The skinny on dressing slimmer

Fashion trends involve constant evolution and with that it's pretty safe to say that in today's "world of fashion" – anything goes! You no longer need to follow the crowd to belong - whatever fits your shape is good to go and that is why it's crucial that you pick out the right clothes that fit your body shape.

^{Image from Stylehive.}

Women want to look slimmer, most of the time at least. Perhaps it is because we know that there will be an event where we know photographs will be taken and don't want the extra ten camera-pounds to show.

So, the question now is:

"How can you pick out clothes that make you look slimmer?"

1. Keep it simple by avoiding large buttons, pockets, or anything that makes the clothing look bulky, boxy, or matronly. Wear a slightly flared or wide leg pant. Pair the color of the shoe with the pant to create a long visual line, suddenly you have legs!

2. Wear black! The colour black creates a negative space, which detracts from extra weight. It's not called the slimming colour for nothing you know. The worst thing you can do if you want to appear slimmer is to dress in bright colours and large prints.

3. Get a shape, or rather wear clothing that create that illusion at least. If you wear one baggy piece, make sure that the other piece is fitted. Baggy, shapeless clothes will make even a runway model look as though she has gained fifty pounds. If a runway model can't compliment the clothes on her back, none of us can.

4. Emphasize the areas you like to "show off" and disguise those of which you are least comfortable with. If you are worried about the size of your hips, try wearing a plain pair of black pants with a fitted red top. The bright colour will draw attention upwards, away from your hips. Add a nice accessory to the top, and the eye is drawn even further upward, to your face. (Natural accessories help as well of course.)

5. Pick dresses with a bit of an "A-line cut" - A dress or skirt silhouette that is narrower at the top, flaring gently wider toward the bottom thereby resembling the letter A. An A-line cut basically works well on most figure types, which is good for disguising bottom-heavy figures.

6. Wear clothes that fit, even if you don't like the number on the label! Clothes that are either too loose or too tight will definitely create problems - too loose add pounds by adding bulk to your figure and too tight create fat where none may exist, by pushing fat above the waistline of your jeans.

7. You want to look tall not wide. Avoid horizontal stripes. Vertical ones give a "slimmer" illusion as they draw the eye up and down. In fact, even an elongated necklace or a lengthy scarf can create a slimming vertical look.

The best thing to do is to experiment and see what works for you. After all, what works for some, might not exactly do as well for others. Beauty involves investment so does fashion. Pick a couple of labels that best fit you and until you physically reduce in size, stick to them.

Got more tips?

- An article from Princessa's Royal Diary.