Avoid These Fashion Mistakes That Make People Look Heavier
Along with diet and exercise, wearing the right clothing can either help or hinder someone's appearance, especially when it comes to weight. Each season encourages terrible fashion trends that can make someone's figure look shorter, wider, and overall unflattering. These are the styling mistakes to avoid so the camera won't add ten pounds the next time your friend shares that photo on social media.
Reflective Clothing Makes Everything More Noticeable
For special occasions, you may want to wear an outfit with some fun flair, but pass on the reflective materials. Wearing a dress or jacket that is covered in shiny metals or sequins will catch every bit of light, causing the person to look bigger all over.
Flat fabrics are the better option for making the right kind of impression on a big night out.
The Wrong Undergarment Ruins Your Figure
Although you might think that no one can see your undergarments, it's true that they affect your shape. Wearing the wrong bra can cause bumps to form on the back and sides, which no one wants!
Bulging should be avoided at all costs, it's better to find a better-fitting bra. Many stores have sales assistants to help customers find the right one.
Leggings With Prints Call A Lot Of Attention
Printed leggings might be a fun temptation, but they won't help you look any slimmer. Wild printed clothing draws attention to every part of your body it covers.
Especially in the case of tight clothing like leggings-- keep the print at a minimal. Never buy a piece of clothing that is entirely covered in a print if you want to look slim.
Don't Wear Horizontal Stripes... Just Don't.
For a slimmer-looking figure, you want to look taller, not wider. So why would you wear horizontal stripes? This fashion mistake is one of the worst on the list.
Your eyes are drawn to follow the direction of a stripe, so you want the stripes on your clothing to be running up and down, not side to side.
Jackets Without Shape Aren't Flattering
There are plenty of jacket options to choose from, so pick one that has some fit and shape to it. Avoid jackets that don't have any contour to them, as they'll leave you looking like one big shape.
Trying to hide body shape under a big jacket (even worse, one with large pockets!) would be a big mistake.
Don't Hide Your Neck With A Turtleneck!
For a slimmer-looking figure, it's important to show the separation between your face and your shoulders. That means showing your neck!
The worst thing you could do is cover your neck with a chunky turtleneck that will make it look like your head goes straight into your shoulders. It's best to wear a top that shows at least part of the skin on your chest.
Leave Jersey Netting To The Athletes
Sports fans might feel nostalgic wearing jerseys or clothing pieces made with jersey netting, but have you seen the stuff? Jersey material falls on every bump and bulge, like holding it under a microscope.
Jersey fabric accentuates your curves in the wrong way. Even layering this material is a no-no.
Skinny Jeans Accentuate Everything
Any clothing that is too tight won't be flattering to your figure. In the case of skinny jeans, the pants hug every curve of your lower half, which will make any and every muscle look bigger.
Taking on fashion trends that aren't flattering to your figure won't get you the results you want looking in the mirror.
Cropped And 3/4 Pants Are The Worst!
Cropped pants, or pants that fall halfway between your knee and your ankle have come in and out of style over the decades. It's best to just leave this fashion trend in the past, as it won't help your legs look any slimmer.
Wearing pants with the 3/4 cut will make thighs look larger than they are.
Ditch The Puffy Coat
Let's be honest, who hasn't owned a big puffy coat at one time or another? Whether you thought it was a good deal at Costco or your mother sent you off to play wearing one, it's time to make sure it's out of your closet for good.
Large puffy jackets increase your overall volume and are not flattering for your figure whatsoever.
Baggy Clothes Add More Volume
Some people might think throwing on a hoodie or a large t-shirt might make them look smaller, but in fact, the opposite is true. Baggy clothing adds more volume to your frame, which will always make someone appear heavier than they are.
It's better to wear clothing that is better fitted to your body.
Embellishments Pack On The Material
Overall, light, fitted materials are the best to wear to avoid making yourself look heavier. The opposite is adding more unnecessary fabric.
Clothing that has embellishments including ruffles, bows, and large pockets can make a person look bulkier-- and you don't want that. Stick with the small adornments, if any.
