MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style ArticleVolume 7 Week 30 July 26, 2012

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Ten Pounds Slimmer in Ten Minutes!

Okay, so life’s really not that quick or easy. It’s also true you can’t lose ten pounds in a matter of minutes either! However what you CAN DO is...dress SLIMMER and therefore look slimmer!

Yes, you can look slim...even if you are wearing white!

Coldwater Creek Military Linen Jacket (petites, misses, womens)

Feeling a few pounds heavier? Don’t give in and wear large over-sized or baggy shirts and pants! No, no, no! Instead, choose to dress slim. Of course, getting your diet cleaner and adding in (more) exercise will help you long-term with weight management...but start today by dressing in clothes that “make” you look slimmer! It will be a big confidence booster.

Professional stylists dress their celebrity clients to accentuate their best assets (no matter their age, height, size or weight). It’s up to them to work hard and create a look that highlights their client’s best assets and camouflages the rest. As your personal stylist, I’m ready to help you do the same!

It doesn’t matter your dress size or body type—I’m sharing some tried and true tips below that will make your shape look slimmer and more balanced. So don’t give up on style or feel you can’t look good—it’s simply not true! When you “dress slim” it improves your self-esteem and confidence like nothing else can.

Dressing Slim Tips:

Stand up straight! You really do look slimmer when you are not hunched over. Mama was right...stand up straight, girl! Throughout the day practice improving your posture and slowly it will improve and you’ll look slimmer for it.

When you catch yourself slouching, quickly suck in your tummy and get those shoulders back...soon it will become a habit to keep better posture throughout the day.

Locked and loaded. 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized bra! Get a professional bra fitting and get the “girls” in an upright and locked position. If your bra is stretched out (sorry--it is noticeable because the ‘girls’ look tired and saggy)—it’s time for a new one. A “perkier”

bust makes you look thinner. When the ‘girls’ are UP your torso will look up to 5 lbs lighter! It’s the cheapest and quickest ‘makeover’ you can yourself.

Stuffed in. Just say “NO” to big baggy clothes AND to super tight clothes (where you look like a stuffed sausage casing). Both are examples of poor fit and make you look heavier! In order to look your slimmest, your clothes must fit your body correctly.

NO, NO, NO!

Color me thinner. Create an illusion of a slimmer figure by wearing all one color from head to toe (monochrome). You can use fabric textures to add interest to what you are wearing as well as pops of color with your choice of accessories.

Compare these 2 photos. Notice below, how the model on the left (in white no less!) looks slimmer compared to the model on the right?

Coldwater Creek Military Linen Jacket

The model (above) on the right of the page has horizontal line in the middle of her body (created by a different color shrug over the white top)! The model on left all in white looks SLIMMER because there is no color break between her top and bottom!

FYI: Your all one color look can be in any color. Try all gray, all chocolate brown or off-white for that matter!

ALL one color (top & bottom in the same color) gives an illusion of a taller/trimmer shape.

Chico's Travelers Collection Ribbed Cardigan

HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR SLIMMING NEEDS...

1. How to dress slimmer when you have a large bust.

Camouflage a larger chest with tailored shirt and jackets and even a bit of layering. Avoid baggy clothes and instead choose structured pieces. For example, wear a dark shirt, tank or camisole, then add a structured short-sleeved jacket over.

Also choose v-necklines over crew neck, boatneck and other wide necklines. You want to draw the eye down with a vertical line on your upper body. (Just be sure to avoid plunging necklines that show too much bosom).

A flattering casual look:

Chico's Effortless Cotton Olivia Shirt

A flattering dressy look:

Chico's Python Priscilla V-neck Dress

2. How to dress slimmer when you have a thick middle.

Avoid short clingy tops. Choose empire waist cut tops that have a slight flare from just below the bust. Also try on blouson tops (band at hemline) and tops with ruffle-fronts. Be sure fabric is substantial, yet not bulky. You want something with really good drape over the tummy that does not look baggy (like a tent).

A flattering casual look:

Chico's Dotty Dot Dora Tank

A flattering dressy look:

Dillard's Lauren Polka-Dot Empire Jersey Dress

3. How to dress a curvy shape.

A monochromatic look (all one color) will always help make a curvy figure look slimmer because it creates one long lean line. Be sure to play up your waist in order to keep your look slim and balanced looking. Show off your silhouette, don’t hide it!

