12 Sneaky Fashion Tricks to Look 10 Pounds Thinner (2024)

RD.COM Beauty & Fashion Clothing

Hint: The key is a cinched waist and lots of vertical lines.

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Know Your Size

Squeezing into a smaller size will never flatter your body. Minimize bumps and bulges by buying clothes that fall perfectly. If you’re between sizes on a gorgeous piece, buy the looser one and have it tailored. This also goes for bras and undergarments. A woman’s bra size can fluctuate from year to year with changes in weight, muscle tone, pregnancy, and age, according to Bare Necessities. A well fitting bra won’t ride up in the back, look wrinkled in the cups, have straps that slip, or an underwire that digs. For a complete guide to sizing, see here. Don’t miss these 50 ways to lose weight without a lick of exercise!

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Invest in Shapewear

Embrace a slimmer silhouette with properly fitting shapewear like Spanx. “You don’t have to wear something that will totally change your shape,” Milena Joy, an image consultant, told WebMD. Joy advises targeting trouble spots like the butt, thighs, and stomach. She also warns against sizing down in shapewear—doing so can cause bulges and dangerously compress your body’s organs. You can also try these one-second tricks to look instantly thinner in photos.

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Watch Your Hemline

Jeans and trousers should hit at the ankle or an inch below. Dark colors with a slightly tapered leg and no pleating are the most flattering. Choose pencil skirts that hit mid-thigh, right above the knee, or right below the knee. Any shorter can make your legs look heavier (unless you’re petite), and any longer can make them appear stubby. Stay away from capris, long or baggy shorts, and shapeless calf-length skirts, advises StyleCaster. And follow thesedaily habits of naturally thin people.

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Try a High Rise

Experiment with high-waisted, slim-fitting jeans in dark denim or black. The higher waist will make your legs appear longer, especially when paired with a tucked in blouse or tee, or even a slightly cropped top. To keep the look modern, only buy pairs with a zipper fly (not an elastic waistband) that hit just above your belly button.

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Don’t Forget to Accessorize

Skin-toned and pointy toed shoes with no ankle straps elongate the line of your leg. For added oomph, try a pump with a low-cut vamp (meaning that the portion of the shoe that sits across your toes should run as close to your toes as possible). For jewelry, look for pieces with length. Long necklaces and drop earrings will add to your outfit’s vertical effect. Here’s a list of the 6 foods skinny people eat all the time to maintain their lean figure.

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See Also

NOTICE OF CLOSURE

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Work a Monochrome Look

All black is always chic, but other dark colors are equally slimming. Give deep greens, reds, and blues a try: The monochrome look will create a long vertical line, making your body seem tall and lean. StyleCaster advises keeping the outfit crisp and tailored, and staying away from the lighter end of the color spectrum.

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Find Your Flare

A-line dresses or skirts add the perfect amount of volume to your lower body while also accentuating your waist. The ideal hemline for anything A-line is just above the knee. Make sure you know which 50 things are actually making you look older.

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Cinch It

For loose-fitting blouses, cardigans, and tunics, add a skinny belt. Stay away from anything too thick; a chunky belt will cut your body in half, which will make you look shorter.

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Keep Your Bag Proportionate

Oversized totes aren’t flattering on most bodies. For a big night out, try to pack your essentials down to a mid-sized bag or clutch. These are the 50 things doctors wish you knew about losing weight.

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Tailor the Perfect Sleeve

Three-quarter length sleeves are considered the most universally flattering sleeve length, according to WhoWhatWear. For long sleeves, tailor them to hit the wrist.

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Choose Your Stripes and Prints

Vertical stripes (think pinstriped pants and pencil skirts) elongate your figure. To accentuate your waist, kick it up a notch with diagonal stripes, which will give you the length of a vertical stripe plus an added cinching effect. For a simple way to try this look, start with a diagonally striped wrap dress.

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Update Your Outerwear

A coat that hits mid-thigh adds length to your figure. Another feature to look for in outerwear are belts or drawstrings that create a cinched waist. Next, learn more about the 30 tiny diet changes that can help you lose weight.