Chunky Heels Can Look Bottom-Heavy
Yes, even your footwear can have an impact on how slim you look stepping out. Even if they're your favorite color or pattern, it's best to bypass the large, chunky heels at the store.
Larger size footwear can lead to your calves and overall legs appearing larger, too. Avoid this mistake that will make your overall look bottom-heavy. Remember - large heels, large legs.
Tight Clothing Makes It Look Like You Can't Fit Into Your Clothes
Not only is wearing clothing that's a size (or two!) too tight uncomfortable, but it's not flattering either. You won't be doing yourself any favors by wearing a top that's a size too small, or forcing your figure into a pair of jeans that you'll end up with your stomach spilling over.
An outfit with tight clothing will make you look like you can't fit into your clothes.
Don't Hide Under Layers
Someone might think that adding a vest or layering a collared shirt adds texture and might hide a bit of weight, but they'd be wrong. Adding more fabric to an outfit just adds more volume.
And having too many layers can hide your frame completely, resulting in one large shape that will only make someone look heavier.
Patterns Don't Belong On Pants
Patterns are best on blankets and wallpaper... not on your clothes. If you see plaid pants on display at a shop, just keep walking by. The same goes for pinstripe pants, camouflaged pants, or floral patterns.
Patterns will call attention to every inch of the body, making someone appear larger overall.
Long Skirts Can Make Someone Look Wider
Skirts and dresses can be tricky when it comes to the hem length. It's important to dress appropriately and not show up with a skirt that's too short. But having a tea-length skirt or dress can cause someone's lower half to appear wider.
Avoid skirts and dresses with a hem length just above the ankle.
Skin-Tight Dresses Should Never Be An Option
More often than not, dresses are designed to show off shape. But that doesn't mean that they should be tight everywhere. There's no occasion that calls for skin-tight dresses-- not even nightclubs.
It's especially important to avoid tight dresses that have a pattern or bright colors. That will just multiply the problem!
Full Skirts Are Too Big
If you want to dress to appear slimmer, don't buy a wide skirt! You can never hide weight under big clothing of any kind, it will only make someone appear larger.
In the case of full skirts, the style will make someone's lower half appear wider. Just leave these skirts behind... let it go.
Chunky Plaids Never Lay Right
Plaid is one of those fabrics that's so bold that it needs very careful styling to make work with every day outfits.
Unfortunately, a lot of chunky plaid often misses the mark and ends up looking stiff and unforgiving and drawing attention where you might not want it to.
Be Careful Where That Asymmetrical Shirt Is Hitting You
Asymmetrical shirts are a fun fashion statement. But sometimes they need extra attention.
If you're caught in one without the right undergarment or in a shirt that hits a little too high or low on one side of your chest, sometimes the shirt can look ill-fitting even if it's the right size.
Ankle Wrap Shoes Are A Bad Fad
Don't forget about your footwear choice! And don't always follow the trends. This is especially true with ankle wrap footwear. Experimenting with unique heels might be tempting, but it won't make your appearance any slimmer.
Ankle wrap shoes and even ankle straps on heels can make someone's figure appear shorter, instead of taller.
There Was A Reason We All Stopped Wearing Low Rise Jeans
This trend took the early 2000s and 90s by storm, but there was a reason we all started wearing high-waisted jeans again.
Besides feeling more secure, high-waisted jeans help us define our booties and achieve hourglass shapes. Two things that low-rise jeans just don't usually do.
Chokers Just Close Up Your Neckline
This 90s trend is slowly being brought back into the fold, but chances are it's not doing any of us any favors. Big chunky colored chokers often close up your neckline.
Pay careful attention to what kind of choker necklace you're getting. Often times the thinner metallic ones help add a little bling and trendiness to your outfit without shortening your neck.
Maybe Skip The Tube Top This Summer
Tube tops are a great way to beat the heat, but sometimes they just accentuate the skin beside our underarms and cut off our chests.
A square-necked tank top is a great way to stay cool this summer without drawing attention where you don't want to.
Asymmetrical Necklines
While they're a fun way to dress up any normal shirt, asymmetrical necklines sometimes create an awkward cut across your body which can make your torso appear shorter.
