Here's to a slimmer new year

As we embark on this New Year, no doubt many of you are feeling the effects of over-indulging during the festive season.  Perhaps you have taken the first steps to losing those excess pounds by joining your local gym or slimming club.

 

No matter whether you have just a few pounds to lose or a few stones, wouldn’t it be great to feel and look slimmer right now, at the very beginning of your new regime?  Well, it’s perfectly possible, just by bearing in mind these simple rules:

Wear the correct size bra

Good underwear is a must and these days shape wear has improved so much and is

Courtesy of Bravisimo

extremely effective.  However, if the thought of squeezing yourself into this kind of underwear doesn’t appeal, the very least you must do is wear the right size bra.  So many women continue to wear the same size bra year in year out, without being professionally measured.  The correct size of bra will give you great support, lifting your bust into the correct position and give better definition to your torso and waist.

Your bust size can change dramatically, whether through weight loss or gain, hormonal changes or many other reasons, so it is recommended that you are professionally measured every 6 – 12 months.  You may be shocked by the result if you haven’t been measured for some time (or indeed ever)!

Wear colour

Moving on to your clothes, one of the great ways to look not just slimmer, but younger too, is to wear colour.  Obviously, you need to make sure that you choose colours that are flattering for your skin tone, otherwise you can be left looking pale or sallow, but get it right and you could look 10lbs lighter and 10 years younger!

Flattering shades will lift your complexion, helping to banish dark circles and lines, as well as giving the appearance of a slimmer silhouette.  Bear in mind that darker shades will work well for areas that you want to take attention away from and lighter, brighter shades are best for drawing the eye to your best features.  If, for example, you are a pear shape, you will find that darker shades worn on your bottom half and a lighter shade worn on your upper body will balance you out beautifully.

To draw the eye up the body and give the appearance of making you look taller and slimmer, try wearing a bright top with a darker jacket over it.  Keep the jacket unbuttoned so that the top can be clearly seen.  This will have the effect of drawing the eye to the bright colour and up the body to your face.  A long necklace or pretty scarf can also give the same effect.

Wear clothes that fit you

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to hide excess weight is to wear baggy, oversized clothes.  This will actually have the opposite effect, making the wearer look even larger than they really are.

Wearing clothes that fit your body correctly will be far more flattering than wearing swathes of excess fabric.  Equally, squeezing yourself into clothes that are too tight will also make you look larger.  Dress sizes fluctuate a tremendous amount from one store to another, so it is quite possible that a size 10 in one store will fit well, while in another store a 12 or even a 14 is a better fit.  It can also depend on the style and cut of the clothing you are buying.  The size of a garment is really immaterial, but if it bothers you, cut out the label.

Emphasise your best features

Add a focal point to your outfit that draws the eye to your best feature.  For example, if you have a small waist, add an eye-catching belt.  Maybe you have long slim legs that would look great in a short skirt or slim-fitting trousers.  If however you are simply feeling too overweight to draw any attention to your body, you may feel more comfortable drawing attention to your face with some statement earrings or necklace.

To avoid having the emphasis on areas you want to hide, ensure they are free of any details or extra fabric.  For example, if you are heavy on the hips, avoid side pockets which will add unnecessary bulk.  If you have a large bust, avoid strategically placed pockets in tops and you may find it best to avoid blouses and shirts which might gape.

I do hope that these pointers will help you to look and feel slimmer while you are working towards your goal, but even if you have already given up on your good intentions, you should still feel better about the way you look.

If this inspires you to learn more, I’d love to chat to you about how I can help you make 2018 the year you discover your most fabulous and confident self.  
Contact me to find out more

Wishing you all a very happy and stylish 2018.