17 Clothing Items That Make People Look Larger, Ranked In Order

30 Clothing Items That Make People Look Larger – Avoid These Clothes At All Costs - Brake For It
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30 Clothing Items That Make People Look Larger – Avoid These Clothes At All Costs
Rose Reilly | Trending | 30 Apr 2026
Along with diet and exercise, wearing the right clothing can either help or hinder someone's appearance, especially when it comes to weight. Each season encourages terrible fashion trends that can make someone's figure look shorter, wider, and overall unflattering.
These are the styling mistakes to avoid so the camera won't add ten pounds the next time your friend shares that photo on social media.
Reflective Clothing Makes Everything More Noticeable
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
For special occasions, you may want to wear an outfit with some fun flair, but pass on the reflective materials. Wearing a dress or jacket that is covered in shiny metals or sequins will catch every bit of light, causing the person to look bigger all over.
Flat fabrics are the better option for making the right kind of impression on a big night out.
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The Wrong Undergarment Ruins Your Figure
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Photo by TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic
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Although you might think that no one can see your undergarments, it's true that they affect your shape. Wearing the wrong bra can cause bumps to form on the back and sides, which no one wants!
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Bulging should be avoided at all costs, it's better to find a better-fitting bra. Many stores have sales assistants to help customers find the right one.
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Don't Hide Your Neck With A Turtleneck!
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Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Sunrise Collective
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For a slimmer-looking figure, it's important to show the separation between your face and your shoulders. That means showing your neck!
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The worst thing you could do is cover your neck with a chunky turtleneck that will make it look like your head goes straight into your shoulders. It's best to wear a top that shows at least part of the skin on your chest.
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Leggings With Prints Call A Lot Of Attention
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Photo by SGM/GC Images
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Printed leggings might be a fun temptation, but they won't help you look any slimmer. Wild printed clothing draws attention to every part of your body it covers.
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Especially in the case of tight clothing like leggings-- keep the print at a minimal. Never buy a piece of clothing that is entirely covered in a print if you want to look slim.
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Don't Wear Horizontal Stripes... Just Don't.
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Unsplash/Darya Ivanchuk
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For a slimmer-looking figure, you want to look taller, not wider. So why would you wear horizontal stripes? This fashion mistake is one of the worst on the list.
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Your eyes are drawn to follow the direction of a stripe, so you want the stripes on your clothing to be running up and down, not side to side.
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Jackets Without Shape Aren't Flattering
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Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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There are plenty of jacket options to choose from, so pick one that has some fit and shape to it. Avoid jackets that don't have any contour to them, as they'll leave you looking like one big shape.
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Trying to hide body shape under a big jacket (even worse, one with large pockets!) would be a big mistake.
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Leave Jersey Netting To The Athletes
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Marcus Hessenberg / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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Sports fans might feel nostalgic wearing jerseys or clothing pieces made with jersey netting, but have you seen the stuff? Jersey material falls on every bump and bulge, like holding it under a microscope.
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Jersey fabric accentuates your curves in the wrong way. Even layering this material is a no-no.
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Skinny Jeans Accentuate Everything
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Unsplash/Alyssa Baches
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Any clothing that is too tight won't be flattering to your figure. In the case of skinny jeans, the pants hug every curve of your lower half, which will make any and every muscle look bigger.
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Taking on fashion trends that aren't flattering to your figure won't get you the results you want looking in the mirror.
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Cropped And 3/4 Pants Are The Worst!
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Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
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Cropped pants, or pants that fall halfway between your knee and your ankle have come in and out of style over the decades. It's best to just leave this fashion trend in the past, as it won't help your legs look any slimmer.
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Wearing pants with the 3/4 cut will make thighs look larger than they are.
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Ditch The Puffy Coat
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Let's be honest, who hasn't owned a big puffy coat at one time or another? Whether you thought it was a good deal at Costco or your mother sent you off to play wearing one, it's time to make sure it's out of your closet for good.
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Large puffy jackets increase your overall volume and are not flattering for your figure whatsoever.
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Baggy Clothes Add More Volume
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Unsplash/Hieu Vu Minh
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Some people might think throwing on a hoodie or a large t-shirt might make them look smaller, but in fact, the opposite is true. Baggy clothing adds more volume to your frame, which will always make someone appear heavier than they are.
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It's better to wear clothing that is better fitted to your body.
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Embellishments Pack On The Material
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Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
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Overall, light, fitted materials are the best to wear to avoid making yourself look heavier. The opposite is adding more unnecessary fabric.
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Clothing that has embellishments including ruffles, bows, and large pockets can make a person look bulkier-- and you don't want that. Stick with the small adornments, if any.
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Patterns Don't Belong On Pants
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Unsplash/Amanda Vick
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Patterns are best on blankets and wallpaper... not on your clothes. If you see plaid pants on display at a shop, just keep walking by. The same goes for pinstripe pants, camouflaged pants, or floral patterns.
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Patterns will call attention to every inch of the body, making someone appear larger overall.
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Chunky Heels Can Look Bottom-Heavy
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Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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Yes, even your footwear can have an impact on how slim you look stepping out. Even if they're your favorite color or pattern, it's best to bypass the large, chunky heels at the store.
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Larger size footwear can lead to your calves and overall legs appearing larger, too. Avoid this mistake that will make your overall look bottom-heavy. Remember - large heels, large legs.
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Tight Clothing Makes It Look Like You Can't Fit Into Your Clothes
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Unsplash/Felix Uresti
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Not only is wearing clothing that's a size (or two!) too tight uncomfortable, but it's not flattering either. You won't be doing yourself any favors by wearing a top that's a size too small, or forcing your figure into a pair of jeans that you'll end up with your stomach spilling over.
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An outfit with tight clothing will make you look like you can't fit into your clothes.
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Don't Hide Under Layers
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Someone might think that adding a vest or layering a collared shirt adds texture and might hide a bit of weight, but they'd be wrong. Adding more fabric to an outfit just adds more volume.
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And having too many layers can hide your frame completely, resulting in one large shape that will only make someone look heavier.
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Long Skirts Can Make Someone Look Wider
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