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9 Things That Make You Look Slimmer

Camouflage a few extra pounds with these sneaky style tricks

Lois Joy Johnson,

AARP

Published August 13, 2025

a collage of people modeling slimming outfits with arrows showing how they slim the figure

(From left) Find flattering clothes that emphasize your assets, like: Anne Klein Women’s Four-Button Vest in White Dove; Old Navy Women Crepe Button Down Top in Clove; Lane Bryant Shirred-Shoulder Smocked-Waist Midi Dress in Ela Flora.

AARP (Macy’s, Old Navy, Lane Bryant)

Summer is a very social season, and also a superhot one. Two perfect reasons for more barbecues, ice cream, chips, sodas and margaritas, and exercising a lot less, or so many women say. Getting dressed in anything more than a swimsuit, loose sundress, or elastic waist pants can be a shock. Buttons don’t close, zippers don’t zip, and even last year’s tees and leggings feel tighter. Do not worry. As a beauty and style editor and personal shopper for women over 50, I hear these concerns all the time. Here’s how to look trimmer, slimmer and more stylish, starting today:

(From left) Jockey Generation Women’s Ultralight Smoothing Cooling No-Chafe Slipshorts in Beige; Spanx SuperSmooth Essential Tank in Smoke; Bali Women’s Easylite Tank DF0057 in Black.

AARP (Target, Spanx, Macy’s)

1. Cut the jiggle with shapewear “lite.”

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I’ve said this before: You will look 10 times slimmer and firmer if any fleshy or bouncy bits are not being squeezed. For many women, loose, soft, skin — OK, let’s call it what it is, flab — around the bra and the waistband is the problem. It can make a few extra pounds look like even more.

This is not a heads-up to wear maximum-hold shapewear 24/7. That’s honestly a special-occasions-only situation. However, light-control shapewear can give you a smoother, sleeker everyday look. Wide-strap tanks like Spanx SuperSmooth Essential Tank in Very Black, Champagne Beige, Smoke or Cafe Au Lait ($48, spanx.com); Bali Women’s Easylite Tank DF0057 in Black or Nude ($44, macys.com), with removable cups; and Soma Enbliss Lightweight Smoothing Tank in Warm Amber, Black or Bright White ($54, soma.com) gently iron out the torso so you look toned under tees and thin tops.

For confidence under breezy skirts, A-line dresses and even light wide-leg pants, try a light-shaping brief, like Jockey Generation Women’s Ultralight Smoothing Cooling No-Chafe Slipshorts in Beige or Black ($16, target.com), instead of underwear. You’ll feel held in just enough not to jiggle.

people modeling shirts with v-shaped necklines

(From left) Old Navy Women Crepe Button Down Top in Clove; J. Jill Pima 3/4-Sleeve V-Neck Tee in Navy Blue; Croft & Barrow Women’s Elbow-Sleeve Splitneck Top in Blue Soft Stripe.

AARP (Old Navy, J. Jill, Kohl’s)

2. Make V-necklines your go-to.

That queen of necklines, the V-neck, gives whatever you wear a slim head start. But not all Vs are equal. Basic ones like the J.Jill Pima 3/4-Sleeve V-Neck Tee in Navy Blue, Black or Pink Punch ($49, jjill.com) create the illusion of a longer neck and torso; wider and deeper Vs do that and more. Wide, broad Vs (even shallow ones) that reveal more of your collarbones also balance width at the hips and thighs. Deeper Vs give a larger chest separation and lift. Don’t get too extreme, though. If you’re showing cleavage, your low V has gone too far.

Good examples are a deep V, like the Banana Republic Women Balloon-Sleeve Cotton Poplin Popover Top in White or Black ($75, bananarepublic.gap.com), and a wide and deep V, like the Old Navy Women Crepe Button Down Top in White Floral, Black Jack or Clove ($40, oldnavy.gap.com).

The best runner-up to a V is a split-neck, like Croft & Barrow Women’s Elbow-Sleeve Splitneck Top in Fresh Blue or Blue Soft Stripe ($18, kohls.com), which crosses a modified V with an elegant, neck-extending boatneck.

