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5 Surefire Ways To Dress Yourself Slimmer in Your 50s

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Is middle-aged spread killing your confidence? Good news! You can learn how to dress slimmer in your 50s with a few savvy styling tricks. While you may not be able to whittle down your waist overnight, the right clothing can make you look leaner and stand taller.

Embrace Optical Illusion Dresses

There’s a reason that celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren consistently reach for color block panel dresses for red carpet occasions — these dresses are an eternally flattering option.

A sleek shift dress with dark panels down the side and a lighter, brighter color running down the front creates the illusion of a slimmer figure. The contours created by the dark panelling take inches from your waist in an instant. For ladies who prefer to keep their arms under wraps, look for optical illusion dresses with sleeves.

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Optical Illusion Dress, $39.99, jollychic.com

Think Fitted Over Floaty

While it can be tempting to disguise your body in floaty fabrics, it’s actually counterproductive. Excessive fabrics add volume, which makes you appear larger than you really are. As you mature, choose fitted over floaty styles. A tailored blazer and slim-fit trousers will always make you appear slimmer than a shapeless smock.

Get Savvy With Stripes

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The placement of your prints can be the difference between flattering and unforgiving. Stay away from horizontal stripes, which only draw attention to your widest area, and opt for vertical stripes instead. Vertical stripes draw the eye downwards lengthening the body.

Get the Foundations Right

Can’t remember the last time you went for a bra-fitting? Then get yourself measured, pronto. Ill-fitting bras cause back pain, and they can dig into the skin causing rolls and folds. Rolls and folds aren’t flattering on anyone.

A well-fitting bra can transform how your clothes look and offer back-strain-reducing support. Fabric technology has come a long way in recent years, so check out the latest selection of control pants that can smooth out your tummy and streamline your silhouette.

Eliza J Wrap Dress, $119, Nordstrom.com
Eliza J Wrap Dress, $119, Nordstrom

Look for Ruching

Take the attention away from your tummy with ruching. Ruched detailing on the side of a top or dress is a great way to detract attention from a fuller middle. Wrap dresses work in a similar way, making them a super-flattering option for casual and evening occasions. Folds or ties draw attention to the narrowest part of your body, cementing the wrap dress a closet staple.