Sometimes symmetrical shirts are the best move.
Cowl Neck Tops Never Quite Lie They Way We Want Them To
Cowl necks are the somewhat free spirited cousin of the turtleneck and just like them, they can often reveal more than we want them to.
All that loose fabric can create the illusion of there being more to someone's body than there actually is.
Ballerina Flats Shouldn't Be Center Stage
Even though they're a crowd favorite, ballerina flats can sometimes start off on the wrong foot.
Since they don't have much of a sole or heel to speak of, they often end up creating a shortening effect on your leg and making your ankle wider than it actually is. It's much better to opt for a pair of sandals with a bit of a wedge to accentuate your height.
Crochet Is A No Way
Crochet adds a nice whimsical and boho vibe to any outfit. But the fabric is much stiffer and looks way stuffier than the carefree lifestyle it's associated with.
Since crochet is so thick, it can often form an unforgiving tube around the body, and fails to accent any of our best features. Best to let the crochet stay at home.
Elastic Waistbands Are Not Your Friend
While they are so so so comfortable, if you're looking for a flattering pant to leave the house with, don't reach for the ones with an elastic waistband.
Oftentimes manufacturers will bunch the fabric up around the waist before sewing the band in, creating pleats or bunching to accommodate for stretching. But often that same technique creates a bubble of air around the mid-section that most people want to avoid creating.
Save The Feathers For The Birds
Don't fly away and buy that feathered shirt just yet.
While very fashion forward, feathered shirts tend to only add volume not shape. And if they're concentrated on the top half of you or on your neckline then you end up creating an illusion those areas are bigger than they are.
Mismatching Patterns Are Too Much
On occasion, mismatching patterns can look good. Light grey on dark grey? Classic. But loud patterns–such as leopard print, plaid, polka-dots, or neon colors–shouldn't be mismatched. At worst, it’s hard to look at, and at best, it’s boring.
It’s no secret that combining patterns doesn’t usually work (unless you’re in a music video). But combining bright shades of the same color can also make you look older. When in doubt, always pair loud colors or patterns with a neutral.
Hot Pink Lipstick
Hot pink lipstick doesn't look great on everyone. It may have looked classy in the twentieth century, but nowadays, we have so many colors of natural lipsticks. Why go for the most obnoxious color?
There are plenty of beautiful pink lipsticks that pop on different skin colors. Hot pink just blinds people, and it looks more like a costume than a fashion statement. As with most timeless makeup, subtle is better (unless it’s classy red lipstick!).
Sheer Tops
Why some stores still sell see-through tops is a mystery. Although sheer tops may seem fun in theory, they're actually a hassle. You have to pick a shirt or tank top to wear under it, which raises the stress level of putting on a shirt.
Why wear a top if it doesn’t cover anything? Fashion aside, clothes are meant to shelter us from the weather. The same goes for white shirts that end up being see-through. They just don’t look good.
Capris
Despite their popularity, Capri pants don't look flattering on anyone. Their design is inherently flawed; they’re not pants, but they’re not shorts, which makes them always look like a mistake. Since they cut off above the ankle, they make peoples’ legs look shorter.
Because they’re a fashion Frankenstein, it’s no secret that Capris are notoriously hard to style. To pull them off, people often resort to a baggy shirt, which makes them look older. Just don’t buy Capris. Capeesh?
Crocs. Enough Said
Despite being invented in 2002, Crocs' best year in sales ended up being in 2018. Our question is: why? Crocs are marketed as functional, comfortable shoes, but they’ve also become a meme because of how ugly they are.
Plus, the largest Croc trend happened in the early 2000s, and many people still think about this era when they see the shoe. During their popularity, kids would get their feet stuck in an elevator, meaning that they’re dangerous, too!
Overly-Thin Eyebrows
In the 1990s, thin eyebrows became the rage. Fashionistas in the punk scene would shave off their eyebrows and draw them back on. But these eyebrows don't look real, and worse, they make you look older.
