Slimming tips same for men as for women
Q. I have lost a little of the weight I put on in recent years, but realistically doubt I will lose much more and also seem to have a settling of those pounds on my body. So the question now is trying to make this weight look as best as possible. Can you provide any clues about which clothes make a man look slimmer?
A. This is one of those few areas where the same fashion information fits for men and women. Aside from recommending that you don’t give up on those diet efforts, a few other suggestions may be helpful.
Dark colors are the best fool-the-eye trick. Of course, that helps explain the tremendous popularity of wearing black. But you don’t need to be stuck in a black rut. It is not the only dark color that can achieve this end; dark blues, deep grays and chocolate browns are all equally slimming. Dark colors won’t actually make you look svelte, but they do help.
Wearing the same color from top to bottom is another sure-fire method, because it directs the eye up and down in a sweeping vertical motion. This also works when the color you are repeating is not dark. You don’t need to have every item you are wearing be the same color. The same effect can be accomplished with a top and pants in the same color when the jacket over them is different, or when the jacket and pants are one color and the shirt is different. As long as one piece on top and one on the bottom are the same color, the effect is elongating.
Vertical stripes are also slimming. Create an illusion of slimness by using vertical lines when possible: pin, chalk-, or shadow-striped suits, striped shirts, cardigan jackets and ribbed sweaters all work.
On the other hand, anything that directs the eye horizontally across the body can make you appear 10 to 15 pounds heavier. Avoid horizontal stripes and also too much contrast between the top and bottom colors of an outfit. For example, a navy blazer and light gray pants add more weight optically than a navy blazer with dark gray trousers. The sharp break between the dark and light shades accents your middle.
Try to avoid a too clearly defined waist. A trim guy can look great in a belt or a tucked-in sweater that shows his waistline. A heftier man always looks better in something that slides over and camouflages the actual waistline (think Bill Cosby wearing his ubiquitous sweaters that hid — and covered — his waist).
Fabrics to select: m Medium or light weights. Avoid bulky fabrics. m Smooth fabrics m Simple patterns. Avoid busy patterns, such as bold plaids, which add bulk visually.
My last suggestion may require a bit of convincing. While well-tailored and properly fitted clothes are ideal, if you must err on one side or another, choose clothes that are a bit too loose rather than ones that are a bit too tight. Even though it is human nature to want to wear a smaller size, the stuffed-sausage look does exactly the opposite of what an overweight person is trying to accomplish: Rather than making him look slim, it actually makes him look fat.