How to look taller and slimmer

It is almost every woman's dream: to look taller and slimmer. But despite our efforts at the gym and the long deprivations at the table we can never be happy with how slim we look.

To help you look slimmer and taller without having to sweat endless hours exercising or a life time dieting, you can follow the following tips.

To define your Waistline:

To make your waistline look slimmer there are nothing better than blouses and dresses that mark your waist with a thin belt. Avoid big belts because they can visually cut you in half. Thin belts or wrap around dresses where you can control how much cleavage you want to show are best, they not only give you a waist but enhance your hips to show off a curvier body.

Remember that one-piece dresses look sleeker.

You do not have to limit yourself to black to look your sleekest. But preferably opt for a monochromatic outfit. Mix textures and shades of a colour to keep the look interesting.

Some great slimming colours are blue marine, prune, brown, dark red and dark green. Emerald green has been seen back in fashion and it looks fantastic on pale skinned redheads and on curvy ladies like Beyonce.

Remember, that every woman has at least one "pretty area" whether it is a firm and ample bust, round hips, a small waist, long thin legs or toned arms so flaunt it, show it off to your best advantage. Be proud of your best assets and wear clothes that show them at their best.

Fishtail dresses

It is the dress that offers the most possibilities for a feminine and stylish image. The fishtail dress and skirt looks great worn by curvy girls as it shows a woman's curves to best advantage, if not have a look at Beyonce in a gold fishtail dress at the 2007 American Music Awards. The actual cut of the dress enhances hips and waist giving an hourglass figure.

We all have seen models with amazingly long legs, but only few women know how to cheat with fashion to obtain a "long leg effect". To make your legs look longer there is nothing better than using skirts and dresses. The secret is in the cut of the chosen dress. If you have pretty knees you can try mini skirts and mini dresses.

Baby-doll Dresses

Flowy, feminine, and flirty, the baby doll dress has the quality of giving you a fantastic pair of legs. Used with a few centimetres high heels you will look not only taller but you will project the image of having longer legs than you actually have. The only requirement is to be careful with the height of your dress. Micro minis are not recommended unless you are very slim and very young. Otherwise, a mini just around a few centimetres above your knew is more flattering.

High heels

High heels add glamour to any outfit. They add not only the look but also transform your whole body, forcing you to maintain a certain posture and a more feminine cadence when you walk.

High heels add height, therefore making you look automatically slimmer - 60 kilos for a girl measuring 1.60cm is not the same as 60 kilos for someone 1.70cm tall!

However, if you are small beware to not use too high heels as your overall silhouette will look unbalanced. Smaller heels would look better on a small person. Otherwise, remember that heels are one of a girl's best friends as they add centimetres and take off kilos.

Give preference to pointed shoes as they elongate your figure. Rounded toe shoes will make you look chunkier. Also shoes with a generous cut - like ballerinas, showing the start of your toes are much more flattering than all closed shoes.

Skinny Jeans are still booming. It's the perfect basis for casual to chic daywear. If you are curvy it is better to wear them with a loose long top. I mean a long blouse and not your boyfriend's XL t-shirt. A tunic A-line style with a deep V-neck would be ideal as it beautifully skims over a curvy figure enhancing your bust.

During the day wear your skinny jeans with flat ballerina shoes or sandals. For night time you can add glamour with high heels.

Cropped Trousers

This type of trousers is very flattering for women with "strong calf's" . The mid-length calf height gives the optical illusion of slimming your legs because it covers the thickest part of your calf, showing off the slimmest part near to the ankle. Wear them with slight high heels and you will automatically have slimmer legs.

You have to focus on your positive aspects; your smile, your eyes, your waist, your legs. Accentuate the positive and disguise the negative.