10 Ways to Dress Thinner

Fall is in the air. Well, kind of. It was only 75 degrees yesterday and the leaves are starting to turn. My Instagram is full of fashion bloggers and their perfect photos in the pumpkin patch.Did fall even exist before they came on the scene? And how do they get such perfect photos? Do they dress that way everyday? I love following fashion bloggers as they give me outfit ideas. I especially love following the fashion bloggers who feature affordable clothing. But I’ve noticed something about all of them-they’re all really tiny. If you read their descriptions or watch their YouTube videos (if you can handle them saying ” like” every other word and misusing the word “literally” every other sentence), they’re all between a size 0 and a size 6.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m not a size 0. I weighed yesterday and was 150.2 lbs. My thighs are 25 inches around. I have a long torso and short legs for my height. (I’m 5 feet 6 inches tall.) I carry most of my weight in my legs and butt and I have broader shoulders than the average girl. I’m not telling you this to complain about my body, but to give you an idea of what I’m built like. Here’s the deal, I’ve learned how to dress my body and learned what clothes flatter my body. I’d love to wear button fly jeans with a shirt tucked in but they don’t work on me. I also love to help friends and family pick out clothes that make them look good. Here’s my 10 Ways to Dress Thinner:

Wear longer length cardigans. There’s a reason the duster cardigans are so popular. The create a long, lean line and a slimmer silhouette. If you don’t want to wear the calf length cardigans, the thigh length can be just as flattering. These are usually fairly affordable too. Most of mine come from Old Navy or Walmart. Bonus tip: Long necklaces also help to lengthen your body too.
Wear monochromatic colors. We all know to wear dark clothing to make us looks smaller but wearing different shades of the same color can also help you look slimmer. Yesterday I wore a pair of gray skinny pants, a grey T shirt, taupe boots and a long black cardigan. Someone asked me if I had lost weight, so the outfit must have worked.
Match your shoes to your pants. This one is trickier to do but it works. If you’re wearing black pants, wear black boots. If you’re wearing khaki pants, wear nude shoes. This helps to make your legs look longer.
Wear properly fitting clothes. The oversize cardigan look is really in right now but it’s not always flattering. It can actually make you look bigger than you are. Find a slimmer fitting cardigan. Baggy pants are the same way. Skinny jeans can be more flattering as they show you’re shape. Slimmer fitting shirts can help too. My favorites come from the Gap but I’ve seen some cute ones are Walmart too.
Figure out what style of pants or jeans fits you best. Skinny jeans are great but I am so happy flares are coming back in. Straight cut jeans emphasize my big thighs and boot cut jeans aren’t always the best either. A pair of flares balances me out. Finding the right pair of pants is a painstaking process. I recommend going to a decent store and bringing your most honest friend with you.
Elastic waists can be your best friend. If you have a butt like me, finding a pair of pants that fit over my thighs generally means they gap at the waist. Old Navy makes really great elastic waisted skinny pants and Dress Barn makes elastic waisted dress pants. They fit better and since they don’t have a button closure, they create a smoother line. Since they don’t gap at the waist,there’s no risk of showing your butt crack if you lean over.
Show some skin. Notice that I said “some”, not “all”. We’re not in Vegas! That said, being strategic about what skin you show can be an advantage. Shoulders, and ankles are generally a great part of a woman’s body. If you can wear an off the shoulder top or a halter top in the summer, you’ll immediately feel slimmer. Showing your shoulders draws the eye up instead of down. Trust me on this. Since your ankles are the skinniest part of leg, showing them can make you look thinner as well. I think that’s reason the cuffed skinny jeans are so popular.
Wear the right undergarments. No one wants to wear Spanx everyday but wearing the right undergarments really helps. I wear a tank top under nearly every shirt. They help smooth everything out and they’re great if you have a long torso and you’re worried about your stomach showing. My favorite tanks are from the brands Elietian and Yelete. I got them at The Daily Apple in Worthington, MN. They have an online store as well. They’re a little more expensive but I’ve had mine for at least 3 years and they’re still in great shape. I’ve heard the Duluth No Yank Tanks are great too but I haven’t tried them.
Wear heels. I’m over the days of wearing 3 inch heels to work everyday. However, heels are flattering. Duh. They add height! So many of the booties or boots for fall have a slight heel that will help to make you look leaner. Bonus if you can find a pair of booties with a V cut in the front.
Find the right sleeve length. Cap sleeves aren’t flattering to most people. Cap sleeves are those tiny sleeves that barely cover your armpits. Whenever I wear them, my arms look bigger than they are. And elbow length sleeve or three quarter length sleeve is generally more flattering. And like your ankles are the smallest part of your leg, your wrists are the smallest part of your arms. Showing these makes you look thinner.

Those are just a few of the things that can help you look better. When we look better, we feel better. And if we feel better, we have more confidence. When we have more confidence, we’re more fun to be around. I don’t know about you but I don’t like it when I go somewhere and my clothes make me uncomfortable. When my clothes flatter me, I’m more likely to relax and have fun. You don’t have to have a model’s body or spend a lot of money to look good. Most of us (including myself!) don’t have an unlimited budget for clothing. I really like affordable clothing and believe that once you find what flatters you, it’s a lot easier to shop.

I’d like to end this by telling everyone to have a fabulous fall, but it’s 90 degrees here again. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to break out my long cardigans or boots at any point…I know I’ll be grateful for the warm weather in the winter, but right now I’d settle for 72 degree temps. Have a fabulous day- and go do some shopping!