How to Look Curvier as a Skinny Girl

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Achieving a thicker silhouette with a slim body

Co-authored by Souad Gharib

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 References

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Choosing Clothes

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Clothing to Avoid

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Exercising

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Having a slim figure is something many girls desire. However, if you are naturally skinny, at some point you have probably wondered how you’d look with a different figure. Perhaps you want to look like that curvy movie star or celebrity you admire. Fortunately, creating more curves can be as simple as getting dressed.

Things You Should Know

Wear shapewear to accentuate your curves, and opt for shirts or blouses that add material to your torso, like peplum tops, boatnecks, or cowl necks.
Wear looser clothing to thicken your silhouette, like boot-cut pants, flared skirts, or flowy dresses.
Use exercise to fill out your figure. Perform squats to build your backside, and use chest weights to widen your torso.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing the Right Clothes

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1
Wear shape enhancing undergarments. You can easily create instant curves with underwear that doubles as shape-wear.
- Push-up and padded bras enhance the bust and give it a fuller appearance.
- Look for shape-wear for the lower body that has padding in the hips or rear to create curves in those areas.
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Choose flattering tops. The right shirt or blouse can add fullness to the bust and hip areas while minimizing your waistline so that you appear more curvy.
- Peplum tops are fitted at the waist, but flare out at the hip. These tops are an easy way to achieve curvier hips.^{[1]
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- Boatneck and off-the-shoulder tops draw the eyes out and help create the illusion of an hourglass figure.^{[2]
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- Tops with cowl necks or draping in front can add fullness to the bust area.^{[3]
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- Corset style tops create an hourglass shape by accentuating the bust and hips while minimizing the waist.^{[4]
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Tailored jackets are cut to be more narrow at the waist. They help define the waist and create an hourglass shape.^{[5]
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Research source} For the best results, wear the jacket over a more fitted top that isn't too bulky and button the jacket in the middle to nip in the waist.
Pants, skirts, and shorts that come up higher tend to sit at the smallest part of the waist and make this area look smaller. In contrast, a smaller waistline makes the bust and hips appear fuller, creating an hourglass figure.
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Try bootcut jeans or pants. Pants and jeans that flare out at the bottom create fullness and help minimize a too-slim appearance.^{[6]
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- Detailing on the back pockets, like sequins or embroidery, can also create a fuller looking backside.^{[7]
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Fuller skirts and dresses that flare out from the waist can help create the impression of curvier hips. Details like pleating are another way to add fullness to the hips.
Wrap dresses tend to make the waist look smaller, which makes the chest and hip areas appear larger.^{[8]
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Research source} This is another great way of creating a curvier appearance.
Illusion dresses are usually a light or bright color in the front with darker colors on the sides. This color scheme is sometimes also referred to as color blocking.^{[9]
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Research source} The dark panels of color on the side will draw the eye in toward the middle and help create the look of an hourglass.
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Add a belt. Wearing a belt at the natural waist is a great way to create a curvier appearance. The belt will highlight your small waist and make your chest and hip areas appear fuller by comparison.
- Skinny belts work best to minimize the waistline and create an hourglass shape.
- Experiment with wearing a belt over everything from a dress to a slim fitting sweater or tunic top.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding the Wrong Clothes

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Baggy clothes are generally not flattering on any figure. They might partially hide a slim figure, but they will not create a curvier appearance.
The longer, full sleeves on these shirts can overwhelm a slim figure. They also draw the eyes away from the bust and waist, making it difficult to achieve an hourglass look.
Tube tops draw attention to the chest. If you consider yours to be small, a tube top will make that more obvious.
Tops and dresses with skinny spaghetti straps tend to emphasize the chest area. If you aren’t as curvy as you’d like, the spaghetti straps will only highlight that.
Pencil skirts are slim-fitting and become more narrow at the bottom. These skirts can make you appear more slim when you are trying to achieve the opposite effect.
Whether you have slim legs or thicker ones, skinny pants will make that more obvious.^{[10]
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Research source} If your legs are on the slim side and you want to appear curvier, skinny jeans and leggings might not be the way to go.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Exercising to Create Curves

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Squats are an excellent exercise for building up the backside and helping you fill out those skinny jeans.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Souad Gharib
Exercise & Wellness Specialist

Expert Interview. 8 July 2021.}
On an incline bench, you can use a dumbbells or a bar with weights to target the upper chest area. While you will not grow more breast tissue, you can build up the muscles behind the breast tissue and make the chest appear larger.^{[13]
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The oblique muscles are located at the side of your abdominals. When you perform criss-cross or bicycle crunches and other exercises that target the obliques, you can achieve a smaller waistline. A smaller waist helps create an hourglass appearance.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What workouts help enhance curves?

Souad Gharib
Women's Exercise Specialist
Souad Gharib is a Exercise & Wellness Specialist based in the United Kingdom. She is the Founder of Female Trainer, a boutique women's gym based in West London, United Kingdom. Souad specializes in helping women reach their goals through exercise, nutrition, and counseling. Female Trainer offers personalized training sessions delivered by Souad and her experienced team of female trainers. In addition to in-person training, she has also created an online coaching program, offering tailored fitness programs and guidance to women worldwide. Her unique contributions to women's health and fitness have been featured in several online publications, including Savoir Flair, The Independent, and Yahoo UK.

Souad Gharib

Women's Exercise Specialist

Expert Answer

Lifting weights builds lean muscle mass, which can help accentuate your curves. You can also focus on hip thrusts, squats, lunges, and deadlifts to help build your glutes.

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How do I gain weight?

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Eat carb-dense foods, like bread, and protein-rich food, like turkey. These will add more fat to your body, and with a good exercise routine, this will help.

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How do I get a more curvy appearance without getting a big stomach?

Community Answer

In order to do that, you'll have to exercise, get plastic surgery, or wear shaping undergarments. For exercises, do squats and pushups to target the bum and chest. I don't recommend plastic surgery. Try wearing a push-up bra and padded underwear.

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Tips

Dresses and tops with fun, bright prints or abstract designs add visual interest and can help your figure look less slim.^{[15]
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Using clothing to add fullness to the chest and hip areas, while minimizing the waistline, is an easy way to create the illusion of an hourglass figure.

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If you choose to create curves through exercise, work with a trainer or coach who can teach you proper form.

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