The tricks women use to look thinner (and often all at once)

When it comes to looking thinner, it seems that some women will do anything to shift a few pounds – except go on a diet.
Two-thirds of women feel they could do with losing weight but don’t have the time or the inclination to diet, a study found.
Instead they will try tricks such as wearing black, applying fake tan and carrying an oversized handbag in an effort to look slimmer

But the most popular cheat was wearing control underwear.
Other tricks include donning stilettos to add height and wearing big sunglasses to make their face look smaller, the survey of 2,000 women found
Long tops to cover rolls of fat, big belts and high-waisted trousers are also worn by many to make themselves appear slimmer. Nearly 90 per cent of the females who took part in the study said they use such tricks.
Four in ten ladies said they own shape-wear underwear that holds you in and flatters your shape.
While a similar number said they would rather use clever make-up and fashion techniques than invest their precious time in the latest fad diet.
The study carried out by online retailer Marisota also revealed 11 per cent of women use excess make-up to draw attention away from their body.

More unconventional tricks were wearing a padded bra to give the illusion of a big bust and a small waist, constantly breathing in and trying to continually stand-up straight
Coleen Nolan, brand ambassador for Marisota said: "All women seem to have certain ways to dress and style themselves to make them look slimmer.

'And it's only natural that we want to accentuate our good bits and try to disguise the parts of our body we are not entirely happy with.
'Most women know what suits them and can dress accordingly to their shape and size, but a few of the tricks in this poll are bound to help.
'Wearing heels, putting your hair up and wearing underwear that emphasises your figure are all known ways to elongate your figure and look slimmer.'
Shockingly the results showed that more than a third of women said they like socialising with friends that are bigger than them so they feel better about themselves.
And the poll also found one in five women said certain techniques in the way they dressed enabled them not to have to worry about dieting.
Two thirds felt they could do with losing a few pounds but don't have the time or the inclination to diet.
Therefore 84 per cent felt that dressing in a way that flattered their shape and using a few diet cheats like wearing black and adding a big belt could instantly take the pounds off.
And 38 per cent said they would rather use clever make-up and fashion techniques than invest their precious time in the latest fad diet.
Of the women polled, 39 per cent said they like to wear form fitting clothes that highlight their curves, but a more reserved 31 per cent said they tended to opt for baggy clothes to hide their shape.
Twenty seven per cent said they have bought dresses that are too small just so they could say they fitted in a certain size.

Although a more logical two-thirds said it would make no sense to invest in clothes that were too tight.
Four in ten ladies said they own shape-wear underwear that holds you in and flatters your shape

But a crafty 22 per cent of those said they keep schtum about wearing it to give the impression they are slimmer than they actually are.
Eighteen per cent said the underwear works so well they don't bother dieting anymore.
When asked if they look their slimmest naked or dressed, 44 per cent of females said it was when they were dressed up in all their finery.
Coleen Nolan added: "This research shows some of the lengths women go to to look as good as they can.
'You have to appreciate women's honesty when they claim to have gone out with certain friends because it makes them feel slimmer.
'Whether you pile your hair-up to feel thinner or lather on fake tan to slim down, everyone has tricks up their sleeve to look good, but clever underwear is making it easier than ever for ladies to feel instantly slimmer.'