Today my post is about How To Look Thinner Using Fashion. Now we all know that exercise and eating healthy will help us lose weight.
But, if you have a few unwanted pounds, use these tips and tricks to help you look your best!
Let’s get started!
1. Invest in shapewear. This is a simple fix! To look leaner, find shapewear that is comfortable and wear it. It pays to choose a seamless pair of slenderizing briefs, boy shorts, camis or full-body pieces that have reinforced panels to suck in your stomach, slim your thighs, boost your derriere, and define your waist.
( I wear shapewear from Glamour Farms and love them but there are lots of good brands.)
2. Watch your length. In terms of skirts, a knee-length pencil skirt is the most universally flattering silhouette.
If you like a bit more conservative look, have your skirts hit in the middle of the knee. That way you are still revealing the entire calf for an elongated look.
When a skirt hits mid calf, it visually chops your legs in half, making you look frumpy and your calves larger. The important thing to remember is you don’t want your skirt to hit the largest part of your leg.
(For an extra slimming boost, pair skirts with opaque black tights in the winter, which automatically make legs of all shapes and sizes appear longer and thinner.)
3. Wear Skinny heels with a pointy toe. I know some of you can’t wear heels but if you can, this is the most flattering heel.
A slender toe and thin heel work to extend the narrow silhouette of calves. Square-toe styles with a thick, chunky heel give the appearance of a shorter, bulky leg.
Shoes that have a low-cut vamp instantly elongate and slenderize your leg. What’s a vamp? It’s the portion of a shoe that cuts across your foot at the front. So, a low vamp cuts across the base of the toes, while high vamp can come up the foot and possibly up to the ankle.
Heels that match your skin tone, give the illusion of slimmer legs.
4. Wear All one color. Tops and bottoms of the same color create an uninterrupted vertical line, making you look thinner and taller. Stark contrasts between your upper and lower body draw eyes to your middle.
While wearing head-to-toe black is the most effective option, other darker hues work well, too. Keep each silhouette crisp and tailored, and stay away from pale shades like white.
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I love your look so beautiful
Hi Cyndi, I love your slimming tips, as I grew up with a weight conscious mother, she taught us girls(twins) many tips on concealing our chubby belly when we would gain. Now, to this day, after each child birth, I knew how to conceal my belly. I am now having to conceal a bit as I’ve gained during the winter months. I might add another tip, some my mother taught us through example….. never tuck in a blouse all the way around and never wear the outer clothing too tight, both shows all the belly rolls of chubbiness. We never wore pleated skirts or slacks when chubby, and tights always enhance the cellulite in the legs on a chubby person…. and a couple more tips that I hold dear “just” because momma taught us.
Hee hee See, I grew up with a mother from the 50-60’s who was the perfect lady at all times… meaning, she would never be caught in town without hosiery, hairspray and a dress suit on. She was never caught under-dressed. 🙂 She even did all her gardening in a jean straight skirt with a button, pressed, blouse… I’d like to see ladies of today try that one… LOL This is why, today, you will never catch me in town with sweats on.
Have a great Sunday!! God Bless.
Great Tips! I am very much into adding vertical lines with long necklaces or a third completer piece like a jacket, sweater or vest. or kimono. It’s a trick that never fails my curvy body… As a petite it’s also very much about getting the proportions right. Yesterday I was struggling with feeling dumpy in my tshirt and skirt and the minute I tied a side knot in the shirt, both DH and I saw the difference. I posted that on my blog today…
Hi Cyndi!
Look forward to reading your posts each day! Where did you get the sandals you are wearing with the blue cheetah dress? Love them!
Carolyn
Is the shapewear you show in this blog worn over the underwear or as underwear? This may be a silly question but I couldn’t tell from the description on the Glamour Farms website. Also, what is the code you give sometimes for a discount with them? I’ve never ordered from them. Thanks.
Thank you Cyndi for the great tips! I’m going to have to purchase some shape wear from Glamour Farms!
Cyndi – the beige blazer and pumps w/boyfriend jean and white tee is my favorite outfit of yours – ever!
Dear Cyndi,
I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am to have found your web site!!!
I am 55 and have lost all sense of style. Where did my styling self go???? My daughter used to help me pull outfits together before she went to college and she tries to help now, but she can only help so much when I don’t have the right shoes, the right tights etc.
Enter your website….yay!! I can see an entire outfit. THE BEST PART is that I can purchase the clothing. I have worn many of your outfits and it feels so good to have confidence in what I’m wearing. I’m a different woman when I think I’m dressed right!!
I absolutely love your love for the Lord, your honesty with struggles, and for the encouragement you provide me and other women by showing us our inner and outer beauty.
Thanks so much, Leesa
Love your tips!
I appreciate the tips, as always, but I must admit….the title caught me off guard! Is our goal to “look thin” or to look our best while dressing fashionably and modestly? Having a daughter who has struggled with anorexia from her early teens until the present, I’m always conscious of what kind of a message I want to send her….even in the blogs about fashion that we share through Pinterest. Please be careful in your wording and focus so we don’t get caught up in the world’s definition of beauty being equal to looking thin! Your beautiful title says it all…grace and beauty!
