3 Style Mistakes That Make You Look Heavier

Clothes should make you look great—no matter what your size—but choosing pieces with certain design elements can add visual poundage. Don't just avoid these mistakes—run as fast as you can away from them, and go put on something fabulous instead.

Wearing Menswear Made For Men
Menswear pieces (like pantsuits, button-downs, hoodies, and crewneck tees) can be stunning—when tailored properly for the female shape. Try an actual men's T-shirt, though, and you'll soon see that men's clothing is designed for men's bodies. And men tend to not have breasts, hips, and bottoms. (OK, technically they do, but they're definitely not the same as ours.)

Wearing Poor-Quality Pieces 
Who needs scratchy fabric, sloppy finishes, or crappy trims? You deserve better. This isn't a problem found with just less-expensive fashion, either. Poorly designed, low-quality clothing can be found at almost every price point—so be on the lookout.

Wearing Fitted Pieces That Don't Fit
Straining over the bust, collapsing at the shoulders, and puckering at the armhole are all signs that a piece doesn't fit. The best way to avoid this issue is to try everything on and get to know your local tailor. Also keep in mind: If the garment looks bad on the model, it's probably going to look even worse in real life. If all the pinning, fluffing, and primping that goes on at every photo shoot, runway show, and red-carpet event can't keep a garment from looking terrible on the professional, it's unlikely to look better on you.