Let me be crystal clear about this piece of advice: there's no article of clothing or fashion strategy that will literally take weight off your body. The clothes you wear, however, and the way you wear them can make you look 10 pounds lighter in seconds. I'm the farthest thing from a fashionista, but the following secrets were given to me by top stylists in Los Angeles, Miami and New York — and they work!
Wear a V-neck
It lengthens your neck and shows off your collarbone.
Go monochromatic
Dressing in one color head to toe is the easiest slim trick of all because it creates one long, clean line and doesn't break your body up into separate visual parts. It also makes you look taller. This tip is a great one for us petite people.
Buy only what you can move in
Don't stuff yourself into clothes that don't fit. If you do, it will cause rolls and bulges on even the slimmest of women. If you have to wiggle around in the dressing room to get it on, put it back on the rack.
Practice the art of camouflage
Darker colors will minimize and lighter or shiny ones will highlight. So if you have a thicker waist, wear a brown or black belt. If you want to play down a large double-D chest, avoid wearing a gold or silver blouse.
Choose flattering fabrics
When you're trying to deemphasize a "problem area," wear a crisp fabric, not clingy materials that show everything you're trying to disguise. Conversely, when you want to show off an area of your body that you feel good about, wear the clingy materials. If you have killer legs but a little muffin top, opt for fitted jeans with a crisp tucked-in shirt as opposed to the stretchy wool sweater and baggy jeans.
Don't go baggy
Big shapes make you look bigger. I'm telling you, this is true. I learned this one firsthand on a bikini shoot for Shape magazine. I wanted to wear the cute boy-short bathing suit, and they wanted me in a small bikini. I insisted that bigger was better, but when I saw the pictures, I realized I was wrong. The bigger the suit, the bigger I looked. The directive you should follow here comes straight from famed costume designer Edith Head: "Wear clothes loose enough to prove you're a lady, but tight enough to prove you're a woman."
Tailor your clothes
You can't expect every size 8 to fit every size 8 woman. Get a tailor you love and trust to fit your nicer clothes to your body. I know this can get pricey, but once you have a few beautifully tailored staples in your wardrobe, you'll be prepared for any event.
Go small with prints
This one came from a Redbook cover shoot I did, when the stylist put me in jeans with a paisley pattern on them. I was extremely resistant, thinking these jeans were going to make me look like I had thick legs. Wrong. They looked great and slimming, and here's why: the smaller the pattern, the smaller you look.
Belt it
Every single stylist has told me to draw attention to my waist. This is because it accentuates the smallest part of a woman. Tossing a belt on or over just about anything will help give your body a slimmer profile—just don't overcinch. That's how muffin tops are born.
Pick the right pockets
The ideal size for a super-sexy bum pocket is no smaller than your palm and no bigger than your hand. Stray outside these guidelines and you're playing with fire. And make sure that the bottom of your pocket never dips lower than your actual bum.
Go same on same
Pair any color pant with the same color shoe for longer-looking legs. This also works with nude shoes if you're wearing a dress.
Invest in the perfect push-up
This one has been a life-changer for me. I can't tell you how many rumors on the Internet started circling that I got a boob job after I found the right bra. Higher, bigger boobs in seconds with no surgery at minimal cost — I'll take it. Plus, the higher your boobs sit, the slimmer your waist looks. Go to an expert and get yourself professionally measured, it's so worth it.
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