Linda never would I want to portray that skinny is the way to go. I was trying to help women look their best. Many of us want to cover up the muffin top or the 10 pounds that we haven’t lost and that was how this post was meant.
I’m so sorry if it came across in any other way.
Blessings,
Cyndi
I loved this blog today! Thanks for all the tips & cute outfits! I LOVED the beige blazer & beige heels w/jeans! You look so classy!
I so appreciate your posts.
I’m interested in shapeware. Would like a camI to wear under tshirts that would be cool, comfortable, and not obvious. Tshirts are a must for a lot of my activities but I hate the lumps and jiggle. Anyone have tried and true recommendations?
Denise in the summertime, I wear tanks from Old Navy and Jc Penne. They are inexpensive and if my self tanner gets on them, I don’t feel like I have spent a lot of money on them.
They’re thin and work great!
Cyndi
Love those Old Navy tanks with the long hems and scalloped edges. Worn with a pair of skinny jeans and draped cardigan, all jiggles magically disappear! Thanks so much for showing that women “of a certain age” an be fashionable and modest (sometimes that’s like a trapeze wire — hard to get across).
Blessings!
As a woman recuperating from bunion surgery (6 weeks of not being able to walk on that foot), you might want to reconsider the pointy toe shoes. Not everyone will get bunions as there is some heredity involved, but pointy toes really are bad for your feet. Just a thought.
Great tips! I enjoyed this post as always. One thing that would be nice for you to address with spring and summer around the corner, is how and where you apply your self tanner. I am paying the price for many years of being in the sun, and now have taken it to the other extreme, and could use some color on my arms and legs. I haven’t had a lot of success with self tanners, tending to get a streaky and orangey outcome. Yours looks good, You gave us the brand, but I would love to know your application techniques.
Thanks!
Hey Carole-
The Bare minerals self tanner comes with an application brush. It’s very easy to apply and no orange steaking. It’s not cheap, but I bought it last year from QVC and only used half the container. I will use it again this summer. Hope this helps 😉
Thank you.
Thank you for all of these tips Cyndi. I, too, like the tip about the shape wear. I’m a rather tiny gal, but still have bumps, and lumps that I didn’t used to have. I think shape wear would really help. I can certainly use all of these tips though.
I too, would love a tutorial on how you pin your hair up. I know you’ve told us before, but I just can’t achieve your look. It’s so pretty!
Thank you for being you! You truly are an inspiration!
I think I’m going to have to do a video Julie! 🙂
Blessings,
Cyndi
Yes, please do the hair video!
Love the neutral pump with jeans the blazer!
Thank you for all the great tips! I do have a question concerning shape wear. What do you do when you run warm virtually all the time? I’ve tried different brands of shape wear in the past and have always had a problem of being just of the verge of breaking a sweat (or actually being drenched in sweat) the entire time I wore them. It isn’t just getting closer to menopause as I sweated profusely as a teenager. Thank you!!
I love all your advice! I missed out on the Julia tunic 🙁 May I buy yours? Haha. Hope you have a day filled to the top with blessings in all shapes and sizes!
Great tips. Thanks!
These are all excellent tips! Being petite, I have to be careful with my bottom half with things that cut my legs in half. The length of skirts and the type of shoes are so true! If you can’t wear heels, a pointy toe kitten heel is a great choice!
I’m a big believer of shape wear, too. It can make or break an outfit. No lumps or bumps for me. This is a big pet peeve for me!
P.S. I love the higher rise jeans!! No muffin top in these!
In my first comment I forgot to say great tips!
I don’t care for pointy toe heels but you look awesome in that photo! I’ll have to try it. 🙂
Another question I have is about skinny jeans. Again because I have thick knees and calves well whole leg – ha. Just feel like they make “me” look fatter. And maybe it’s just me because when I see them on larger women I think they look great! I’m always saying “why can’t I look good in that?” And I know we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others but it’s hard when I feel like everything makes me look fatter (I was a size 12 and now I’m a 14). 🙁
Anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks Cyndi for all the great tips and would LOVE to see a side by side comparison.
Hi Gina,
I am about your size; I alternate between a size 12 and 14. I personally love skinny jeans and trust me I do not have skinny legs! Like most curvy gals there is lots of “shape” on my thighs! When I wear skinny jeans, I get loads of compliments vs. when I wear straight legs! Plus, I feel skinny jeans take off 15 to 20 lbs. The key is to pick a brand with loads of stretch! Personally, I love NYDJ! At a more reasonable price point, Old Navy, Rock Star are fab as well. I own several pairs of both brands; I highly recommend you give both brands a try!
So … while I like the pencil skirts that hit at the knee I don’t feel like I can wear them because I have fat knees. To me – when I look in the mirror – I just look fatter. So I wear below the knee skirts. Is this just as bad? Anyone have any suggestions besides the obvious – lose weight? Lol.
Good Morning. Awesome post! Will you please do a post or tutorial on how you clip your hair back? I love the way you’ve been wearing it but I can’t seem to get mine do look that well. Thanks!
Very helpful post, Cyndi! Thank you so much!
