I went on a winter vacation in Europe with family friends. I looked like a bag lady with all those layers of clothing, even though at that time, I was underweight. My friend looked fabulous. Slim, elegant and she was as warm as a toast.

Her secret?

Tip No. 1 : Wear thermal underwear that fits like a glove, is well ventilated yet insulates so well without creating additional bulk. You could skip a layer or 2 of clothing in a mild winter and get away with it. The fewer layers you wear, the slimmer you look. It should be tight fitting. A bonus of tight winter underwear is that it acts as a sort of girdle to hold in the saggy bits of fat, giving you a slimmer silhuette.

Tip No. 2 : If you are going to wear a dress or skirt, make your legs look slimmer by wearing wool stockings. Choose one in black or a very dark color where possible, for that slimming effect.

Tip No. 3 : Wear fewer layers made of warmer fabrics. Winter is the time to take out your cashmere and wear it. Wear wool or silk instead of thick layers of cotton.

Tip No. 4 : Wear coats that hint at your figure. A too tight coat with unsightly bulges makes you look fatter. A coat that fits well flatters your figure.

Tip No. 5 : Keep warm with a gorgeous pink pashmina shawl. It doesn't add bulk to your frame, instead, it perks up your look beautifully. Better than a necklace in that besides making you look great, it keeps you warm.