Use color and line and design techniques to create optical illusions that add some inches to your height and take some pounds off your weight.

Wearing one block color from head to toe is a sure way to get you looking taller and leaner as it creates one vertical line with no interruptions. Darker colors are a bonus as they are slimming as well.

But you don’t need to be the man in black to achieve that. Using tone on tone color (Combining 2 or 3 colors of the same shade and tone) has the same effect. An example would be a navy or dark grey shirt with dark denim pants, brown belt, navy socks and dark brown or black shoes (or the same combination in light colors like beige, white, cream, etc…). Changing the color on one of the mentioned items to a lighter or brighter shade will break the look as it will make the viewer’s eye stop right where you have introduced that pop color.

Running one dark color on the outside with a light color inside, like in a suit: Dark navy or grey jacket and trousers with a light blue shirt, is a slimming trick, that many people don’t notice. You can do the same with your casual outfits, like teaming a dark blazer with your jean and a light shirt or polo or tee. Or you can do the opposite, wearing one dark color on the inside with a lighter jacket (dark shirt and jeans and a lighter tan or cream blazer). Always place the lighter colors on top and avoid wearing light pants or shoes if you want to look taller!

Another line and design technique is pattern. Stripes are widely used on men’s shirts and ties and so learn how to spot those that are slimming for you. The rule is that vertical stripes are always more lengthening and slimming than horizontal. The tip here is the size of the stripe and the spacing in between: The thinner the stripe and the closer the pattern, the taller and leaner you look! Avoid thick stripes and high contrasts.

Lines are formed through the seams, stitches and pockets as well. Watch out for those design elements and opt for vertical whenever possible.

And last, watch your posture. Stand tall and you will look tall!