Have a blessed day!
Great tips! Some of them I already try to do but will try the others (except for high heels…can’t do that because of nerve damage). Love your blog!!
Perfect as always Cyndi – I truly enjoy your posts!
Great tips Cyndi! Being vertically challenged – I’m 5’2 and may be stretching that a bit :), I’ve found that posture is also a great way to elongate and slim your appearance. Standing tall makes a difference. Most people think I’m taller than I am and I have to believe it’s because I have always stood tall – my momma drilled that in my head – LOL. Dressing in one color, as you said, is also a great height stretcher. My daughter (she’s 24) is a stylist at a bridal salon and she never gave much thought to “slimming under garments” but now she does. Whenever she is fitting a bride, mother of bride or groom, she ALWAYS starts with slimming undergarments. They not only slim, but they also keep everything in place – no giggles, no wiggles. She now has women who have come back and thanked her for suggesting the purchase of those – how much more confident they felt with everything “in place”.
I love the jeans/jacket photo of you – probably one of my favorites – not that I think you ever take a bad pic – that one just looks fantastic!
Hugs from Knoxville!
that should have been jiggles – not giggles – of course if you’re jiggling you very may be giggling
Good tips and I agree the number 3 look with blazer and heels…..gorgeous and very “hip”!
My sister pointed out to me that there’s no number 6. I thought you might like to know 😱😀
Great ideas and wonderful beauty foo the heart. funny about #6. I didn’t notice. Ha. Cyndi, how do you like the Timeless you are trying. I need a good moisturizer at night. Was waiting to hear how you liked that.
These are very helpful and I so appreciate you taking the time to educate me, out of my fashion ignorance. I am a visual person so I would benefit from a comparison post that shows the not so flattering side by side with the more flattering option by making this one or two changes to the outfit.
Very good information. I especially like comment about shape wear and really like picture of you in blazer and heels. Very classy!!
The jeans, blazer and white tee has always been one of my favorites that you have styled. You look stunning in it. And you thought you weren’t cool. Ha!
Great tips! For me, shirt length is so important. Although I am 5 “7, most of my height is in my legs. So actually, petite tops fit me best because regular cut tops often fall too low. This was hard to wrap my head around at first because I never thought of myself as petite.
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
With my wide hips and slender waist, the pencil skirt has never been the best choice for me. (Definitely would have to have one altered, too big at the waist, too tight over the thighs). An a-line with a slight flare, or one with a pleated hemline is better on me. Plus, my knees are heavy, and I definitely do NOT want to bring attention to the top of them …… Mid-knee is the most flattering.
Great suggestions….. Makes one remember to NOT follow ‘fashion’ but to dress to your own personal best! True beauty IS on the inside!
Hi Nancy – I also have wide hips and a smaller waist but have found pencil skirts to be very flattering if you buy the right ones. I wear the curvy fit pencil skirts from LOFT; the scuba fabric is the best b/c it is a tad thicker to hide all my imperfections but can be worn year round. I have 2 curvy skirts from LOFT that I have been wearing at least 5 years (black and charcoal). And although I’m only 5’4″ I buy the curvy TALL because I like my skirts to fall right at the bottom of my knee (I’m more conservative).
Thanks for the info! The “curvy fit” sounds like it would work! I appreciate your info!
Good morning Cindi! I loved this post….since I don’t work anymore I have gone more casual in my day to day outfits but I still like to look pulled together. I’ve been looking for a neutral colored blazer so when I saw the one you have on with the white tee and jeans I loved it! Could you tell me the brand or where I might find it?
thanks!
Great ideas! Love that they are simple, everyday tips😃
Can you provide the buying information for the jeans in the photograph above that features you with a neutral color jacket and heels?
Good tips…I’m noticing the shirt length tip to be true for me.
Fantastic tips! Just in time, too! Doing some shopping after work :).
High heels… Low Vamp… Support Support Support!
Truthfully, You are the epitome of Grace and Beauty!
I love this post and learned a lot. I am fighting ten pounds that I just can’t get off and keep off. I will definitely use these tips . I will hop over to Glamor Farms and purchase some shape wear to start. I am going to also print off these tips to place in my purse so I will have them with me when I go shopping. I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I agree with your post… Find God in the silent times. I get up early before everyone else and do my devotional ….it just gets the day off to a Great start Blessings
I had to smile when I read about your 10 pounds! Seems like I have those same 10 lbs that come and go! In my case, it’s not so easy to keep them off after 55, but as long as we don’t add more, I guess we are doing ok! Just be healthy!😆
Oh my gosh Toni…..are you correct!!! After 55 keeping weight in check is such a challenge, 10 lbs. seems easy enough to lose but after 55 it is truly a much bigger effort. Have a lovely day all.
I am 54 and have gained a good 7 lbs in the past 6 months. I’ve also gone through menopause. I’m sure the two are connected but oh my it is so frustrating to see my body shape change! Glad to hear I am not alone and glad to read style tips that will help as I learn anew how to dress my new shape!
Thanks for these easy to use tips. Sometimes it is good to get a reminder of things I have read before. Your post was very concise and to the point with good photos.