Tipsheet: Faking It

If your body took a honeymoon before the wedding, try these quick fixes for not-quite-ready arms or almost-there abs.

• Published Spring 2005

1. Initiate Compressions
The right underpinning can hide a multitude of sins, reports Danny Koch, owner of the Town Shop, a lingerie store on the Upper West Side that caters to brides who are experiencing last-minute figure freak-outs. ("It's not unusual for them to rush in on their way to the ceremony," says Koch.) To slim the entire torso, Koch recommends the Body Wrap ($36); for the ultimate in tummy control, Donna Karan's Waist Cinchers ($17.50) come up to just under the bust line. For form-fitting dresses, Spanks' Marry Me girdles ($24) go from hips to knees or ankles to create a slimmer silhouette and eliminate thigh chafing during the walk down the aisle.

2. Give Breasts a Boost
Create the illusion of extra cleavage by contouring the area between your breasts. "The more you darken that bone, the fuller your breasts will look," says Laura Geller, a bridal makeup artist with a studio on the Upper East Side.

3. Sculpt So-So Arms
"The whiter your arms, the larger they look," says Geller. To create an instantly more chiseled effect, have a professional self-tanning treatment. For the smoothest results, book an appointment at a spa or salon where the tanner is either rubbed or sprayed on (but not misted), suggests Geller, who says to aim for a pretty, sun-kissed look that's about two shades darker than your natural color.

4. Stand Corrected
"Holding yourself tall and bringing back your shoulders will help you lean out your look," says Long Island-based trainer James Villepigue, author of the new book The Body Sculpting Bible for Brides: Look Your Best in Your Wedding Dress. But don't jerk yourself upright in a static, rigid position, unless you want to look like you're standing at military attention. Maintain the natural S curve of your spine (slight arch in the lower back, slight rounding of the upper back) and imagine that there's a string attached to your spine coming up from the top of your head, lifting you higher.

5. Raise Yourself to New Heights
The taller you are, the thinner you look, so wear a shoe with at least a bit of a heel, suggests Cynthia Hornblower, executive editor of Brides. To be sure that the only plunge you take on the big day is saying "I do," practice walking in the heels you plan to wear.

6. Get a Glow
Some color on your face complemented by a big smile will always enhance how you look, no matter what shape you're in. "A vibrant cheek color will make you look more radiant," says Geller. Don't be afraid to apply it a bit more heavily; according to Geller, "You lose color more quickly when you're nervous." If you overdo it, soften the area with some loose powder or a tissue.