Jeni Paolella Luciani has a knack for styling curvy women and has worked as a professional stylist on TV shows like More to Love, Tool Academy, A Double Shot at Love, and Dance Your Ass Off.
She says the most important thing with getting dressed is feeling comfortable with the way you look. "My job is to make someone feel amazing and confident when she walks out the door."
Use these tips from Luciani and Harriett Cole, creative director for Ebony magazine, to look slimmer instantly.
1. Wear the right bra.
Too often, women wear bras that let their breasts fall too low, making them look older, heavier, and short-waisted. Luciani recommends getting fitted for and investing in a good support bra. "Undergarments are extremely important to your look," says Luciani. "Whenever I'm doing any sort of show or red carpet, I put my clients in Spanx. I always recommend wearing one size smaller than you think you should for best results. So if you think you'd wear a size C, get a size B."
MORE: Look Younger, Thinner And More Toned In 2 Weeks
2. Use color strategically.
"Wear bright colors on your good features and dark colors on problem areas," advises Cole. "This lets you show off your best while camouflaging trouble spots." Luciani suggests her clients experiment with color on top. "Curvier women tend to go on the darker side and wear a lot of black and brown," she says. "I like bright greens, burnt orange, or a brighter blue. If you're not used to wearing a birght color, take smaller steps with dark blue. There's no reason to hide what you have and who you are." Your shirt should have a slim fit because a baggier top can add extra pounds, says Luciani. A wrap top is a flattering option to try.
3. Don't squeeze into too-tight clothes.
"Struggling to fit into clothes that are too small can actually make you look larger," says Cole. If you can't stand to buy larger sizes, cut out the tags when you get home!
4. Try a new style of jeans.
Believe it or not, Luciani loves putting her curvy clients into skinny jeans: "I think they're fantastic with high heels." She brought a pair of Torrid's jeans for Dance Your Ass Off show host and client Marissa Janet Winokur, who "nearly went into cardiac arrest" when she saw they were skinny jeans, Luciani says. "But now she loves them and wears them all the time." Luciani recommends staying away from features that add bulk, such as cargo pockets, extra zippers, and elastic waistbands. To slim your hips, try boot-cut pants. "Instead of being tight at the ankles, these pants flare slightly from the knee, making you look more balanced and slimmer in the hips," says Cole.
5. Pump up accessories.
It's hard to focus on any figure problems when a woman's wearing unusual, dangling earrings. Pick up some eye-catching accessories—scarves, pins, handbags, shoes. They'll help you look great before, during, and after you lose weight. Luciani recommends necklaces paired with a scoop-neck or V-neck shirt and using belts over shirts and dresses to accenuate the waistline.
MORE: How To Love The Body You Have
