See that gorgeous lady with the perfect figure? Yes. That’s what I’m going for! But until I get there, there is no way under the big yellow sun I would wear white – or wear that outfit (ever), for that matter.
Or ever again, I should say. I AM 41 now, lol. 😛
White, or very light clothing, really accentuates heavier areas on your body – and cellulite / dimply areas. Darker colors have a slimming effect.
I’m not into fashion, by the way. I’ve always been a t-shirt & flip-flops kinda gal. I’m into comfort. Well, until more recently that is…
Fortunately, as a “professional blogger” that attire (plus lounge wear and PJ’s) works out just fine. -lol
UNfortunately, it’s very easy to get (or stay) “complacent” about your weight in comfort clothes. I have a great pair of comfy jeans for example that I can lose or gain 20 pounds in – either way – and they still fit. They aren’t flattering, but they’re my “old favorites”. I’m sure you have a pair like that and can relate, yes. 😉
As I was sitting here at my desk one day, wearing exactly that (my PJ’s & fuzzy socks), I was reviewing a website by one of my work peers (Martin) who owns The Shoe Shop in the UK.
And that’s when it happened. I totally fell in love with a pair or Ecco heels on his site! Of course, I don’t live in the UK (but if you do, check out this site!), so I had to order the shoes from 6pm.com – which ships to the USA. And so I did. They’re even better in person than they were on my screen. 😀 I totally love them!!
This is not the greatest picture, but they’re basically 4″ loafers. My idea of cool: “geeky sexy” lol.
Thus began the obvious chain of events…
I had to have something to wear with those awesome shoes. Then I found more awesome shoes, and needed more cool stuff to wear with them.
I started by going through my closet, because I do actually have clothes – besides PJ’s. 😛
I found this denim skirt I’d NEVER worn. It has a very high slit, but I found a great place to wear something that “showy” (I’m a conservative southern woman, haha): Vegas!
The skirt is high waisted and it was a tight fit – so there was ZERO room for “bloating” in that outfit. None!
I caught the bug of course, and next I ordered a pair of vintage red peep-toe heels I found on Etsy. These were super cheap and a rare find. I totally love them!!
They look fabulous with my green plaid pajama pants, don’t they? 😛 Work attire, I tell ya…
I also ordered a pair of Nine West “classy” 4″ Black Platform Peep-Toe Heels at 6pm.com. That site is SO addictive. You can get name brand (awesome) stuff for super cheap! They ship fast too. I highly recommend – with the very serious warning about the addiction factor. 😉
Classy black heels require a different outfit altogether – certainly nothing *I* owned, lol. So next I ordered a cute black pencil skirt with a zipper split, and a SWEET dress… one size smaller (as motivation for my next weight loss goal).
And guess what? I discovered something interesting…
It’s very hard to “cheat on your diet” in a pencil skirt.
Here’s the new dress I ordered (That’s the demo pic from 6pm.com). I’m happy to say: I’ll be wearing it in August! Watch for pics of ME in that dress, with my awesome Nine West heels of course. 😉
Heels make you look slimmer instantly, and make your calves/legs look longer/sexier too.
I also ordered a few new things from American Eagle (AE.com). I actually prefer to shop online. I don’t have to get out of my PJ’s (heh) and you can get some VERY good deals online. Returns are easy, but once you find your size on a site… it works out great!
I’ve shopped in American Eagle stores before, so I know my size there, and everything at 6pm.com is sized perfectly. Probably because they’re higher end clothes -but still at super cheap prices. (Reminder: Addictive!!)
On another note, my daughter and I were comparing our “guts” the other night (lol). She’s only 17 by the way, and hasn’t ever had a baby (like me, um, duh! ha), but she’s lost 30-40 pounds this year- and that’s the last to go on anyone it seems. We’re both working on it…
In closing, here are some tips on How To Dress Slimmer:
A little bit of “trickery” helps! Tip: SUCK IT IN. Just by standing taller, holding your shoulders back and sucking in your “gut”, you can look slimmer instantly by a good 10-15 pounds.
Seriously, carry yourself like you’re already at your ideal weight. Strut it, even! You’ll feel better, feel more confident AND look slimmer / thinner / better. People will be looking at you trying to figure out what’s different – your hair, did you lose weight, new outfit – and you can just glide along and smile on the inside. And on the outside too! Flashing a big smile goes a long way toward improving your appearance. 😉
Wear dark colors on your larger areas. Longer dark tops that cover to about mid-butt for example. Or if you’re larger from the waist down, dark skirts/pants and light tops.
Light colors make big look bigger, so use light colors to accentuate the better features of your unique figure.
The dress above is a great example if you have hips, butt & thighs like I do. The lighter color on the top of the dress pulls the eye up, and the “darker from the ribs down” style slims your curvier areas.
Wear heels. Even low heels/pumps make you look slimmer instantly.
