Top Tip – If you’re short on time then avoid hair products which list ‘oil’ high up on their ingredients as they tend to add to blow drying times, soft-mist leave in conditioners are a quicker option.

                                                                      

Most of us would like to look a little taller and slimmer and whilst we can all lose a few pounds there’s not an awful lot we can do about our height. These days women are loathe to take the uncomfortable and long-term damage – causing route of always wearing high heels, but we can all achieve the appearance of a taller, slimmer figure by choosing our clothes carefully. Here are a few tips to try next time you are choosing an outfit.

• Wearing a slightly fitted dress over boot-cut trousers will instantly slim curves and draw the eye to the length of the body – especially effective if you use one colour from head to toe. • Choose a long length necklace and long dangly ear-rings to elongate the neck and torso. • If you are traditionally pear-shaped wear plain black boot-cut or wider leg trousers with a vivid coloured top to focus attention away from lower half. lime green or cerise are excellent colours to draw the attention to the face. • Single breasted jackets are more slimming than double breasted types and jackets without reveres worn with a really long silk scarf will elongate the body. • If you are petite don’t go for sloppy-Joe type clothes that will always swamp what figure you have and make you appear shorter. For casual wear try shorter, square-cut t-shirts and sweat pants that have a slimmer leg. • Avoid trousers with pleated fronts or pockets as these will add inches to your middle. Double jersey is an excellent fabric for slimming and lengthening the look of the leg. Choose a variety with a deep elasticised waistband to wear under a longer length top that falls away from the bust-line and skims the hips to avoid drawing attention to the midriff.   And when you’ve sorted your clothes don’t forget that hairstyles can also do a lot for our figure. If your face and body are slightly rounded don’t go for a bobbed style which will give you a monkish appearance. Flick hair out away from the jaw line to slim the face. To add height and slim the figure instantly, try piling your hair on top of your head loosely and then pinning. Straight away you will emphasize the neck and jaw line with a lower cut top to expose the décolleté area you will appear to have gained several inches.