10 Instant Butt Boosters

To accentuate your butt, wear pants with narrower legs. "They don't have to be skintight all the way down," says Leslie Fremar, stylist for Reese Witherspoon. "Just more fitted by the bum. Cotton cigarette pants are work-appropriate but sexy."

Video: Look Hotter Than Ever in Jeans >

Dark-rinse jeans make the butt look smaller and tighter, says Nile Cmlyo, a dressmaker who has designed clothes for Mariah Carey. With white jeans, choose thick denim. "Thicker weaves shape you," she says.

Video: Spring denim trends for every body type >

"Low-rise jeans are cute on smaller butts," says Cmylo. "A waistband at the navel flatters a larger butt, making it look round, not wide."

"Oversize ones make the rear look bigger, and smaller pockets do the opposite," says Fremar. Placement matters, too. "Pockets that sit a tad lower than usual give the impression that the butt sits higher," Cmylo says.

"There's a 90 percent chance that your pants would benefit," says Cmylo.

A baggy fit makes your butt look bigger; a too-tight one will flatten it. "Your skirts should cup your tush," says Cmylo. To accentuate or create a curve, says Fremar, ask a tailor to nip in the center back seam just below the rear.

"Shiny fabrics draw attention to the area and show imperfections," says Fremar, who stays away from satin, taffeta, and silk with sheen.

Go higher to get rounder. "Wearing high heels puts an arch in your back that lifts the butt and gives it a perkier shape," says Cmylo.

In sunlight, thin fabrics can show dimples, even on a trim rear end, says Cmylo. Do yourself a favor: Give yourself the once-over in bright lighting before walking outside.