How to Look Slimmer in a Dress

Choosing the Right Undergarments

Select properly-fitting undergarments. Too-tight panties and bras cause unflattering bulges. Get a professional bra fitting at a lingerie shop to ensure you’re wearing the right size. Ask a salesperson to help you choose a bra that lifts and shapes your breasts. Also, ensure the edges of your underwear don’t squeeze your skin.

Add shapewear to smooth bulges. Choose shapewear that lifts your breasts and butt while simultaneously smoothing bulges. Shapewear with tummy control help create a slenderer silhouette, especially under garments with high waists, like pencil skirts. Choose from bodysuits, boy shorts, briefs, camis, and more.

Wear opaque black nylons to lengthen your legs. Opaque black tights are guaranteed to make your legs look longer and slimmer. They’re the perfect pairing with your favorite dress during the fall and winter. Add a long cardigan or a tapered jacket to complete your look.

Ensure your undergarments don’t show. If you’re wearing a tight dress, it’s imperative that the lines of your undergarments are not visible through the fabric. Opt for a thong or g-string, or go with seamless underwear, nylons, or shapewear if you prefer more coverage.

Creating a Slim Silhouette

Select structured dresses to minimize your midsection. Flowy and A-line dresses add volume to your bottom half which can make you look unbalanced. Structured dresses, like those with an empire waist or pencil skirt, streamline your silhouette. For example, opt for a fitted dress with bright colors on top and dark colors from the waist to the hemline to bring focus to the top of your body while slimming down the bottom.

Choose V-neckline dresses to create a high focal point. A V-neckline dress draws the eye up toward the face and away from the midsection. It also creates the illusion of a slimmer, longer body and equalizes your proportions. Choose a wide V-neck to balance out broad thighs and hips.

Opt for maxi dresses to look long and lean. You don’t have to stick with shorter hemlines to look sleek and slim. Go for solid maxi dresses that don’t add bulk with pleats or pockets. Ensure the bottom of the dress just brushes the floor, rather than showing your shoes or ankles. For instance, opt for a royal blue maxi dress that skims the length of your body and pair it with wedges and a long necklace.

Select wrap dresses to highlight your natural waist. Dresses that cinch in at your natural waist draw the eye to your thinnest point, while taking the focus away from problem areas. Go for dresses with bows or other details at your natural waist to create the illusion of an hourglass figure. For example, pick a long-sleeved ballet wrap dress in a bright color that flares away from your natural waist and pair it with nude pumps.

Pick small prints to make yourself look smaller. You don’t have to shy away from prints and wear all black to look slim. Print dresses actually have camouflaging features that help you hide areas you may feel insecure about. However, you should opt for small prints to make your frame look smaller, rather than large prints which give the impression of a bigger surface area. For instance, choose a shift dress with a tiny flower pattern instead of one with large blooms.

Select dresses with color-blocking to slim your waist. Dresses with strategically-placed inserts on the sides instantly create an hourglass shape. Look for dresses that are one color along the front and back with contrasting side panels.

Opt for flat fabrics that don’t add volume. Cotton, silk, denim, and wool gabardine are “flat” fabrics that won’t add bulk to your body. You can also choose fabrics that help slim and shape, including fine cotton, jersey, cashmere, and spandex blends.

Avoid dresses made from bulky fabrics. Velvet, corduroy, leather, taffeta, and brocade should be avoided, as they add volume to your silhouette. Stay away from other heavy fabrics, like satin, flannel, suede and mohair.

Adding Accessories

Layer on a tapered jacket to camouflage curves. An open jacket or blazer streamlines your silhouette. The narrow lapels and crisp lines make your body look slimmer, too. For instance, if you’re wearing a dress for business or to the office, add a tapered blazer in a complementary color to your outfit.

Add a long cardigan to lengthen your torso. Avoid shorter, hip-grazing sweaters, which shorten the look of your body. Opt for long cardigans that flow to your thighs, instead. A long cardigan is the perfect fall accessory to a dress that hits just below the knee.

Opt for a wide belt. A wide belt cinched at your natural waist draws the eye to the thinnest part of your body. Skinny belts can get swallowed by the fabric, whereas a wider belt stands out and makes you look smaller.

Select stilettos with pointed toes. Thin heels and slender toes lengthen your calves’ narrow silhouette. Opt for a 2 in (5.1 cm) heel or higher to make your legs look slimmer. Square toes and thick heels make your legs seem shorter and bulkier, so avoid those styles. Reader Poll: we asked 732 wikiHow readers, and 73% agreed that the best shoes to wear with dresses are heels. [Take Poll]

Wear shoes that match your skin tone to lengthen your legs. Opt for heels that are close to your skin tone rather than those that contrast. Nude shoes lengthen the look of your legs, rather than cutting them off at the ankle. Keep your legs bare and go for a dress that hits at mid-thigh or just below the knee. However, if you want to wear black pumps, for instance, pair them with sheer black tights.

Add length to your neck with a long necklace. Necklaces also draw attention to the top of the body and away from the tummy and hips. Opt for a necklace that reaches to your breasts or lower, rather than choosing a choker or necklace that rests at mid-chest.

Layer on bracelets to draw focus to your wrists. Many women feel self-conscious about their upper arms. Stack several bangles or opt for a sparkly wrist cuff paired with cocktail rings to draw focus from your upper arms to your wrists and hands.