Transforming the straight lines of a man’s body into the graceful curves of a woman is essential to success as a crossdresser. Many crossdressers obsess over breast shapes and cleavage, but defining the waist is even more important.

A small waist can dramatically enhance your image when you dress up. Studies have shown that the greater the difference between a woman’s waist and hips, the more attractive she is considered to be.

Creating a waistline can be challenging for crossdressers, but it CAN be done. Obviously, you can’t create a wasp waist from a beer belly (you have to lose weight for that), but the good news is that there are some quick fixes that will instantly shrink your waistline.

Here are 4 secrets to a slimmer waist when you get dressed:

1. Wear a waist cincher.

Corsets are uncomfortable and impractical. Waist cinchers, on the other hand, are designed to reduce your waist while allowing you to breathe.

If you have an instinct, look for plus size shapewear online or at a department store. The best waist cinchers have plastic boning for additional shaping and can take several inches off your waist.

2. Improve your posture.

Most of us have poor posture from slumping over computers all day. Well, there’s no point in dressing up in your best cross-dressing gear if you’re going to slouch over and let your belly hang out!

Good posture, on the other hand, can instantly take 10 pounds off your waist. Stand with your chest up, shoulders back, and belly tucked in. This can make a huge difference to your overall shape!

3. Put on a belt.

Belts, especially if they are wide, can act as waist cinchers if you wear them snug enough. Just not too tight! There’s nothing worse than seeing two big lumps of fat sticking out of the sides of your belt.

Belts also define your waist by drawing your eye inward, creating the illusion of a smaller waist. Try to stick to black or brown belts as dark colors also make an area look smaller.

4. Make your hips look bigger.

Your waist size is not as important as your overall proportions. The larger your hips are, the smaller your waist will appear.

Padded panties can give you more curves, but you can also make your hips look bigger by wearing a full skirt. Look for skirts with pleats or gathers around the hips to balance your proportions and make your waist look smaller by comparison.