pleats

When selecting pants choose ones with side zippers/fly; definitely without any pleats on the front or too many pockets. If there are pockets that cause unnecessary bulges in your silhouette, You can always take it away with your seam ripper.

Avoid too tight clothes

Leggings and stretch jeans are unforgiving to a too full body. Ok to wear under long tunics but on their own, under small tops, they are a disaster.

Do not wear too tight skirts / tops. The resultant bulges are very unforgiving. The audience will notice the bulge first before any other part of you. Be ruthless in culling them from your wardrobe – if they are there you will feel like wearing them and maybe feel regret and unhappiness at what you are. 

Never wear too tight button-down tops. Button-down tops which gape in the front because it is too tight can look fattening.

But no too loose clothes too

Do not wear oversized sweaters/t-shirts/ dresses just because you are not thin. These shapeless clothes can make you look oversized and frumpy.

When wearing very loose clothes wear a belt to give some shape; loose clothes may make you look floppy and shabby. A belt will give definition to your figure.

Check out the belt designs you can choose from

Fit of pants for a slim look

Low-waist pants/ jeans can cause bulges ( the infamous muffin-top) where you don’t want them. High-waisted pants/trousers are best; They elongate the body and contain extra fat.

Correct length for pants

Choose to wear the correct length pants/trousers / jeans. The best length for  a trouser is for it to be 2 cm from the floor when you are wearing shoes.

Remember that pants can shrink in the wash. So wait till the first wash before you alter too long pants; you may end up with too short pants if you alter before this and this will make you look stocky.

Avoid fullness in the pattern lines

This means no ruching or gathers or frills or shirring or smocking near problem areas.

No shoulder pads

Wearing dresses/ tops with shoulder pads ( not too heavy ) can make you look thinner at the hips if you are pear-shaped. The shoulder pads will give a balance to the upper and lower parts of the body

Ensure that the problem area in your body does not have any special embellishment or decorations. Like a sequined appliqued patch on your jeans near your thighs when that is the last place you want others’ eyes to linger.

Avoid too many embellishments

Long coats/ jackets ( hip length ), sleeveless vests, and cardigans can make you look leaner so long as the coat itself is not too voluminous or has too many pockets and other decorations.

Heavily embroidered fabric worn on the problem area (like a mirror-worked blouse for an apple body shape) is definitely out of the question; If you really like that fabric, choose to make a bag with it or stitch it as a patch that lies vertically in your dress. 

Shapewear -your saviour

A body slimmer / shapewear can be your savior – these are specially meant to make you look compact in your clothes, hide all your flaws and make you look good.

Go to a lingerie shop and choose the best shapewear for you – there are so many varieties, one for each part of your body. You will wish you had worn this earlier.

Caution: Using extremely tight shapewear to look slim can lead to health risks, including restricted circulation and breathing difficulties. You should not resort to harmful choices in clothing for momentary gain.

Would you be having some more dressing tips that make you look slim – comment below.

Reference : Getting gorgeous , Clare Maxfield

Related posts: Clothing styles