A flattering casual look:

Chico's Travelers Classic Cara Tank Chico's Travelers Collection Nyssa Jacket

A flattering dressy look:

Coldwater Water Drifting Violets Dress

4. How to dress larger hips.

Avoid ultra-tight skinny pants that will emphasize your fuller hips. Instead, opt for boot-cut and straight-legged pants. Wear tops that hit just below your top hip bone (this will cut down the visual size of your full bottom).

**Below notice the jacket length (would be the same for a shirt too)...not too short and not too long either! Perfect length for minimizing a full hip.

A flattering casual look:

Chico's Beautiful Shine Ruth Jacket

A flattering dressy look:

Coldwater Creek Lace Mesh Skirt

More tips for dressing slimmer...

Base more of your wardrobe on dark neutrals AND think vertical lines every time you dress. Notice the “Do” picture (on the left). She is dressing slim! She is wearing a long line of one color. Wear the flattering colors near your face and play up your accessories too so the look is not boring.

Notice the “Don’t” picture (on the right). The horizontal line in the middle of her body is created by a color change. The horizontal line adds thickness to her shape and cuts her body in half (bringing the eye right to her hips and tummy area).

Do Don’t

Do the opposite. If you’re long...go short...and visa-versa. Dressing your body is a balancing act every time you dress. By dressing to balance your shape you’ll look thinner because you look in proportion (more hourglass).

For example if your legs are short, add length by wearing heels (even a slight heel) with longer pant lengths. Also look for pants with vertical lines (pinstripes) etc. High waist skirts and pants may add more length to your legs too.

A higher waist skirt adds leg length.

If your torso is short, wear a belt the same color as top and wear it down lower. Wear only mid-rise pants. Also wear longer-length shirts to make your torso appear a bit longer. Looking more balanced is slimming!

Prints and fabrics DO matter. Part of dressing slim is avoiding prints and fabrics that add weight either physically or visually.

Avoid bold, large, widely spaced prints. Avoid bulky fabrics and those that drape poorly on your body--they make you look thicker.

The picture below (on left) is an example of how a shapeless shirt with bold print overwhelms the model.

On the right, the model wears a solid colored blouse—it doesn’t wear her!

Don’t Do

DO wear mid-sized all over prints especially in a dress (all one garment)...

Border Becca Dress (with dark background)

Use your style tools! Yes, I’m talking about accessories as tools to draw attention where you want it! DO NOT skimp on accessories because you think they’re a bother—you’d be WRONG!

Accessories complete your look and bring attention AWAY from the not great parts.

The scarf below adds a nice vertical line...good idea when your top & pants are a different color!

Chico's Sequin Scarf on Sale!

Imagine this “fancy-schmancy” pin (below) resting up high on your shoulder... (The model is wearing it lower...I suggest wearing it

up higher or in a grouping with 2 other smaller & complimentary pins).

Talk about getting attention away from the rest of your body!!!

Chico's Dalisia Pin

Surprise! If you layer, you’ll look slimmer! When you wear clothing that FITS and layered you’ll actually look slimmer! (Keep this in mind as the weather begins to cool)

A layering piece that fits well, doesn’t add bulk—it skims your shape and camouflages your figure problems.

An undefined waist will look slimmer under a fitted jacket or vest. Added bonus: leave your jacket open for a nice “slimming” vertical line!

On the other hand, if wear only a tee-shirt or thin blouse--everyone notices every bulge underneath your shirt. Try these casual-cute layer suggestions below!

Styles for slimming:

__A slightly fitted shirt (with stretch)__Turning up (or “popping”) the collar__Trumpet skirts (yoked w/ flare at hemline)__Ribbed knits (try them, great vertical line potential)__Bold pendant necklaces__Medium to larger purse in bright color__Fitted blazer (long and short-sleeved w/ princess seams)

Use these stylist tips for dressing slim--- but don’t forget to try on ALL your outfits in front of your full-length mirror (you do have one, right?) BEFORE walking out the door.

Love, Leslie MSP

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