You can go to the gym all the time, eat only green apples, go for a run every morning, and end up with the figure of your dreams…but then you can spoil it all by choosing the wrong outfit. Alternatively, you could have no shortage of imperfections that can be easily hidden by choosing the right clothes.

We at Streetfashionlab put together a selection of highly effective tips to help you look healthier in just two minutes, all by selecting the right thing to wear.

Large squares

Clothes that have a large checkered pattern can completely kill your figure. They look stylish, but they give the impression that you’re several inches wider at the hips. Instead, go for designs with neutral prints or just plain colors. If you really love checkered designs and can’t imagine your wardrobe without them, select items with small rather than large squares.

Horizontal prints

Horizontal prints give the impression of a much larger figure than you actually have. But if you love striped clothing, don’t despair. All you need to do is change their direction: vertical stripes achieve the opposite, making you look taller and slimmer. Alternatively, you can always opt for a classic combination of different colored items.

Too much decoration

Endless ruffles, folds, and frills add at least a couple of sizes to your appearance. Try to choose clothing with the minimal amount of decorations, such as a zip-up skirt which will lengthen your figure or vertically striped clothing as described above.

Large prints with horizontal elements

Large prints make you look heavier and wider, whilst sandals with long laces going up your legs make you appear shorter. On the other hand, a sharp neckline and a slit in your skirt can make you look taller. Take care to select things made with just one color, and choose shoes that are close to your skin tone. This will also help you look taller and slimmer.

A boat neckline

A boat neckline on a dress can give the impression that you’re a lot heavier than you really are, whereas a V-shaped neckline with cleavage can make you look truly elegant. Remember how we advised you to avoid clothing with additional folds? Pay attention to how much wider the waist appears in the left-hand image here.

Wide horizontal stripes

The only thing worse than horizontal stripes on clothing is wide and bright horizontal stripes. The kind of skirt seen in the left-hand picture is the best outfit…if your goal is to turn an elegant figure into a shapeless sack. A dress with a single color, a tiny print, and a wide black belt at the waist, on the other hand, will emphasize your best features and make you look much slimmer.

Bright colors

Bright colors make you look larger to a much greater extent than more subtle tones do. Take a look at these images of two identical striped tops — the only difference between them is their color. On the left, the girl’s waist and shoulders appear much fuller than on the right, where the stripes of her top are much paler. The lower halves of the two outfits also differ — black usually makes someone look slimmer, but the design can ruin the effect. The wide, dress-like pants on the left make the girl look much larger compared to the effect of her outfit on the right.

Bonus: perfect jeans

To pick out the perfect pair of jeans, you need to keep a few things in mind:

There is a perfect cut for every body type.
Go a size smaller than is comfortable in the store. Otherwise, the jeans will stretch and ruin your look.
Dark colors will always look more sophisticated and open more options outfit-wise.
Check the stitching, pockets, and stretch of the fabric, even if you shop in a high-end store.