Five ways to look thinner today

As we enter the third week of January, our enthusiasm for New Year’s resolutions starts to wane. If weight loss is a goal for you, here are five easy ways to look thinner today, as you work toward your goals.

• Wear the right hairstyle. Too-short hair or hair that’s too long and shapeless can both be fattening to your look. Sleek, edgy, styled hair can be slimming.
•  Wear tailored clothes – baggy clothes just make you look bigger Bulky, drapey, shapeless clothes make you also look bulky and shapeless.
•  Get clothes tailored. The corollary to the above, make sure your clothes fit you in the shoulders and sleeves. Bracelet length sleeves that are tapered (not wide) are very slimming.

 

• Find or invent your waist. Draw in your narrowest point by buttoning a jacket or sweater, adding a belt, or simply by choosing clothes that are structured.

• V-necks, scarves tied in a knot, necklaces – all elongate your silhouette and draw attention to your eyes.

These are surprisingly easy ways to look your best every day.

Good luck with your resolutions!

Apples and Pears

Everyone loves fruit, except as a body type. Two common figure issues for women are carrying weight around the mid-section (apple) or in the hips and thighs (pear). We spend hours trying to camouflage these areas, often by wearing loose, drapey, oversized clothes in the misguided theory that these items will hide any issues.

The problem is that what we think is the answer is actually creating a bigger problem.

Apples

Those with tummies tend to wear loose, flowing tops and dresses. However, these garment shapes actually make the problem worse by adding extra fabric and volume to an area we’re trying to minimize.

Create a waist line by wearing a blazer or cardigan buttoned below the bust. Wear a wrap (or faux wrap) top or dress to create diagonal lines that help to minimize shapes. Similarly, diagonal patterns and geometrics can minimize shapes. Wear fabrics with stretch and choose heavier weights to help tighten your shape. Add an a-line or flared skirt to balance, giving the impression of width at knee-length and minimizing your waist. Diagonal lines, empire waists and wrap styles are Apples’ best friends.

Pears

Carrying extra weight in the hip and thigh area can create fit issues for many women, especially if they have a much smaller waist. Jeans and pants can gap at the waistband. The answer is tailoring – have the waistbands taken in to create a better fit. Darts will remove excess fabric and streamline your look.

Pears probably avoid pencil or straight skirts, but really should give them a try, especially is the skirt falls straight from the hip. Look for fabrics with stretch and choose darker colours which can help minimize hips and thighs. Pears should avoid pants, skirts and dresses that are gathered or pleated at the waist, because this adds volume to the hip and thigh area. ‘Smooth, flat, sleek’ are key words for Pears.

Camouflaging figure issues doesn’t mean draping a big tent over yourself. These few tips should help you feel more confident as you step out into the world.

Have fun!