Lose the pleated pants Seriously, it’s time to get rid of them. Flat-front pants slim your tummy and lengthen your legs, so you seem taller and better proportioned, says Kristin Rawson, style director at Ann Taylor. Show some shoulderYour shoulders are one body part that’s slow to age, so expose them by wearing a slender boat-neck or wide, scooped neckline, suggests Kim Johnson Gross, style expert and author of What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life. Or if your bust is large, opt for V-necks for a hint of super-flattering clavicle and décolletage to help you look less top heavy. Roll up your sleeves To highlight the thinnest part of your arm (from your elbow to your wrist) and give the illusion of a slender shape, push back the sleeves of sweaters and shirts or opt for three-quarter-length sleeves, says Gross. Wear a bra that fits you correctly The most common mistake: a too-loose bra band. “It allows the back of the bra to rise up, causing breasts to sag,” says Susan Nethero, owner of Intimacy lingerie boutiques. This “seesaw” effect also emphasizes stubborn back fat. But brassieres can work in your favor, too: A push-up padded bra can balance the proportion of a rounder mid-section. MORE: Drop 10 Pounds Without Losing Weight Shimmy into shapewear To flatten and smooth your tummy, try a fitted cami long enough to cover your hips or high-waisted brief that extends up to your bra band, suggests Charla Krupp, style expert and author of How Not to Look Old and How to Never Look Fat Again. To slim thighs, sneak knee-length bike shorts under longer skirts, dresses, and trousers. You’ll know your garment fits you perfectly if it’s seamless and doesn’t leave any odd gaps or ridges. Pick sweaters that slim Camouflage back fat by slipping on a long cardigan over your blouse, says Krupp. Wispy, waterfall sweaters that are longer in front are particularly slimming. Make sure it skims your mid-thigh and covers your butt without overwhelming your frame. (If you’re tall, you can pull off a longer, more voluminous style.) Wear it open like a jacket, creating a chic, lean line when worn with slim pants, a fitted sheath, or straight-leg jeans. MORE: Is Your Laundry Making You Sick? Ditch your pantyhosedrugstore.com Nude pantyhose will date your look, but that doesn’t mean you have to go coverage-free. Using a tinted body moisturizer plays down spider veins, evens discoloration, adds definition, and hydrates for supple, firmer-looking skin, says Scott Barnes, celebrity makeup artist and author of About Face. Self-tanner works, too, but you’ll get out the door faster with a tinted moisturizer like Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream ($10, ). Break up the blackIt’s a famously slimming shade, but wearing black near your face can look harsh as you get older and your face loses contrast and some of its vibrancy, says Krupp. To warm your complexion, pair the dark hue with a sweater, jacket, or scarf in a soft color (pastels work well). Lower your necklines"If your neck shows signs of aging, hiding it in a turtleneck can seem like a natural solution," says Gross. “But it’s not always practical, comfortable, or flattering, especially if you have a short neck, full face, a large chest, or if you suffer hot flashes.” A colorful or textured scarf looped around the neck is a chicer, all-season alternative. The structure of an upturned shirt collar will also beautifully frame your face rather without drawing attention down to your neck. MORE: 7 Surprising Solutions For A Younger-Looking NeckSelect your shoes strategically To elongate the look of your leg, match the color of your shoes to your tights or pants (black tights with black heels are especially slimming and visually lengthening). Bonus: this trick also visually diminishes large feet and thick ankles. If your legs are bare, nude heels will do the trick, too, says Gross. Other flattering footwear options: Shoes with a low vamp (the part of the shoe that covers the top of your foot), fitted knee-high boots, and pointy-toed shoes, which of all elongate and slim the look of your ankles and legs. Chunky shoes and ankle straps, on the other hand, make legs appear shorter. Accessorize wiselyUse color, patterns, and statement accessories to strategically draw attention to your best features, suggests Gross. “I often wear a bold necklace and patterned tights so the eye is drawn to my face and to my legs and away from my larger middle.” MORE: 4 Multitasking Makeup Products That Fight The Signs Of Aging Keep jeans current “Nothing is more aging than ‘mom’ jeans,” says Krupp. High-waisted pairs are still on-trend and prevent the bulky belly effect low-rise jeans can create. Just keep them modern by opting for slim fits and dark washes to visually trim thighs and legs. Wear tops that slim or distract When your stomach isn’t flat, tops look best worn un-tucked (wear hemmed styles for a neat look) and no shorter than mid-tummy, or it will put the spotlight on your midsection. Tops with shirring or embellishments across the chest de-emphasize the torso, too. And long blouses or dresses with empire waistlines are another good choice—they highlight the area just below your bust, which for many women is the slimmest point on their body. MORE: 15 Hairstyles That Make You Look Younger
