Look Slimmer with 5 Design Elements
Happy Thursday, friends! Great conversations here lately…so allow me to start it today with how to LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS.
Look slimmer with 5 design elements shares what I learned a long time ago.
There are ways to trick the eye and look slimmer in our clothes…many we control with our clothing decisions, and some are design elements in the clothes.
I said I learned these a long time ago, but ceased to pay attention to these elements when I lost weight.
Now, I am kicking myself, because these design elements serve us well no matter our size, but can actually add to us looking slimmer than we are.
Many of the examples that I share with you today are at great prices.
Note that at JC Penney, with the savings code TAURUS, you can receive sale prices through June 1. And at J.Jill, tops are 30% off through June 2.
I am back to paying attention…so let’s get going and look over the five.
LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS: #1 ROUNDED HEMLINES
The first design element to help us look slimmer are rounded hemlines.
A few years back, this design element was on trend, and I wish I had picked up a few more tops at that time.
Now they are harder to find, but some good ones still there. The rounded hemline is slimming.
In this first photo, you see from JC Penney, the a.n.a. WOMENS SCOOP NECK SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRT which comes in five colors.
This J.C.Penney top also comes in several nice colors.
It is the STYLUS WOMENS CREW NECK SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRT.
Spring Palette ladies…check out the pale maeve or fudge fondue colors.
Here we have a Quince top with a slightly rounded hemline (more prevalent in the photo from the back) and in some lovely colors.
This is the QUINCE 100% COTTON GAUZE ROLL SLEEVE SHIRT in vintage cream.
So let’s look at this J.Jill top from the back to see the elements of a rounded hemline and the center back pleat for better fit.
This is the J.JILL COTTON-ELBOW-SLEEVE TUNIC in lemon.
Yes, this top has a slightly curved hemline, and with the curved shoulders there is another element to help us look slimmer.
The TALBOTS EXTENDED SHOULDER CREWNECK TEE comes in several options….and also on sale!
There are two design elements to help us look slim in this top.
This RIBBED V-NECK TEE has the rounded hemline, and comes in five summer colors.
LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS: #2 VERTICAL STRIPES
The second design element to help us look slimmer are in clothing with vertical stripes.
When attempting to look slimmer, we should always select vertical over horizontal stripes.
The vertical stripes take the eye line down, so you appear to be a taller, slimmer cool glass of water…as Clinton Kelly use to say.
I think this top from Banana Republic Factory is practically perfect in every way if you want to look slimmer.
The BANANA REPUBLIC LINEN-BLEND COLLARED TOP in a navy stripe.
With the V-Neck element, collar, length of sleeves, and small vents in the sides, and slightly curved hemline, it works with many elements to help us look slimmer. And on sale for an incredible price.
There are more horizontal styles available than vertical.
So when you see them and the speak your style adjectives…you may want to order.
Here is a CHICO’S STRIPED LINEN POPOVER SHIRT in a light brown stripe called sycamore.
An easy, casual way to look slimmer.
Most of us know, that full length pants help us appear to look slimmer.
So, if you find a pant with vertical stripes, it works double time for us….like this CHICO’S BRIGITTE STRIPED ANKLE PANTS.
Also available in petite and tall.
You can also find vertical stripes like this in a cropped pant.
Here is the BRIGITTE SLUB-STRIPED CROPPED PANT.
With a sale in progress, let’s return to JCP for vertical stripes.
This is the ST. JOHN BAY’S TALL WOMENS ROUND NECK SHORT SLEEVE BLOUSE in a yellow stripe.
Here is our last vertical strip to help us look slimmer today.
This is the one comes in three vertical stripe combos…it is the a.n.a. womens short sleeve regular fit blouse.
LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS: #3 V-NECK
The third design element to help us look slimmer is the V-NECK.
It draws the eye down and opens up our faces.
Unlike the other two design elements, there are garments with V-necks literally everywhere.
Just use my links to go to some of these sites, and search V-necks and they will appear.
I had to show you this one from Chico’s since the dot formation creates a type of vertical stripe…another win/win in one top.
This is the POLKA DOT SLEEVELESS V-NECK TANK in a lovely green.
And here is a perfect, responsible purchase for when cool weather comes back in the fall.
I own two of these sweaters for the slimming elements of a rounded hemline and v-neck. The fit well and look beautiful, some sizes remain in various colors.
This is the CHICO’S CAVIAR TRIM V-NECK PULLOVER SWEATER in English Cream….it is a final sale and marked low.
ONE NOTE OF CAUTION…..
I have seen V-Neck designs such as this in a few places.
Yes, it is a V-Neck, but the heavy print around the hip area is NOT slimming.
Remember to look over the total garment and not just one design element.
LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS: #4 ANGLED POCKETS
The fourth design element to help us look slimmer includes angled pockets.
Pockets that are designed at an angle and not straight across are slimming.
I could not find many examples, but want to encourage you to look for this design elements…especially when there are more jackets on the scene in August.
This beauty is the CHICO’S TRAVELERS COLLECTION FLORAL JAQUARD JACKET.
Here is another reminder to look closely.
This athletic jacket at JCP has the angled pockets, but a slight horizontal stripe.
I think the stripe would be a problem if you are looking to slim down your styles.
LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS: #5 FULL BODY IN ONE COLOR
In the last two years, more designs are introducing pieces that create full body outfits in one color.
You can find them at several retailers and this definitely is a design element that helps us to look slimmer….especially in darker colors.
Here are the retailers that are doing this best…beginning with the photo here from Talbots:
WIDE CROP PULL-ON FRESH POPLIN PANTS with JOHNNY COLLAR SHORT POPOVER BLOOMING EYELET.
I see there are not many sizes left, but if you click through to the Talbots site you may find more of these single color looks.
You will also find them on:
I hope this will help some of you to look in the mirror and see outfits that look slimmer. These design elements do make a difference and when I find them I will call them out for you.
There are other decisions we can make with our styling that will help us to look slimmer…I will save those for another day.
If you have any questions about, this post on how to LOOK SLIMMER WITH 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS, then please share.
I hope to see you tomorrow…until then….
KEEP SMILING!
Great suggestions, Pam. Another point is good posture. Always makes a person look slimmer as well as put-together and confident.
Hi Marcia, yes there are other things we can do to look slimmer. I wanted to call attention to the clothing design elements and soon I will cover the other tips. Thanks so much.
Pamela I en always heard also that correctly fitting clothes arme slimming as opposed to baggy shapeless s clothes. Your tips are excellent for any height as well. Sandra 😇
Hello,
Please link the green shorts and mesh bag!
Again…I will have more to say about styling to look slim later…while we begin with design elements today.
Hi Judy, use my link and click through to the shirt which is linked and I believe you will find those products at JCP on that page where I found this collection. Thanks
Thanks for the reminders , Pam. Right now I’m really liking (but don’t own) the all one color look. I’ve also recently cut off a tunic button-front and made it more of a rounded shirttail hem, as I find them easier to style with—forgot about the slimming aspect, too!
Good for you, Kim! I still regret that I cannot sew…but what a great idea to create the rounded hemlines on garments you own.
Great tips to keep in mind. Whenever possible I buy v-necks and rounded hemlines. Two things to avoid if one is, as they say, amply endowed are high crew necks and elbow sleeves which add poundage where we don’t need it. Elbow sleeves can be cuffed and even stitched along the seam to hold it. You showed us so many nice items that I wish came in colors I can wear. I’d be all over the Banana Republic stripe shirt and the Talbot’s eyelet outfit. I have 2 Quince gauze roll sleeve shirts and they are wonderful. They do run quite roomy. I sized down and its still a nice loose fit without being too baggy. They are cool, comfortable and wash well. I’ll likely order another since I find myself reaching for them on hot days. Also recommend the Chico’s vertical stripe pants. I have the crops which are ankle pants on me. They are very slimming.
Did you check the Banana Republic shirt on the link…I think there are other colors, not stripes, that are available. And that stripe is a Navy one. Thanks Kathy….and for the recommendation on the striped pants.
Pam, these are some great guidelines. I like the rounded hem (I have to head to JCP). And I especially like the all one color. I need to invest in one outfit like that. Looking forward to more ideas.
Always happy to help, Paula. Have fun shopping!
Regular sized crops are ankle sized on me too. I prefer the longer pants as a cropped on me makes me look shorter. I wear either tailored shorts or full length shorts usually but have a few skimmers that come just below the knee. My favorite pair recently is a linen blend pull on pair of pants in white with navy vertical strips. They are from Old Navy. I wear a rounded bottom navy tee that is a.n.a. from JCP with them. Love all of your suggestions Pamela!
Great tips. Rounded hemlines really do make a difference.
Excellent tips! I remember having a pair of pinstriped pants many years ago, & they definitely made me look leaner & longer. I was surprised at the difference a rounded bottom can make on me.
Thanks for sharing, Sydney!
I agree…I was surprised the first time I tried them on, but it works!
Yes to pinstriped pants! Thanks Becky!
Thank you for this post. I like it that you take time to remind us of the different ways to look out best
You are so welcome, Audrey.
First, a confession: I was reading this post, got to the part where you mentioned “JJill has all tops on sale 30% off” and immediately scrolled down to your links. I then fell into the JJill website, bought several hundred dollars worth of summer tops (cardigans are included!) and then forgot to return to the post until just now. I appreciate all your tips for dressing for a thinner appearance, which are all very helpful. I just wanted to add a gentle reminder that none of us have an obligation to look thinner because society says we should. This pressure to be thin is so ingrained in us from an early age, and it can lead to eating disorders, low self-esteem and other serious issues. My mother literally believed that “thin-liness is next to Godliness.” I was still at my ideal weight when she passed last year, but have gained over 30 pounds since, perhaps out of rebellion against her lifelong admonitions that I was getting too heavy. (I was 5’9″ and wore a size 4, 6 or 8 my entire adult life until the year before COVID.) I also broke my foot in a fall last spring, and still can’t walk more than a mile for exercise without a lot of pain, so exercise has been a challenge, similar to Pam’s situation post-surgery and post-fall. I definitely want to look my best, and certainly employ these strategies to look thinner at my current weight, but I just wanted to remind all of us that we are worthy at any weight and that we are beautiful in the eyes of our Creator.
I absolutely agree with your last statement! We are masterpieces no matter what!