the sunday brief | how to dress 10 pounds slimmer

it’s that time of year when calorie counting flies out the window. at least for me. there’s nothing i love more than mashed potatoes or stuffing at thanksgiving. how about a  homemade snickerdoodle or russian teacake scored from a cookie exchange? so how do we hide that extra pound or two that’s inevitable to appear as we march through the holidays? today, i’ll share a few of my tried-and-true figure flattering secrets that help us look slimmer and shave off pounds.

monochromatic 

when matching your shoes, pants or skirt, and top there’s no visual break to the eye, creating a vertical line. think you don’t look good in black? add a pop of color around your neck with a scarf or blouse with a print. 

faux leather pants old (similar here and here); poncho old (similar here and here); shirt old (similar here and here); hat old (similar here and here)

skirt old (similar here and here); blouse old (similar here and here); sweater old (similar here and here); boots old (similar here and here); pearls

structured vest, jacket or blazer 

wide shoulders and crisp straight lines help diminish curves.

pants old (similar here and here); blouse old (similar here and here); blazer old (similar here and here); pumps old (similar here and here)

denim old (similar here and here); tee old (similar here and here); blazer old (similar here and here) shoes old (similar here and here)

match your shoe color to your leg

come summer match bare legs with a nude pump. winter? black tights and black shoe or boot.

skirt old (similar here and here); shirt old (similar here and here); cardigan old (similar here); shoes old (similar here and here)

dress old (similar here and here); cardigan old (similar here and here); boots old (similar here and here); here

cinch it with a belt 

 i know, i know, many of us think we can’t wear belts. but think again. belts add definition where we need it.

dress old (similar here and here); belt old (similar here and here); boots old (similar here and here); tights

dress old (similar here and here); belt old (similar here and here); tote old (similar here and here)

proportions 

camouflage your middle with an oversized sweater, tunic, or poncho that’s designed to wear untucked.

pants old (similar here and here); tunic old (similar here and here); cardigan old (similar here and here); shoes old (similar here and here); 

denim old (similar here); sweater; shoes old (similar here)

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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