IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU WEAR IT...
Ok, you’ve been dieting, trying to eat right, exercising, yadda, yadda…and ever since you hit (fill in your age here) you just can’t lose that weight. Don’t shoot the messenger but, chances are, unless you do something drastic, your weight is going to stay just about the same. So – now what?! Camouflage!!! Seriously. I’m all for being healthy but, I am not for beating yourself up because your body isn’t what it used to be. So…okay, this is my body, I embrace it, now what do I do with it?
Well, what we wear and how we wear it makes all the difference in the world. It is all about balance and line. Here are a few tricks to help you look slim and trim.
Besides, you’d be surprised how improving your exterior motivates you to make changes in other aspects of your life.
Vertical and Horizontal Lines
Vertical lines create a long lean look; they cause the eye to move up and down creating height. Horizontal lines cause the eye to stop and look horizontally; this creates width. Vertical lines can be created with scarves, zippers, open cardigans, accessories, fabric weave or pattern, etc. Anything that causes the eye to flow vertically will create the impression of a slimmer figure.
Wear the Same Color Top to Bottom
Shoulder to shoes, wearing the same color or hue creates a long, lean silhouette. Every time you create a "break" or change in color, the eye will stop at the color change. That color break also causes a horizontal line (see vertical and horizontal lines above). Dresses, suits, suit-separates and monochromatic pieces achieve this look. Hosiery that matches the hemline and shoes will also creates this look.
Correct Fit
A wardrobe that fits well is essential. Clothing should not be too tight. There should be no lines, pulling of fabric, or bulges showing under the garment. Clothing that is too large or unstructured will add width and weight. Clothing that fits your body shape well creates a neat slim look. More often than not, off the rack purchases need some fort of tweaking. Although this adds to the cost of your purchase, it is well worth the investment to have clothing fit properly. For those of you that don’t know, we have a wonderful seamstress that is not only affordable but FAST.
Balance
Creating a balanced look will help you look thinner. If you are larger from the waist down add "volume" to the waist up. If you are larger from the waist up wear more "volume" from the waist down. By "volume" I mean prints and patterns, chunky necklaces, broader collars, fluted skirts, scarves, etc.
Accessories
Proper proportion of accessories is very important. If you have a thicker waistline, you need a wide belt. Wearing a thin belt will look disproportionate and emphasize the thickness of your waist. Likewise, if you have broad shoulders, you need a chunky necklace. The chunkiness will diminish the space between your neck and outside shoulder line. Generally, as long as the pieces aren’t too overwhelming, wearing accessories that are large cause the body to look smaller.
