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Are you on Mounjaro? No of course you’re not. You don’t have thousands of pounds to spend on diet drugs, you’re wary, and you’re far more interested in cutting back on crisps, walking the dog more often and – the ultimate shortcut to a trimmer figure – Fatjab dressing.
We all know that clothes fall into three categories – makes me look bigger/actual size/smaller – yet still we wait to be pleasantly surprised in the fitting room, rather than zeroing in on those tried and tested size-reducing styles.
Here are nine ways to shave off a dress size (at least) without losing a pound.
1. The ruched dress
Queen Letizia of Spain wearing a Victoria Beckham ruched midi creation at Buckingham Palace
This Me+Em stretch print jersey fit and flare dress is a miracle of eye deceiving. The ruching – from the bottom of the ribs to the top of the hips – has the effect of disguising tummies, minimising hips and making the wearer look inches narrower.
And it works on all sizes. The shape is a Me+Em signature, which, happily, means it has a dark red and tulip print style in the sale (now £136.50, was £195).
2. Colour sculpting
This is not a new trick: Stella McCartney first used contouring panels – a dark central panel sandwiched between lighter side panels, or the opposite – in 2011 and her ‘Miracle’ dress is still going strong.
But the principle of colour blocking to shave inches off the silhouette has now spread across the board. Boden’s two tone midi dress in navy and green (now £66, was £110) is a case in point.
3. The just long enough shirt
Back in the old days we stuffed our shirt tails in our waistbands and hoped for the best, but now shirts come cropped to avoid all that extra bulk. Try Mango’s striped cropped shirt (£29.99, shop.mango.com) and drop a waist size.
Amanda Seyfried in a Versace slightly oversize masculine jacket at this year’s Venice Film Festival
4. The big blazer
Naturally, a slightly oversize masculine jacket (like the Versace one both Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried wore at this year’s Venice Film Festival) makes the body underneath look a size or two smaller.
For this look to work you need a strong shouldered jacket that finishes no higher than your hip; straight jeans or trousers (nothing with pleats), and an unbuttoned shirt.
It’s a good idea to wear the arms of the jacket slightly pushed up – your slender forearms contrasting with the roomy jacket is all part of tricking the eye.
Note: Longer line mannish jackets will cover up your bum, too.
5. Jeans with seams
Sometimes they’re called engineered, sometimes barrel; we’re talking about those jeans and trousers with wide, bow curved legs, but note, a seam that runs dead straight from hip to ankle, tricking the eye into believing there’s a long slim leg underneath.
Providing your top is neat the overall effect is instant size reduction. Jeans that are not tight on the thighs are always more flattering on 50-plusers, but if these feel like a step too fashion, then ‘straight and loose’ jeans (£29.99, Zara) are the ones that will leave people thinking you’ve lost a few pounds.
6. A narrow belt
Belts never sound appealing to women with tummies, but it’s remarkable how a belt around the waistband of your mid-rise trousers can make a cylindrical mass (you, pre-belt) look slimmer in an instant. Try H&M for smart belts in plain black or brown (£7.99).
7. A waistcoat
Said it before: there is no easier way of shrinking your top half and enhancing your waist than a just-snug-enough waistcoat.
Lots of women think you can’t wear a waistcoat if you have a bust – oh yes, you can, just wear a V-neck, or a crew style slightly unbuttoned.
And if you want to cover your waist and hips, then longer line waistcoats are ideal. Marks & Spencer does a good simple V-neck style in navy (£25) – just wear a normal shirt underneath.
8. Colour blocking
Wearing one colour from collar bone to toe gives you a clean, elongated silhouette, which automatically makes you look slimmer.
Zara’s brown wide-leg trousers and matching crepe shirt with a knot drape front (another slimming detail) is a co-ord set (£27.99 each) that’ll do for you what wearing all black did before we grew out of it.
9. A high neck (and a midi heel)
Turtle necks and funnel necks are excellent for elongating the silhouette (see above) and have the double bonus of hiding frilly chins.
H&M does a good navy polo neck (£32.99) with three quarter sleeves (show those wrists for slimming points). Add tonal trousers or a midi skirt and mid-heel boots and you can look like you’ve lost 4lbs. Just like that.
