Dresses to Look Slim and Tall

Go monochrome
Monochromatic dressing (one colour from head to toe) makes anyone look taller and slimmer. Tone-on-tone colouring was a key trend on the runways for spring and is a style that makes anyone leaner.

Get a leggy look
Legs will look longer and slimmer if you always closely match your hose to your shoes and skirts. For a print skirt, use the background colour to find hose in a similar tone.

Hosiery tips
Two-tone shoes pose a dilemma when selecting hosiery. Always wear a neutral colour hose or match your hosiery to the lighter colour in the shoes. Never wear nylons that are darker than the lightest colour in the shoes.

Wear wide leg pants
While at first it would seem that wide leg pants would make you look bigger than you are, in fact, the wide leg style in most cases creates a nice straight line, creating the illusion of longer legs. This, in turn, makes you look taller and is very forgiving. If you'd like something a little more interesting than traditional wide leg pants, look for cuffed leg, it's a little more chic and fun.

Note: Try to avoid cuffed pants if you are under 5Ƌ. Cuffed pants tend to make short legs look shorter.

Wear bootcut/slight flare jeans
Jeans are an everyday item, and because they're worn so often, they should be the items that we put the most effort into buying. Bootcut jeans, and jeans with a slight flare, are going to be flattering on every body type. Again, we're going for long clean lines, and creating a soft silhouette, which really adds up to a pretty, slimming look.

Don't get caught up on size
A huge and very common mistake when shopping is that we get too caught up on the number on the tag, and not the fit. Sizing runs different in all stores, so make sure you try on a variety of sizes to get the best fit. Wearing something that's too small for you can make you look a lot bigger than your actually are, so make sure you find the right fit.

The longer the better
One of my personal pet peeves when it comes to dressing is pants that are too short. There are certain lengths for capris and flood pants, but the worst thing for your figure is pants that are too short, and cut off the leg. You want to make sure that your pants are long enough to cover most of your shoe. The longer, the better. See the reoccurring theme here? Long lines create long legs which creates a slimmer look!

Pointed toe shoes
Ahh, one of my secret weapons. Pointed toe shoes are going to be the final touch when you're dressing slim. Whether they're flats or heels, pointed toe shoes allow the length of the pant to flow into a point, which lets the line we've created end in a natural place. Rounded toe shoes tend to cut off the line, making legs look stumpy.

Wear dark colors
This one is a given. Dressing in dark colors is very slimming. Instead of the traditional black, opt for something a little more unexpected, like charcoal or navy. If you'd like something other than a solid color item, look for a dark woven tweed, or subtle pinstripe.

Note: Try not to dress in head-to-toe dark colors. If you're wearing dark pants, pair them with a fun bright top, or a top in contrasting color. Remember, we're dressing slim, not going to a funeral.

Don't be clingy
When shopping for pants, try and look for pants made of heavier fabrics so they don't cling to your leg. There's nothing worse than fabrics clinging to your body, showcasing all of your flaws. Look for fabrics that are flowy and light, which tend to pull away from the body.

Focus on your assets
Every single one of us have wonderful assets that we want to play up. If you have gorgeous legs, go for a nice full knee length skirt. If you've got great arms, go for sleeveless tops. Got a great waist? Play it up with a blazer that cinches at the waist, or add a belt to pull it in.

Back pockets
This is also something else that is an afterthought for most of us. Pocket size on jeans can really make or break the jeans. Pockets can either make your bum look bigger or can really flatter it. When shopping, look for jeans that have decent size pockets, relative to size of the seat. Steer very clear of too tiny pockets that can make your bottom look huge. Instead look for fun cargo flap pockets or bigger pockets that are situated lower on the jeans to make your bottom look higher. Try on as many styles and washes as possible to ensure you get the best look.

A-Line isn't for All of us
A-line dresses and skirts were always known as the best skirts out there, that flattered everyone. Well, that's not always true. A-line dresses can create a tent effect and give you a shapeless look and add pounds within minutes. Always try on a dress before buying, and find out if A-line works for you.

Note: Empire waist tops and dresses can create the same effect, so watch out for babydoll style tops.