Dressing To Look Thinner
No matter what type of garment we're talking about the following tricks will apply to help balance your figure and keep you looking your best. To help diminish your slight weight problem here are garments and accessories to avoid.
Turtleneck sweaters - they cut the length of your neck and make the body seem bulkier. Double-breasted overcoats, or coats with wide lapels, add width to your figure. Straight skirts, or slacks that are very slim or tight, emphasize extra pounds.
Avoid hemlines above the knees, no matter what world fashion dictates. Steer clear of bulky, rough-textured fabrics such as tweeds and heavy wools. Also, avoid shiny fabrics, which add unwanted bulk to your figure. White and light solid colors add width, so mix your whites with color and patterns to break up light solids. In accessories, medium-sized handbags work much better than tiny styles and shapes.
What will work for you?
• Long, narrow lapels on blouses
• Jackets and coats
• Smooth lines from shoulder to hem
• Hems worn just below the knees
• Smoothly woven fabrics such as silk
• Soft cottons
• Soft, lightweight synthetics and small to medium scale fabric designs
• High-heeled shoes, whenever practical.
Now, here are the styles that work best for you, from your broad shoulders and short waist to your protruding belly. Flatter your broad shoulders with tailored, smooth upper garments. When selecting a vest, look for one designed with large armholes coming in toward the center of your body. Raglan sleeves are a beautiful line for you.
Look for fabrics offering a vertical design. Avoid shoulder pads and any gathering at the shoulders such as puffy or other fussy sleeves. Forgo sweaters and tops that are tight and clingy as well as double-breasted styles. But don't go to the opposite extreme by wearing garments that are too large for you since they will only add bulk.
A protruding belly can often be corrected by paying attention to your posture. Stand straight, tummy pulled in, chest high. Camouflage with overblouses and belts slightly on the narrow and loose side. Also, choose garments that fit loosely across the stomach. If possible, wear garments with the zipper in back. You should avoid wide belts, gathered skirts (they add bulk to the stomach), garments that fit too tightly under the stomach, gored skirts and any tight slacks including jeans, which are not meant to function as a girdle.
A short-waisted figure (long-legged with a short midriff) can be balanced by wearing a hat to add height, a stand-up collar, a long, continuous scarf running from the neck past the waistline, overblouses, blouson blouses or sweaters and narrow belts worn slightly below your normal waistline.
Turtleneck sweaters - they cut the length of your neck and make the body seem bulkier. Double-breasted overcoats, or coats with wide lapels, add width to your figure. Straight skirts, or slacks that are very slim or tight, emphasize extra pounds.
Avoid hemlines above the knees, no matter what world fashion dictates. Steer clear of bulky, rough-textured fabrics such as tweeds and heavy wools. Also, avoid shiny fabrics, which add unwanted bulk to your figure. White and light solid colors add width, so mix your whites with color and patterns to break up light solids. In accessories, medium-sized handbags work much better than tiny styles and shapes.
What will work for you?
• Long, narrow lapels on blouses
• Jackets and coats
• Smooth lines from shoulder to hem
• Hems worn just below the knees
• Smoothly woven fabrics such as silk
• Soft cottons
• Soft, lightweight synthetics and small to medium scale fabric designs
• High-heeled shoes, whenever practical.
Now, here are the styles that work best for you, from your broad shoulders and short waist to your protruding belly. Flatter your broad shoulders with tailored, smooth upper garments. When selecting a vest, look for one designed with large armholes coming in toward the center of your body. Raglan sleeves are a beautiful line for you.
Look for fabrics offering a vertical design. Avoid shoulder pads and any gathering at the shoulders such as puffy or other fussy sleeves. Forgo sweaters and tops that are tight and clingy as well as double-breasted styles. But don't go to the opposite extreme by wearing garments that are too large for you since they will only add bulk.
A protruding belly can often be corrected by paying attention to your posture. Stand straight, tummy pulled in, chest high. Camouflage with overblouses and belts slightly on the narrow and loose side. Also, choose garments that fit loosely across the stomach. If possible, wear garments with the zipper in back. You should avoid wide belts, gathered skirts (they add bulk to the stomach), garments that fit too tightly under the stomach, gored skirts and any tight slacks including jeans, which are not meant to function as a girdle.
A short-waisted figure (long-legged with a short midriff) can be balanced by wearing a hat to add height, a stand-up collar, a long, continuous scarf running from the neck past the waistline, overblouses, blouson blouses or sweaters and narrow belts worn slightly below your normal waistline.