It’s no simple task to prevent yourself from putting on a few extra pounds, and it can be even more difficult to lose any excess fat. At some point, most people would try to stay in shape for a variety of reasons — to get healthier, or for clothes to fit better, to name a few.
What you need to realize is that you don’t necessarily need to be a size zero to look fashionable and stylish. You might think people look good because they are either thin or have great fashion sense, but to be honest, most of them follow some simple style tricks to make themselves look great. With the right fit and look, you’ll be able to make yourself look slimmer too.
Here are some style tips everyone should learn if you want to look as slim as possible.
You Got To Shape Up
Remember the saying, it is what’s on the inside that counts? No, we’re not being sappy and saying that looks don’t matter because they clearly do and anyone who says otherwise is just in denial. When we say inside, we mean your innerwear, or what you wear beneath your clothes.
Shapewear is an increasingly popular piece of innerwear that promises to make you look slimmer, and for the most part, they really do work. These stretchy leotard-like pieces can help you to hold in whatever you want — your bust, waist, butt, or thighs — and smooth out the curves, giving you that desirable hourglass silhouette.
You’ve got quite a few options to choose from — slender briefs, boy shorts, or full-body pieces with specially reinforced panels that can pull your stomach in, make your thighs look slimmer, boost your backside, and even define the waistline. These are good if you’re planning to wear fitting clothes like bodycon dresses or tight pants.
Do be careful not to get sizes that are too tight as that would be rather counter-productive. It can lead to unflattering bulges and bumps, making you look chubby instead of making you look slimmer.
Welcome To The Black Parade
Repeat after me: Black is now your favourite colour and your new best friend. The usage of dark colours like black and navy blue to hide lumps and bumps is nothing new, but if you’re not in the know, it’s pretty simple.
Black is a slimming colour because of how dark it is. It reflects little to no light at all, and when your clothes are black, it makes it harder for people to see any bumps of fat protruding out. Every girl should have a little black dress (LBD) handy at all times too — it’s just good fashion sense.
A single colour also naturally enhances the illusion of slimness. This is done by creating a long, vertical line, so pair a black top with black bottoms for the maximum slimming effect.
Conversely, you can also use dark and light colours to slim down and enhance specific areas respectively — for example, if you’re more bottom heavy and think you look disproportionate, wear a light-coloured top with dark jeans or a black skirt. This will enhance your bust and upper body while slimming your lower body, giving you a more even and balanced look.
Pay Attention To Prints And Patterns
If you’re trying to make yourself look slimmer, never ever go for horizontal prints or patterns as they’ll just end up making you look wider and broader. Stripes are especially guilty of doing this, so stay as far away from them as you can.
Vertical prints, on the other hand, are great at not only making you look slim but also make you look taller. Patterns like stripes create long lines and therefore make you look longer too, and if you want to emphasize on the tall look, choose tops that have a low and deep neckline.
Learn How To Accessorize
More than just finishing touches to your outfit, accessories like jewellery, belts, and bags can even help to make you look slimmer. You’ll need to know how to use them to your advantage and for enhancing your natural body proportions, though.
A general rule to follow is the bigger an accessory, the smaller it will make you look. Items like wide cuff bracelets, long chain necklaces, broad and thick belts, or a medium-to-large tote or clutch bag will give off a slimming illusion. Of course, don’t use all of them at the same time or you’ll end up looking clunky.
If you want your face to look slim too, learning how to pair the right accessories for your face shape will do wonders too. If you have a rounder face, avoid big hoop earrings and go for simple ear studs. If you’ve got sharp features and a pointed chin, don’t overdo the accessories — choose either earrings or necklaces, but do not use them together.