by Michy Lynn

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: March 05, 2010

Not everyone can wear the 'perfect' size 6. If you are a woman who seeks to slim her appearance when she dresses, this article is just for you. There are ways, even when you are not overweight, that you can dress to show off the best assets of your appearance, but when you do have a few extra pounds you'd like to hide, these simple tips below can help you show off your best features while hiding those that aren't your favorite.

Let's look at how to dress to look thinner:

Dress Thinner Tip #1: Wear the right size.

No outfit is going to take 20 pounds off your hips, but choosing the right clothing that fits properly can go a long way to slimming your look. If clothes are too tight, all the bulges, rolls, dimples, or any other flaw you may have will show through. If clothes are too big, they add bulk and can make you look heavier than you actually are.

Instead, wear the right size for your build, and don't be afraid to let some parts of your clothing be form fitting but not tight.

Dress Thinner Tip #2: Long skirts for tall women, below the knee for short.

If you are very tall, you can wear a longer skirt that will elongate the look of your body and thus make you appear leaner. If you are shorter, a longer skirt might make you appear even shorter, but a skirt that falls right below the knee will help you appear a bit taller and leaner. Avoid ankle length skirts if you are short and avoid above the knee skirts if you are tall.

Dress Thinner Tip #3: Patterns fool the eye.

Optical illusion patterns, diagonal stripes, zig zags and the like can fool the eye and detract from problem areas. However, avoid horizontal and vertical stripes because these both can cause you to appear heavier. Also try to avoid bold floral prints with oversized designs and large polka dots, since these tend to add to the appearance of 'size' and bulk.

Dress Thinner Tip #4: V-line neck and waist.

A V-neck outfit can help draw attention away from the middle area, thus slimming your entire appearance, while a V-line waist on a skirt or dress can really help reduce the appearance of bulk at the waist and top of the hips.If you have a small waist for the size of your hips or are very shapely and curvy, a V-line waist can really accentuate your best features.

Dress Thinner Tip #5: Boot-cut pants, no flared or tapered legs.

If you have larger hips and thighs, when you wear pants, you do not want to wear the slim ankle or flare cut pant legs. The best cut for slimming is the boot-cut pant leg, because

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