5 Ways To Not Look Fat After 40

Let's face it; if you are over 40 you're probably not going to have a figure like Heidi Klum's. But, even if you do have a few boomer bulges here and there, there are ways of dressing that can actually make you look slimmer.

Here are 5 Ways to Avoid Looking Fat after 40

1. Steer clear of too many Bold Patterns.

Large, bold patterns are what's in style this summer and if you're thin as a toothpick you can pull this look off, but for boomer babes with a little bit of beef you've got to be careful or you'll look like a giant walking bolt of fabric. This is especially true for shorter full figured women who can look totally overpowered by a big print. Instead of wearing a head-to-toe pattern, try pairing a solid pant or skirt with a pattern on top. You'll still get the bold pattern vibe but you'll look much more chic.

2. Avoid Puffy Sleeves

Put a short puffy sleeve on a puffy 40+ arm and you'll end up looking like a cream puff.
Not only does a sleeve like this add weight, it's a very cutesy, young look that just doesn't cut it, when you really need to look all grown-up. Puff sleeves may look delicate on the hanger, but all that gathering right at a big flabby point on your arm just adds bulk.

3. Stick to Lighter Colored Shoes

If your calves and ankles are on the heavy side and you don't want to say bye bye to dresses, then be sure to stick to lighter colored shoes. Calves and ankles look heavier in any shoe that is darker than your skin tone. Also, cute little ankle straps may be tempting this summer, but they will make your calves and ankles look like tree stumps! Large calves and ankles look slimmer when ankle straps are avoided.

4. Cool it when Combining Colors

A garden bouquet of bright bold colors is the trend this spring. Fashionistas are mixing and matching colors creating some pretty wild combinations. But too many bright colors in one outfit can chop up your figure, making you look short and stout. Be careful not to get carried away with this color-blocking trend. Instead, pick a couple of your new favorite shades and pair them with a neutral like white or taupe for a more sophisticated, streamlined look.

5. Lose the Embellishment

Sometimes it's hard to resist a pretty pair of jeans with lots of detail and pretty embellishment. But, rhinestones, embroidery, fancy pockets, studs and other busy details will only emphasize a part of the body you may not want to emphasize. If you are conscious of your middle age spread, don't point a spotlight on it by wearing jeans with fancy front pockets or an unusual waistband. If you have a little extra junk in your trunk, avoid too much embellishment around back. The simpler the better, if you don't want to draw attention to an area.

© 2009, Boland-Tyler Productions. All rights reserved. You may use this article on your web site so long as the article and byline are reprinted intact and with all links made live.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the e-book, The Glam Plan ~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous & Tweak Your Chic ~ Mother of the Bride, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic™, Image make-over program. For more tips visit their blog and sign-up for their newsletter at http://www.FabulousAfter40.com