Jeans: The Secret to a Nice Bum

In all my time, I've found one thing to be true - it's so damn hard to find just the perfect pair of jeans. I have found one little tidbit of information which has been helpful to me, and hopefully to you as well.

So girls, do you ever try on a pair of jeans that look stunning, gorgeous - Beautiful - from the front. And then the dreaded moment comes when you turn around, and you then realize that they make your butt look... somewhat... not so good.

We've all heard about vertical lines, and low-rise, and big pockets, and pocket placement, and all those things. But one thing I've never heard anyone mention is that beautiful little stitch that sits just above the back pockets.

Not all jeans have it, but the jeans that will make your backside look amazing, they DO.
Have a look at the jeans above ( from Miss Sixty ). One small little thing makes a big difference, and it's visible on this pair. Notice the black seam above the pockets? This seam, when done correctly, can give you the butt you want. Things to note:

1. Direction and Curve: A good seam points down in the middle, and goes back up when it moves toward your hips, like an arrow. The ones that go straight across aren't so useful. This creates roundness to the top of your butt.
   
2. Placement: A good seam isn't too close to the belt buckles. One that's down just above the pockets is best. This creates the illusion of a short, perky bum, instead of a long sort of sagging one.

So, remember, if you want the look of a cute, round, perky bum, fresh from doing 200 lunges and squats at the gym, try this style. See what you think.

PS. Super skinny girls who already have a tiny bum can go ahead and disregard this. ;)

Looking Slim Before You Are

While you're on your quest to look slimmer, you might as well give yourself a boost until you look good in anything you put on. Here are some tried and true tips to look like a million bucks - even if you don't usually.

1. Black. Dark colors don't reflect as much light, so people just see less of you. And sometimes, less is more. If your lower body is your problem area, wear a dark skirt of pants, and a light top, to offset that area even more. You can switch this up as needed.

2. Lines. Everyone knowns about vertical lines. But there are some other lines that work well too. Shirts with a seam that goes across the waist accentuate the thinnest part of your torso, making you appear all over thinner. Also, jeans that have some stitching above the back pockets, but under the belt loops, can lift your bum, making it look shorter and rounder.

3. Skirt length. If you're sensitive about the size of your lower half, a short skirt will make your problem twice as bad. Go for a nice tapered pencil skirt that ends just at your knee. Too far below the knee will make your calves seem stocky and your legs seem short. Just covering your kneecap will make your legs seem longest.

4. Tightness. Don't wear tight clothes, hoping they will pull everything in. They will only make what fat you do have (even in the smallest amounts) bulge out wherever it can find a way. Girls who wear tight pants and have muffin tops are just gross. Wear clothes that fit you. A looser fitting top will make a seemingly smaller waist. Same goes for wider sleeves.

5. Heels. Heels in the right style can help you, but too many girls wear the wrong heels, and just end up looking worse. A few styles to avoid are shoes with ankle straps, which make your legs look shorter, chunky block heels, and spike heels, which if you're carrying extra pounds, will only make your calves and thighs look that make wider. Knee-height high heel boots are good for double-duty action, because they add height and conceal. Just make sure you go for pointed toe, as a longer foot creates the illusion of a slimmer calve.

6. Posture. The best advice I can give you is to stand up straight. Everyone looks better, healthier, taller, slimmer and more confident with good posture.