Ways to Dress 10 Pounds Thinner

You may be sabotaging your shape-up efforts by wearing clothes that visually add weight to your frame. Here, a lesson in how to use color, proportion, and a few genius styling tricks to streamline your silhouette.

BOOT CUT JEANS

Slimming Secret

"Jeans should hug you in all the right places," says Jill Martin, author of Fashion for Dummies and a Today contributor.

"Dark boot legs are the most flattering. The slight flare at the ankle will give a long, lean appearance."

Add a longish top for coverage and a cropped, fitted jacket to nip in your waist.

Marc by Marc Jacobs jacket, $258, saks.com for stores; Ann Taylor sweater, $95, anntaylor.com; Citizens of Humanity jeans, $169, bloomingdales.com for stores; Guess by Marciano shoes, $198, guessbymarciano.com; C'N'C Costume National bag, $695, zappos.com

WRONG: Light-colored jeans and a shapeless jacket paired with flats can make you look bigger than you are.

More from Women's Health: Find The Best Jeans For Your Body Type

©Women's Health

1 of 6 Photo: Courtesy of Women's Health

BODY-LENGTHENING CLOTHES

Slimming Secrets

"Everything should be body skimming," says celebrity stylist Robert Verdi. "The most common misconception is that bigger clothes will make you look slimmer." Pile on lightweight vertical pieces (think long cardigans, scarves, necklaces) to build a body-lengthening look without the bulk.

Autumn Cashmere duster, $348, autumn cashmere.com for info; American Eagle Outfitters tank, $15.50, ae.com; J Brand leggings, $158, bloomingdales.com for stores; Dolce Vita shoes, $225, shopdolcevita.com for similar styles; Kara by Kara Ross necklace, $220, at Barbara Jean, 501-227-0054

More from Women's Health: Style Tips For Your Post-Winter Wardrobe

2 of 6 Photo: Courtesy of Women's Health

STRUCTURED FABRICS

Slimming Secret

Dresses made from a structured fabric conceal imperfections, while crisscross detailing visually cinches in your middle. "The shape of the dress has to be hourglass, coming in close to the body and then gently draping out," says The Biggest Loser stylist Liza Whitcraft. And if you're shy about doughy arms, keep 'em under wraps with a cropped, fitted cardigan.

Autumn Cashmere cardigan, $134, at Gloria Jewel, 631-613-6034; Strenesse Gabriele Strehle dress, $620, at Pour Moi Boutique, 520-577-6351; Helen Ficalora earrings, $195, 877-754-2676

More from Women's Health: Cute Dresses For Any Body Type

3 of 6 Photo: Courtesy of Women's Health

ACCENTUATE YOUR WAIST

Slimming Secrets

A voluminous white tunic may sound like the antithesis to dressing thinner, but it can be surprisingly flattering. "Define your waist with a skinny belt," Verdi says. "And the farther you are from the floor, the skinnier you'll look, so wear platform heels." Remember to harness the power of slimming undergarments--they're the sneakiest look-trim trick of all.

Kimberly Ovitz dress, $325, at LSK, 516-625-5463; Stuart Weitzman shoes, $375, 212-750-2555; Martine Wester belt, $59, martinewester.com

More from Women's Health: Nix The Yo-Yo Weight Game

4 of 6 Photo: Courtesy of Women's Health

LONG, DARK PANTS

Slimming Secrets

Shoe-skimming superdark pants create a long, lean silhouette. "If you're bottom-heavy, wear them with a white top," Martin says.

Petit Bateau top, $160, petit-bateau.us; Theory pants, $235, at Bloomingdale's, 800-232-1854; See by Chloe shoes, $285, at Bergdorf Goodman, 800-558-1855; Uniglo hat, $19.50, 877-4-UNIGLO; Tissot watch, shoptissot.com; Dean Davidson silver stud ring, $95, deandavidson.ca; Helen Ficalora gold flower ring, $600, and plain gold band, $200, 877-754-2676; Rachel Leigh stacking rings, $40 for set of seven, rachelleigh.com

More From Women's Health: Your Secret Beauty Ally

5 of 6 Photo: Courtesy of Women's Health

More from Women's Health

Money Rules That Will Make You Rich

The Do-Anywhere Workout

The Perfect Beach Cover-Ups

6 of 6

Also from Women's Health

Finding a swimsuit you love can be like winning the lottery (translation: seemingly impossible), so we went ahead and did the work for you. Our criteria? From bikini to one-piece, each bathing suit style had to be flattering for different body types, in a covet worthy print, color, or pattern, and actually swimmable (meaning it won’t slip off if you’re playing in the waves). Summer, we’re so ready for you.

Summer may have the potential to be the Don’t-iest season of all (hey, we’ve seen some crazy cover-ups in our day), but it allows for some seriously stylish Dos too. We rounded them up for you—and threw in one major dude Don’t just for fun.

Bring on the sun, sand, and sizzling hot weather: It’s swimsuit season! From waist-whittling one-pieces to fringe bikinis that add oomph, we’ve found 53 incredibly chic bathing suits that will make you look instantly slimmer. It seems the only beach cover-up you’ll need this season is sunscreen!

Ways to Dress 10 Pounds Thinner

BOOT CUT JEANS

BODY-LENGTHENING CLOTHES

STRUCTURED FABRICS

ACCENTUATE YOUR WAIST

LONG, DARK PANTS

fashion: trends & must-haves for your wardrobe