FITHIAN PRESS


THE MAGIC MAKEOVER

Thinning Magic Tricks
Restyling Barbara Bush

If I could choose one woman in the U.S. to make over instantly, I'd choose Barbara Bush (a sweet, charming lady whom I admire). But she's famous for the choker of pearls that she wears to hide neck wrinkles. The choker makes her large frame and thick neck look even thicker. If she'd wear long ropes of pearls, she'd look thinner--instantly.

Mrs. Bush also loves print dresses and suits with pleated skirts--both of which tend to make her look like a sofa instead of the regal lady she is. I would never have her wear double-breasted outfits of any kind; always single-breasted with just a hint of fitting at the waist to give her more shape.

These tips for the ex-first lady would not compromise the unique "style" that she's developed through the years; they would only enhance that style-and slim her body.

You too can look thinner by following these ten instant steps.

Ten Instant Steps to Looking Thinner

  1. Shoulder Pads If you have narrow shoulders and wide hips (eggplant shape) always use shoulder pads in blouses and jackets.
  2. Color Column One stroke of color from shoulder to shoes makes you appear taller and thinner. Wear dark or monochromatic colors.
  3. Horizontal vs. Vertical Stripes This is an old tactic to give the illusion of slimness, but you still see overweight women wearing broad horizontal stripes.
  4. Push Up Sleeves This is an optical illusion that makes partially bare arms appear slimmer than ones in long sleeves. It shaves off five pounds from your silhouette.
  5. Jacket Length Longer jackets that cover your hips and bottom fade away pounds.
  6. Skirt Length Never let the hemline of your skirt end at the heaviest part of your leg.
  7. Pants The narrower the pants, the wider the hips. Straight or wider pant legs narrow the hips.
  8. Belts Drape a chain belt around your waist. Diagonal lines slim.
  9. Choker Necklaces Chokers (as we noted with Barbara Bush) can make you shorter and wider. Long necklaces lengthen and narrow your face, neck, and body.
  10. Strappy Shoes Shoes with straps will make your legs look larger. A pump will slim them, especially ones with a low vamp.

Youthful Magic Tricks
Flossie Smedly-Headly-Aging By Denial

The society doyenne--let's call her Flossie Smedly-Headly--is aging by denial. Her jet-black hair has gray roots, her cupid's bow mouth (in garish red lipstick) is right out of silent films, and her fussy clothes make her look like she's going to the homecoming prom. She wears too many jewels to charity bashes-a Tiffany display counter's worth of them. Flossie proves the fact that money doesn't make you well dressed. Underneath that clown's mask of makeup and plastic hair is a woman of sixty trying to look like she did in college. It just doesn't work.

But you can appear younger than you are and be more vibrant by following these ten instant steps.

Ten Instant Steps to Looking Younger

  1. Flattering Colors Wear colors that flatter your skin tone. Your wrinkles will be less distinct, your skin a more youthful color. Even your teeth look whiter, your eyes brighter. It's like getting an instant face lift.
  2. For Younger Eyes Absolutely no frosted shadows or blush if you have crepey lids. It's like advertising your age lines.
  3. Curling Eyelashes Use an eyelash curler for an instant eye lift.
  4. Wear Contemporary Makeup Throw away that orange lip gloss and that blue eye shadow that you have loved for the last fifteen years.
  5. Hair Color If you were a brunette, your natural silver color should be striking. If allowing your hair to gray is not your thing, be sure to avoid a brassy mane of blond locks or a very dark color. Those will only make your wrinkles show more. Try highlighting, reverse streaking, or soft color.
  6. Get a Contemporary Hairstyle Maturity doesn't demand short "helmet head" hair. Take off years with an up-to-date hairstyle, one created especially for your face, neck, and body.
  7. Be in Style Wear clothes that show you're a woman of today-not ten-year-old "classics." Don't always wear pants; try a skirt. It will make you feel and look younger.
  8. Revitalize Your Skirt Length Mid-calf lengths look dowdy. Wear skirts above the knee, just below the knee, boot length, or all the way to the floor.
  9. Grandma Shoes Don't wear matronly shoes. There are lots of smart, comfortable styles available.
  10. Change Your Attitude Age is an attitude. Be sure your attitude is young. Be flexible. Rigidity spells A-G-E.

Confidence Magic Tricks
Sophia Loren's Aura of Self-Confidence

Sophia Loren admits that as a young girl she was known as "Toothpick." She once said, "I was thin as a beanpole, tumbling over myself like a newborn colt." When she began her movie career as a teenager, she was so tall and awkward she was nicknamed "Giraffe." After an early screen test, Loren was told there was no way the camera could make her look good. She was also asked to have her nose "trimmed off a bit."

But the girl within didn't see what the camera or the mirror saw. In her book, Women & Beauty, Loren wrote, "A journalist once said of me that my mouth was too large, my nose too long, my chin and lips too broad, and yet the sum of my parts is somehow beautiful." Although she did not consider herself beautiful, she was aware of her allure. She decided to learn how to create illusions to enhance her face and figure, and she had the confidence to make the changes.

You too can appear confident by following these ten steps.

Ten Instant Steps to Being Confident

  1. The Fig Leaf Clasping your hands together in front of you like a fig leaf tells everyone that, at that moment, you are uncom-fortable and don't know what to do with your hands. Let them hang (or place them in your pockets).
  2. Walk Tall Stand up straight! Don't slump, even if you are very tall. Good posture makes people feel you have something to say.
  3. A Firm Handshake Don't offer a "dead fish" handshake. Grasp the hand of everyone you meet firmly. Offer your full hand, not just the fingers.
  4. Maintain Eye Contact Dropping your eyes or staring at someone's earlobe means you're not comfortable. Having eye-to-eye contact means you have self-esteem.
  5. The Confident Walk Head up, eyes forward, arms swinging naturally at your sides, a pleasant I'm-all-here look on your face.
  6. Sit Like a Queen When you sit, anchor one foot on the floor and tuck the other foot behind it at the ankle. It looks elegant and will keep you from fidgeting.
  7. Wear a Hat Hats attract attention. When you wear a hat people assume you are confident. You will even get better service.
  8. Get in Style Putting on the right makeup, having the right hair-style, and wearing the right colors not only make you look like a million, but give you the aura that "this lady has it all together."
  9. Forget the Flaws If you don't like your nose, abhor your toes, think your ears look like Dumbo's, then don't tell anyone. Never broadcast what you perceive to be your flaws. If you don't point them out, the odds are no one will notice.
  10. Be Positive A positive attitude makes people want to be with you because you project an aura of confidence.

The Magic Makeover
Tricks for Looking Thinner, Younger, and
More Confident--Instantly
Lynda Millner, Drawings by Andrea

176 pages, paperback, illustrated, $14.95

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