After enduring months of lockdown and way too much comfort eating, for most, the thought of getting into a swimsuit for the December holidays was more terrifying than encountering a giant rain spider in the middle of the night.  

January arrived and reality set in!  Oh, how you wish you had not eaten the third batch of grandmas famous Christmas mince pies.  Do not despair ladies, I am going to share my top 10 tips on how to instantly look slimmer and feel more confident without dieting.  

Tip 1

Step one, know your body shape.  If you do not already know your body shape, book a consultation for a body analysis. We all have different body shapes, so what looks good on you, may not look good on me.  A professional image consultant will guide you with the correct choices for your body.  By dressing correctly for your body shape, will highlight your best assets and magically minimize your flaws.

Tip 2

We all know that black is a winner when it comes to looking slim.  Black absorbs light, so you immediately look thinner.  What a lot of ladies don’t know however, is that black is not complementary to all skin tones.   If black is not a hue in your colour palette, it can literally make you look washed out and ill, so rather chose another dark colour which is flattering to your skin tone like navy, charcoal grey, dark brown or burgundy.  Navy is a universal colour which suits every skin tone (that’s why corporate uniforms are mostly in navy).  The most flattering style is monochromatic dressing, what this means, is wearing one colour from head to toe.  It immediately elongates your body and makes you look slimmer, and chic.  If you don’t already know which colours are best suited for your skin tone, I highly recommend going for a colour analysis.  A colour analysis is determined by the colour of your skin, hair and eye.  By looking at these elements, the image consultant will be able to tell you if you have a warm or cool undertone.  When you wear the correct colours, you will look more vibrant and youthful and people will notice your natural glow and overlook the extra kilos. 

Tip 3

Take those heels out of your closest and dust them off.  I’m not suggesting you wear 5-inch Louboutin’s.  On second thought, if you do own a pair of Louboutin’s you SHOULD be confidently wearing them. Ok, let’s get serious, not many of us have a spare pair of Louboutin’s lying around in our closet, so any heels will do. A heel immediately elongates you, and not only makes you look taller, but also slimmer.  If you have wide ankles, then it is better to go for a more practical block heel.  I would also recommend that you avoid any shoe that has an ankle strap as this will make your ankle look even wider.  If you really cannot get your head around wearing a pair of heals, then go for pointed toe shoes, they will also create the illusion of length and make you look taller and slimmer.  

Tip 4

Create a waist.  The hourglass figure is considered the perfect body shape for a woman, with a tiny waistline.  The idea is to create the illusion that you also have an hourglass figure.  Often when we are carrying extra weight, we overcompensate by wearing loose fitting clothing to try and hide it, when in fact it only accentuates the problem area even more.    Woman have natural curves, so don’t be afraid to show them off, it’s what makes us feminine after all.  The simplest way to create a waist is by wearing a belt in the smallest part of your waist.  The focal point will be your waist and give the illusion that you have an hourglass figure.  Another great way to draw attention to your waist is by wearing a wrap dress.  A wrap dress suits most body shapes and is a flattering item to have in your closest.  If you carry the majority of your weight around your waist, then this tip does not apply to you, as it will draw attention to the area you are trying to disguise.

Tip 5

Patterns can be your new best friend.  Patterns not only add interest to an outfit, but they also can also hide flaws.  An intricate pattern confuses the eye, and in doing so makes you look slimmer.  Choose a pattern that is appropriate for your body, Eg if you are petite opt for a small pattern, a bright large pattern will only draw attention to your flaws and will be too overwhelming for your petite frame. Combine patterns or prints with solid colours, the ideal ratio is 2 to 1.  Either 2 prints and 1 solid colour or 1 print and 2 solid colours.     

Tip 6

Choose your fabrics carefully.  Avoid fabrics that are too thick, thin, or shiny.  Textured and heavy fabrics like velvet, tweed, wool, chunky knits, fleece, corduroy, and faux fur will add extra weight to your look.  Thin fabrics that are flimsy and clingy like jersey knit, chiffon and rayon may not sit well on your body.   Shiny fabrics like organza, satin and sequins attract light, so they will make you look larger than you are.  Its best to stick with clothing in fabrics like cotton, denim, silk and cashmere.   

Tip 7

Vertical stripes create long lines which automatically make you look taller and thinner as they force the eye to scan up and down.  Please remember that the wider the line the wider you will look so it is best to go for pinstripes.   A great investment is to own any item of clothing that has a side panel (a stripe going down the side of the garment), these pieces of clothing literally make you look slimmer. 

Tip 8

Diagonal lines make the eye move the gaze upward or downward depending on the direction of the diagonal line.  Asymmetrical lines make you look leaner.  Ladies with large hips should wear asymmetrical tops, drawing the eye to the top half of their bodies.  If you want to hide your belly, you can wear diagonal lines across your torso.  

Tip 9

V neck lines create a triangular, vertical line which gives the illusion of height.  V neck lines slim down a double chin and a large figure.  If you are wearing a button-down shirt, then leave the top few buttons open.  If you have a long neck (10cm or longer) then you want to avoid a V neckline, as it will only elongate your neck and make your neck look out of proportion.  If you have a large bust, then its best to stick with a crew neckline, as a V neck will make your bust look even larger. 

Tip 10

Shapewear instantly helps you lose inches.  Proper shapewear will lift and support you where you need it most.  Spanx are the most famous shapewear company, however you can find great shapewear options in local department stores like Woolworths. There is a misconception that only overweight woman need shapewear, which is not true.  Shapewear is not only used to give a slimming effect, but they also help with smoothing out lumps and bumps, giving your body a great toned look.  Shapewear comes in a variety of categories, from briefs to bodysuits and shorts to slips.  

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