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people modeling dark wash jeans and button-down shirts

(From left) J. Crew Factory Double-Gauze Button-Up Shirt in Seaport Blue; Banana Republic Factory Women’s Kick-Flare High-Rise Cropped Jean in Dark Wash; Old Navy Button Down Boyfriend Shirt in Black; Gap Women Curvy High Rise Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans in Black Wash.

AARP (J. Crew Factory, Banana Republic Factory, Old Navy, Gap)

3. Wear one color head to toe.

You’ll get the sleekest look by keeping tops and bottoms in the same color family and intensity — a near match. Go for minimal contrast between top and bottom. Inky, dark black still rules the dress-slim monochromatic look. A duo like the Old Navy Oversized Button-Down Boyfriend Shirt in Black Jack ($26, oldnavy.gap.com) and Gap Women Curvy High Rise Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans in Black Wash ($80, gap.com) is the easiest way for most mature women to pull together a one-color look.

The illusion also works with any color you prefer to black. Blue is the runner-up. Choose any shade of blue jeans and pair them with a tonal-match top. A duo like the Banana Republic Factory Women’s Kick-Flare High-Rise Cropped Jean in Dark Wash ($40, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com) and J.Crew Factory Double-Gauze Button-Up Shirt in Seaport Blue ($45, factory.jcrew.com) brings a similar dress-slim punch.

(From left) Everlane Women The Gauze Smock Dress in Navy, Madewell Women Smocked Puff-Sleeve Dress in Floral in Saylor Floral Light Pool; Loft Garden Clip Smocked Midi Dress in Sailor Navy; Lane Bryant Shirred-Shoulder Smocked-Waist Midi Dress in Ela Flora.

AARP (Everlane, Madewell, Loft, Lane Bryant)

4. Show the best, hide the rest in a smocked dress.

Here’s a new solution. Body-friendly smocking is back. A variation on shirring (where fabric is gathered in tiny folds), it features minuscule pleats in stitched-down rows to give the waist or entire bodice of a dress a body-hugging fit, only with comfy stretch and elasticity. You get to gently define your shape waist-up and hide the rest, waist-down, under a flowy A-line midi or maxi skirt.

For those wanting to conceal a belly bulge or extra pounds at the hips, thighs and rear, these dresses are a one-and-done alternative to separates. You can try the Lane Bryant Shirred-Shoulder Smocked-Waist Midi Dress in Ela Flora ($57, lanebryant.com) with an elastic waist and a slightly more structured V-neck top, or one with a full smocked bodice, like the Loft Garden Clip Smocked Midi Dress in Sailor Navy ($66, loft.com) or the Madewell Women Smocked Puff-Sleeve Dress in Floral in Saylor Floral Light Pool ($90, madewell.com) — both with sleeves — or the Everlane Women Gauze Smock Dress in Navy or Carob Brown/Black ($83, everlane.com) as a sleeveless option.

three pairs of sandals with chunky heels

(From left) Gap Women Block Heel Sandals in Ivory Beige; Journee Shilin Women’s Slip On Dress Sandals in Red; Bella Vita Mariella Espadrille Wedge Sandal in Black.

AARP (Gap, Kohl’s, DSW)

5. Add some height.

Emphasizing the vertical to minimize the horizontal is a dress-slim motto. That used to mean “wear heels.” However, most women over 50 wisely live in flats now. This is where a pair of low heels can be a wardrobe boost, with just enough legginess to elongate your silhouette. A heel height of 2 inches maximum is ideal for minimizing foot and back stress.

Take a look at a wedge like the Bella Vita Mariella Espadrille Wedge Sandal in Black, Taupe or Dark Brown ($85, dsw.com); a block heel like Journee Shilin Women’s Slip On Dress Sandals in Red, Beige or Black ($86, kohls.com) or Gap Women Block Heel Sandals in Ivory Beige or Tomato Red ($40-$45, gap.com); and a sturdy kitten heel like Bandolino Melvana Kitten Heel Mules in Black or Cream ($61, zappos.com) for inspiration.

people modeling outfits that add volume below the waistline

(From left) Donna Karan New York Women’s A-Line Button Down Poplin Tunic in Cream; Old Navy Women Smocked Midi Skirt in Black Jack; J. Crew Factory Button-Shoulder Tie-Waist Knit Mixy Dress in Berry.