As we age, our hair thins–including our eyebrows. Thick, bushy eyebrows are back in style, probably because they represent youth. So don’t go overboard with the tweezers, and trust that your natural eyebrow shape is best suited to frame your face.
Applying Too Much Contour
There's a fine line between highlighting your facial features and covering them with too much contour. When contouring is over-done, people can notice it instantly. Although Kim Kardashian and YouTubers may have popularized contouring, it does not look appropriate (or even fashionable) on everyday people.
In short, the "too much makeup" appearance is outdated. It may make you look older or as if you’re struggling to find makeup that matches your skin tone. If you want to contour, do so lightly.
Tying A Flannel Around Your Waist
The 2010s seemed filled with revived '90s trends, one of which is tying flannel shirts around the waist. These usually provided an accent for neutral skin-tight outfits of black workout pants and a nude shirt. But they don’t flatter the hips at all.
Flannel can look nice, but tying it around the waist just for fashion isn’t necessary. It widens the hips and changes a figure from natural to clunky. Either wear the flannel or don’t.
Poofy Teased Hair
Did people tease their hair in the '70s and ’80s? You bet they did! Back then, big hair became a symbol of alternative punk culture. But nowadays, the hairstyle only reminds people of the ’80s. At best, teasing your hair may result in a ’90s do–which is still old!
Teasing and backcombing can also damage your hair because it can rip up your cuticle cells. It’s a recipe for ripping out your hair. Stick to soft, naturally-styled hair.
"Old Lady" Handbags
The style of a purse can age a person. Although vintage handbags can complement a look, "old lady" bags often appear stiff and boring. If your handbag is relatively small, rectangular, and a single color like beige or black, it's probably an “old lady” purse.
Modern handbags look more loose and fun. They may have some creative patchwork or fun accent colors to make them look more youthful. Meanwhile, a boxy, dull purse may make you seem 20 years older.
Foundation That's Too Thick
Although thick foundation can cover any blemish and spot, it's also noticeably overdone. The caky, full-covered foundation dates back to the ’90s when pale skin paired with mauve lipstick. It looks overdone–literally.
Nowadays, natural is always better. Thin foundations match your natural skin tone better and draw less attention. If you can see freckles or moles through your foundation, you’re in the clear. But unless you’re going on the red carpet or TV, skip the thick foundation.
Smoky Eye That's Only Black
Back in the days of Avril Lavigne, punk rockers wore a smoky eye that was only black with all-around black eyeliner. Even Avril has moved on from the all-black smoky eye! The look has "early 2000s edgy teenager" plastered all over it.
Nowadays, people pair their smokey eyes with another color. It could be a bright color on top of the smokey eye or a lighter, sparkly shade in the middle. Either way, it looks much more elegant than all black.
Overly Baggy Jeans
Another trend that started and ended in the '90s: baggy jeans, usually JNCO jeans. Wide, rectangular jeans don’t compliment anyone’s body type. They transform people into a tent. Even back then, they just looked silly.
Today, most jeans–even the wider styles–still show off some natural leg shape. If you look more like a robot than a human wearing pants, that’s a hard "no." There’s a style of jeans for everyone, but none of them are JNCO.
Juicy Couture Anything
Remember when celebrities wore Juicy Couture tracksuits on the daily? Yeah, we do too. The nearly universal fashion trend has disappeared since the early 2000s, and today, they only sell on a discount. Even when one New York fashion director tried to bring them back on the runway, people weren't having it.
The velvety sweatpants and sweatshirts just scream "outdated." The sparkly stripes and bedazzled words on the butt just don’t look great in the 2020s. Although they’re comfy (arguably), they’re a fashion “no.”
Patterned Tights
A relic of the 1960s, patterned tights, are slowly coming back into the public eye with celebrities like Kate Middleton wearing them. Multi-colored tights are a clothing item that looks good in theory, but it doesn't work for everyday life.
Patterned tights are notoriously hard to style. You’d need a neutral dress, and even then, multi-colored tights may look gaudy. Elaborate black lace tights can look good; yellow, red, and blue tights will probably blind anyone who walks by.