And of course… wear clothes that FIT. It’s too easy to “binge” in your “fat pants”. 😛
This is the pencil skirt I referred to earlier from 6pm.com, and I think the sweater came from American Eagle. The boots also came from 6pm.com (GREAT deals, I’m telling you!!) and have a 3″ heel if I remember right (I haven’t worn them since it turned HOT here in TN):
The pictures aren’t the greatest. I’ll be traveling to two events in the next few weeks where I’ll have the chance to get out of my PJ work attire and actually “dress up” so I’ll make it a point to get some better pictures. 😉 And one in my NEW dress too! I’m so excited to fit into that one…
I’d love to hear your tips for dressing slimmer, or just for looking slimmer as you are. I think it’s important to get happy in your own body, with every inch and every pound of you, as they come and go.
Like I said earlier, carry yourself like you are already your ideal weight.
Wear clothes that actually fit you.
Try it for a whole week and just see how you feel!
It’s entirely too easy to become complacent in your “fat pants”. 😛 I’m saying that from personal experience of course. And don’t judge me – I know you own a pair too!
Which reminds me – when I’m traveling and hanging out with friends, and they say “oh you’re on vacation – splurge a little!” – I usually reply with “It looks delicious, and I would join you – but I didn’t pack my fat pants.”
That always gets a good laugh. 😉
I have some larger rough jeans I wear for gardening and cleaning. But, I have found that since I had to retire because of the accident, my husband’s retirement and our move to rural small towns where everyone knows everyone and the town’s family genome is a telephone pole, I have taken to wearing big shirts, tee shirts, baggy sweats and large jeans. Recently, I’ve been taking more care in my dressing when we are going shopping or to visit, but I am still too large for my nice slacks and shirts. I am going to get rid of my baggy jeans and sweats tomorrow, straight to Good Will they go. But Iam still going to be in jeans and decorated tee shirts until I am smaller. Then I don’t know what.
Hi Rebecca,
It might be fun to do some “window shopping” (ha) just to get some ideas of what you might like. I do that, and find it very motivating to stick to my health & weigh loss goals. I’ve picked out an entire wardrobe of “I’m in amazing shape now!” clothes that I cannot wait to wear. π
Pinterest is great for that, by the way. You can create a dream board for fashion likes!
I live in a very small agricultural town too, by the way, so I get what you mean. I tend to dress comfy at home and around here, but it’s nice to wear clothes that fit and make it a point to “look better / feel better” – even if it’s just for ME. Otherwise, like I said, it’s just too easy to get complacent…
I put the wrong e-mail address on my comment. The above is the correct one. How will this affect comments?
It should be fine. π Let me know if you get an email notification of this reply… then we’ll know!
LOVE it Lynn! What a fun article with a lot of practical tips! I grew up hearing them with a mom who’s a fashion designer. Great insight here, and great humor! π
Thank you Jason! π Glad you enjoyed it, and great to connect with you on Twitter!!
That must have been cool growing up around fashion, and with a designer for a mother. My sense of fashion for a long time was tanks and earth sandals. lol. I have to admit, it’s FUN to dress up… and does wonders for your confidence and self esteem.
Err – Google+ I think it was. It’s late here. π lol
This blog was wonderful!!! I am now down almost 35 pounds from my heaviest. I unfortunately made a detour and gained 15 pounds back, but since March have gotten those off plus 5 more. I have had beautiful clothes in my closet, that I loved, so I would not part with them even when they were to small… Boy I am glad that I kept them, because now they are looking really good on. I also love my jammies, and as soon as I get home the bra comes off, and the jammies go on, but last summer my attire was always a pair of capris with a large baggy t-shirt, even to church. We go to a wonderful church where jeans and shorts and t-shirts are the norm, but recently, I have gone against the norm, and dress this fluffylicious woman fancy!! LOL! I am enjoying getting those beautiful outfits out of the closet and wearing them again. It makes me feel so pretty and you are so right, I eat better, I stand taller, I smile more, and I feel sexy! I love it! I can not wait until those clothes are to big, and I have to buy more!
Thank you Shannon! And… that’s AWESOME. π Way to go!! It makes such a big difference, not only in the way we feel (which is the MOST important) but in how people perceive us as well. Good on you for saving those awesome outfits… and for getting them out of the closet and flaunting them. π *cheers*
you look great. Keep up the great work you’re doing. I haven’t been doing too good all summer. I,ve been fighting depression really bad from some things going on and I,m definitenly a compulsive eater. I try to get started every day so I love to see your success. I’ve gained 38 pounds since december,but I will defeat this with others like you keeping on.
Thank you Juanita. π I totally get it. It’s been a stressful year for me too, and I’m also an emotional overeater. That’s how I gained my weight, and why I decided to go low carb.
The good news is, the low carb diet is a natural appetite suppressant. You feel less hungry, have less desire to eat, and it’s a lot harder to OVER eat. That helps A LOT. π
I’m glad you’re encouraged. Join us in the group at http://www.90DayLowCarbChallenge.com and get some motivation and support! π