Sometimes it doesn't matter how much you workout during the holidays, you still put those dreaded holiday pounds on. Alcohol, cookies, big holiday meals, candy canes and more just add up. But just because you put a couple extra holiday pounds on doesn't mean you can't look great at all of your parties this season.The trick to looking pretty and slim despite a little extra weight is picking the right dress that accentuates your great assets while minimizing your "problem" areas. I've found that most women want to make their middle look smaller because it is one of the first places a few extra pounds show up.
Wrap it Up
If you want to whittle away your middle with a dress, a wrap dress is a great option as is anything peplum. The way a wrap dress cinches and ties around your waist creates the illusion that it's smaller.
Pretty Peplum
Peplum is not only a huge trend right now, but it is great for making your waist and hips look smaller -- the flair that begins just below the smallest part of your waist also creates the illusion of a smaller middle. The dress pictured above (which also comes in black) is such a pretty peplum dress that is easy to accessorize (Express.com; $98)
Color Blocking
Another big trend that makes you appear slimmer all over is color blocking. The kind of color blocking to look for in a party dress is one color along the middle of the dress with another color in strips down the sides of the dress. This also creates the illusion of a small waist since it draws the eye in.
Cold Shoulders
Also, dresses that accentuate your shoulders can make your waist look slimmer. When your shoulders look broader, the smaller you waist will appear. Check out the pretty party dresses I found below that are all very affordable.
Accessorize ItAs you may have noticed, many of these dresses are neutral colors. Black and white dresses are easy to wear over and over again because accessories can make the dress look different each time you wear them. Plus, wearing all one color is slimming. Make your legs look miles long with either bare legs and nude pumps that don't have ankle straps -- those shorten your legs. Or, since it is pretty cold out there, don some black tights, opaque or sheer, with black heels. Once again, wearing all one color on your legs makes them appear longer.
Would you wear any of these dresses for your upcoming holiday parties?
- Nic