AARP (Macy’s, Old Navy, J. Crew Factory)

6. Wear volume where you need it most.

Most women don’t gain weight evenly. The extra pounds go straight to their top or their bottom. All you must do is decide where extra roominess will do your body the most good and then choose clothes that enhance your proportions. This eliminates the possibility of too much all-over volume.

If you’re a below-the-waist gainer whose weight goes straight to your hips, thighs and derriere, stick to A-line skirts, fit-and-flare dresses and wide-leg pants (not skinny jeans, narrow pants, leggings and pencil skirts). Good choices for you include the Old Navy Women Smocked Midi Skirt in Black Jack ($24, oldnavy.gap.com); Loft Pleated Pull On Culottes in Texture in Black ($45, loft.com); and the J.Crew Factory Women’s Button-Shoulder Tie-Waist Knit Mixy Dress in Berry or Black ($60, factory.jcrew.com).

If you’re an above-the-waist gainer whose weight goes to your bust and midriff, opt for relaxed, untucked tops, tunics (both structured and unstructured) and oversized or boyfriend button-downs. For a polished look, try the Donna Karan New York Women’s A-Line Button Down Poplin Tunic in Cream or Black ($119, macys.com).

7. Pair black pants with a statement top.

This tip lets you manipulate the clothes you already own like a stylist. Simply wear black where you don’t want attention, and a statement color or print where you do. Black’s superpower is blanking out size, making things look smaller than they actually are. Wear it wherever you want to diminish extra pounds and bulges.

Color attracts the eye and holds it there; prints attract attention while blurring the bulges away. Both create a focal point. Try head-turners like the Ann Taylor Paisley Boatneck Sweater in Night Sky ($149, anntaylor.com), a light cotton pullover you can start wearing now and on into fall (it’s amazing with black pants!) or the Kiyonna Women Plus-Size Promenade Jersey Top in Ruby Rendezvous ($68, macys.com), with a belly-blasting, peplum-like design, with any black pants; or a statement skirt like the J.Crew Factory Drop-Waist Eyelet Midi Skirt in Bright Grotto ($65, factory.jcrew.com) with any black top.

(From left) Lauren Ralph Lauren Women’s Charm Crosshatch Leather Belt in Black, Lauren Tan and Birch Tan; Banana Republic Factory Leather Red Skinny Belt in Red Chakra.

AARP (Macy’s, 3; Banana Republic Factory)

8. Suggest a waist.

Adding a belt is a simple way to restore a sense of shape, even if weight gain is giving your torso a boxy look. If you love the looser, more relaxed look of oversized button-downs and tiered dresses, just add a belt to indicate there’s still a body beneath. A skinny belt like the Lauren Ralph Lauren Women’s Charm Crosshatch Leather Belt in Black, Lauren Tan or Birch Tan ($50, macys.com) or the Banana Republic Factory Leather Red Skinny Belt in Red Chakra ($35, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com) is more flattering here than a wide one. You’re suggesting a waist, not cinching one. Sling it on over long cardigans, dusters or even blazers to provide a slight indent — just enough to establish a curve between your bust and hips.

people modeling structured blazers and a vest

(From left) Simply Vera Vera Wang Linen Roll-Tab Blazer in Black and White Knight; Anne Klein Women’s Four-Button Vest in White Dove.

AARP (Kohl’s, 2; Macy’s)

9. Throw on a tailored blazer or vest.

Women over 50 have relied on a tailored jacket’s structure and sharp lines forever … or at least since the ’80s. It firms up curves, hides extra pounds and gives a little edge to soft or casual pieces. Right now, a lightweight style like Simply Vera Vera Wang Linen Roll-Tab Blazer in White Knight or Black ($65, kohls.com) or J. Crew Factory Women Cotton Herringbone One-Button Blazer in Baltic Blue Ivory or Pack Brown Ivory ($98, factory.jcrew.com ), is chic, not stuffy, and pairs with anything from a flowy dress to cargos to linen pull-on pants.

For another twist, try a sleeveless tailored vest like Anne Klein Women’s Four-Button Vest in White Dove ($77, macys.com). Go bare-armed if yours are toned (it suggests everything you’re not revealing is trim, too), or put it over a long-sleeved tee for a layered effect.

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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