Metallic Clothing
The "futuristic" fashion of the 1960s resulted in skin-tight silver clothes. Believe it or not, metallic clothes reappeared on the 2013 runway, and it didn't look much better. Even if it’s not skin-tight, it still looks “bleh.”
The material of metallic clothing just seems so…synthetic. It never curves or wrinkles in the right way, and the reflective surface only distracts from peoples’ natural body shape. You can’t subtly style this clothing, either; it has to dominate the entire look.
Skin-Toned Pantyhose
Nude tights can look great as long as they match your skin tone. If you wear tan hose that are a shade or two darker than your skin tone, you may look like a lot older than you actually are. It's one of those fashion trends that’s reserved for grandmas.
Black, multi-colored, and sheer tights are always in style. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with bare legs.
Incredibly Bulky Necklaces
When heading to a fancy restaurant, a statement necklace can round out the look. But bulky, clunky jewelry doesn't look great outside of royalty or a nice dinner party. It just looks unsophisticated and old.
You can’t go wrong with a smaller, subtler necklace. The jewelry compliments the look, but it doesn’t overtake it. In the same vein, don’t layer too many necklaces, either. That’s a ’70s style that shouldn’t come back in any era.
Glitter, Glitter Everywhere
Glitter on your clothes, your eyes, your face–sounds fun, right? It may have been fun when you were younger, but on adults, the glitter tends to be overkill. Going glitter may seem like you're trying too hard.
Here’s how you know if you’re overdoing the glitter: if an entire article of clothing, from your shirt to your pants, is glittery, you’ve crossed the line. If glitter sprinkles most of your eyes or face, that’s out of fashion.
Shutter Shades
Decades ago, Kanye West popularized shutter shades for seemingly no reason. But the glasses were also in style during the '80s, and before that, in the 1950s. Originally, they were called Venetian blinders, because you can’t see anything while wearing these glasses.
To start: are they glasses? Hardly. Shutter shades are bars over your eyes, which don’t help your eyesight in any way. They don’t look cool, either. They’re awkward all around and should never be sold again.
Shapeless Clothing
The shapeless, baggy dresses of the 1920s have no place in the 2020s. Wearing an over-sized shirt or skirt does nothing to flatter the figure. Inside of hiding less desirable features, shapeless clothing turns you into a blob.
No matter your body shape, a little style goes a long way. Over-sized clothes can make you seem older, larger, and plain lazy. Keep large shirts and dresses as pajamas, but don't wear them as a fashion statement.
Tie-Dye Anything
In 2019, tie-dye returned to the runway to a mixed response. No matter how hard people try to push tie-dye, they can't separate it from an association with hippies. Tie-dye shirts are also a cheap option for broke high schoolers and college students.
In the ’60s and ’70s, tie-dye was viewed as counter-cultural. Today, it’s basic. It’s everywhere, and it rarely looks good. It seems more like a quick DIY project than a thought-out style choice.
Turtlenecks
Turtlenecks have fluctuated in and out of fashion, from the '50s to the ’80s to even the 2010s. But do they ever stop looking stuffy and uptight? Nope, they’re always too much. Scarves and collared shirts can protect your skin against the cold and look better.
Low turtlenecks, which stand up to the middle of the neck, can look nice in certain contexts. But turtlenecks that touch the chin are too much. They look suffocating.
Ugg Boots
Remember when everyone wore Ugg boots? Nowadays, hardly anyone sees another person in Uggs. The shoe has gone in and out of style since the 1980s. If you ask us, the boots should remain out of style. They never looked good in the first place.
Like Crocs, Uggs were designed for comfort, not appearance. But Uggs fail even at that. The flat sole provides no support, and with no circulation, Uggs are a recipe for feet sweat. Just no.
Trucker Hats
Please–anything but trucker hats. We'd rather see a thousand butterfly clips than these caps that have never looked good. These hats, with a mesh back and an obnoxious design on the front, are a fashion nightmare.
If trucker hats look like a company giveaway item, that’s because they were a standard promotional giveaway in the early 2000s. They appear cheap, campy, and bulky because they are cheap, campy, and bulky. Never bring these hats back.
