Surprise! Head-to-toe black isn't the only path to figure flattery. Using tricks from O's creative director, Adam Glassman, five women slip into spring's most slenderizing styles.
Before: Overpowering print, shapeless cut.
SLIMMING STRATEGY #1: Streamline with Color
Bright, oversize prints aren't always becoming. Smartly placed color inserts, on the other hand, help carve out an hourglass shape.
"I'm forever trying to downplay my hips," says Aimee McBain, 36, a personal assistant. But her ill-fitting dresses, with their too-bold patterns, were making McBain look larger all over (Glassman advises that the dominant motif in any print should be smaller than the size of your fist).
A fuchsia knit dress (Nue by Shani, $250) skims over McBain's body; contrasting orange panels visually whittle her midsection. The dress hits just below the knee, instantly making her lower half look leaner (skin-tone platform pumps extend the leg line by another five inches). "Since the dress is stretchy, I don't feel like it's squeezing me anywhere," says McBain. "And the square neck and color blocking make my waist look tiny."
Earrings, Foxy Originals. Bangles, Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz. Ring, MixologyNYC. Shoes, Charles by Charles David.
Before:
Too loose everywhere.
SLIMMING STRATEGY #2: Step into Perfect Pants
To elongate a voluptuous figure, opt for neutral trousers with lots of stretch.
Angela Brittain, 28, a children's ministry director, attempts to minimize her chest and hips, but roomy blouses and droopy cropped pants were maximizing both.
The side seams on these straight-leg pants (Magaschoni, $310) are pushed to the front, which appears to take inches off her thighs. A vivid, tailored top (Marina Rinaldi, $260) with vertical detail makes Brittain seem taller and de-emphasizes her chest. Together, the separates suit her frame. Bonus: The shirt's appliqués and scoopneck direct attention up to her face. "The blue works well with my eyes," says Brittain.
Earrings, Leslie Greene. Bracelets, M.Haskell and Kara Ross NY. Ring, Miriam Salat. Shoes, Jimmy Choo.
Before:
Exposed on top, excess fabric in the skirt.
SLIMMING STRATEGY #3: Choose a Structured Dress
Don't try to hide a tummy under a tent. A sheath that's bright on top and dark on the bottom slims the hips and stomach while enhancing a smaller chest.
Illya Brunner, 44, a social services case manager, has slender arms and legs but thinks of her midsection as a problem area. A flowing A-line dress inadvertently added volume to her bottom half, while a more fitted dress (Jay Godfrey, $440) with a pencil skirt that starts just above her natural waist minimizes Brunner's stomach and shows off her legs. A ruffle at the bust plays up her chest and shoulders, resulting in a more proportionate silhouette. "When I go shopping, I always reach for black since it conceals a lot," says Brunner. "But the bold colors are what make this dress look so good."
Earrings, Leslie Greene. Watch, Philip Stein. Shoes, Takera Shoes by Asjha Jones.
SLIMMING STRATEGY #4: Divide and Conquer
There's bad draping (the sweater on the previous slide) and good draping (the dress pictured here). The difference comes down to cut and strategic use of color.
Janet Rosen, 57, a real estate agent, dresses for comfort, but she didn't realize how boxy her baggy sweaters were making her look.
An asymmetrical dress (Zero + Maria Cornejo, $625) is "modern, artsy, and fun" and doesn't hide her petite 5'3" frame: The beige side attracts the eye and casts light on her neck and face, while the navy part fades from view. "This completely dispels the myth that light colors make you look bigger and black is the only way to appear thin," says Glassman. The jersey fabric, which pools at Rosen's narrow waist, couldn't be more comfortable. "It's a good dress to bring on a cruise," says Rosen, "because I could look great and eat!"
Earrings, Marlyn Schiff. Ring, Leslie Greene. Bangle, Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz. Shoes, Charles David.
Before:
The wrong proportions.
SLIMMING STRATEGY #5: Mix Similar Patterns
Don't play it safe in boring, sloppy separates. A vibrant sweater and skirt can join forces to narrow a curvy shape.
Felicia Martin-Hill, 32, a marketing executive, admits to searching for the baggiest clothes on the rack: "Sometimes I don't even try things on—I just pick the biggest size."
But this striking sweater (
AK Anne Klein, $109) is the opposite of oversize and shapeless. It bisects her torso with a thick, black line, resulting in a leaner-looking upper body. The bold design, paired with a smaller version on the skirt (
Calvin Klein, $69), creates a visual "funnel," making her seem even narrower. When combining patterns, Glassman says, one should always be bigger than the other so the prints don't compete. "Normally I would have thought this outfit was too busy," says Martin-Hill. "But I feel sexy in it. The bright colors really work."
Bangle, Maison Martin Margiela. Earrings, Joan RIvers for QVC. Ring, Marlyn Schiff. Shoes, Nine West.
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