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Written by asap
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Friday, 19 May 2006 |
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You have no willpower to give up ice cream, and you’re too lazy to get to the gym.
With summer right around the corner, you’re running out of time -- or so you thought.
Danica Lo, author of “How Not to Look Fat,” says there are ways you can maximize your slimming potential without crash diets, exercising like crazy, or resolving to spend the rest of your life in jeans and baggy T-shirts (those only make you look bigger).
In her new book, the New York Post columnist and former plus-size model gives the skinny on how to do wonders with your figure, from how to stand (pigeon-toed) to the most flattering hairstyles, clothing and even sunglasses.
“I think women should dress the way their bodies really are -- not the way they wish their bodies were,” says Lo. “That’s why you see so many fashion mistakes. So many women dressing so they look bigger than they actually are.”
So with the sun coming up, and the skin coming out, asap spoke to Lo about the summer clothes that are most flattering on big women.
SHORTS
“I know a lot of women want to wear shorts and miniskirts for the summer, but I kind of advise against shorts in general,” says Lo. “There are very few people who can actually pull off wearing them.” But it’s 95 degrees! OK, so if you insist on wearing shorts, look for a pair that end at the mid-thigh or the upper-thigh, where that curve is on your inner thigh. You never want to wear something that ends at the fattest part of your body. No curve? Choose a length that ends between 2 to 4 1/2 inches from your crotch, the most flattering length.
CAPRI PANTS
Capri pants are everywhere this spring. But these pants that stop in between the shin and the ankle are horrible for almost everyone, says Lo. “If you look at pictures of supermodels, super skinny, size 0, 6 feet tall, they will look a little bit shorter and wider wearing capri pants on the runway than they do wearing full length trousers,” she says. “People like wearing them because they are comfortable. But I think there is a way to dress slimmer and still be comfortable.”
SUN DRESSES
Warm weather means sun dresses, which means sleeveless, spaghetti straps or no straps at all. But what if your arms are so flabby they flap in the wind? Wear a cardigan, says Lo, who knows it’s hard to find a dress with capped sleeves. Just make sure the cardigan is a lighter color than the dress. You will look like you are sinking away from the cardigan, and you’ll look slimmer. She also says avoid wearing a dress that is too clingy or too oversized. Choose a drop-waist dress to elongate your torso -- one that hits right at the knee. Her recommendation: a simple black sheath dress. She says it’s body-skimming sleek, and perfect for nearly every occasion.
SKIRTS
There’s been a renaissance of skirts -- bubble skirts, peasant skirts, boho skirts. But unless you are slender on top, as in no chest, skinny arms, (think Audrey Hepburn), you may want to think twice before pulling that skirt over your hips. “Even Pamela Anderson could never wear a pouffy skirt,” says Lo. “She would look incredibly funny because she would look big on top and big on bottom.” Lo suggests a linen, knee-length skirt that is skimming. “If you’re concerned about wrinkling, I would say go for cotton,” she says. “Synthetic fibers are hotter. Stick with natural fibers.”
PANTS
Yes skinny pants are trendy. But the models who are wearing them in the magazines are all super skinny, says Lo. Some of the larger models, as in size 4, don’t look that good in skinny pants. Women should stick to bootcut where the calf length and width are longer and wider than the thigh area. As for low-rise, there’s nothing more unattractive than a stomach spilling over the top of a pair of pants. “It’s hard to find pants that are not low-rise,” says Lo. “But more and more you’ll find things that are mid-rise that fall midway between the belly button and the hip.” Pick dark colors, she says. Light colors will make your rear stand out.
TOPS
Spaghetti straps and strapless tops are not the most flattering on a big-chested woman because your boobs spill over the side. Not to mention you can’t wear a bra with them. Scoop necks overemphasize the roundness of the bosom, and mock turtlenecks aren’t flattering -- period. For the summer heat, she prefers halter tops because they create an hourglass figure. Again, there’s that bra problem. But Lo says there are some places that sell tops with built-in underwire up to an HH cup. “The key to the tops is that you want it to skim the part underneath your boobs, which is the skinniest part of your body because there is hardly any fat there,” she says.
SHOES
Wear heels, especially if you have a big butt. The rule is the chunkier the leg, the chunkier the heel. Pointed toes are best. Rounded toes are second best. Don’t wear shoes with a square toe, says Lo. (You don’t want your feet looking like blocks, do you?) Ankle straps are bad. Your leg will look wider and fatter. “Think of your leg as a line. You want the line to be as long and unbroken as possible,” says Lo. Can’t part with the flip-flops or flats? Choose something that is cut lower in the front. Want to wear sneakers? Pick Converse -- they make your feet look small.
asap reporter Megan Scott returned two pairs of capri pants this morning.
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