On top of keeping you cool in our tropical humidity, lightweight and flowy fabrics also promise to not cling to your figure. This allows you to appear slimmer without having to feel uncomfortable.

Skirt, $39, from The Editor’s Market.

In the same way that horizontal stripes make you appear bigger, vertical stripes help you look slimmer and taller. The latter is an added bonus, but the point here is that the vertical stripes pull the eye down, which make your thighs seem smaller.

Pants, $44, from Pomelo.

What A-line skirts help you do is to keep your waist looking small, while skimming past your hips and thighs as it subtly flares out. This basically gives you the appearance of a slimmer waistline.

Skirt, $1,551, from THE OUTNET x Roksanda.

Another way to flatter your thighs is to choose something that’s cut higher on your waist. It makes your hips and thighs look smaller, and as a bonus, it also makes your legs look super long. Yay!

Pants, $89.90, from Mango.

A trapeze silhouette gently billows out from you shoulder, so essentially, your dress isn’t clinging to any part of your body. If you’re afraid of looking too swamped by fabric, choose one that cuts off just below the knee and wear with heels so you still keep ample skin showing.

Dress, $119, from Zara.

Skinny jeans are great to look at, but they get uncomfortable and worn out quickly no thanks to thigh chafing. So the next time you go jeans shopping, consider the girlfriend fit.

The girlfriend fit is an update to the boyfriend fit, except that it’s cut slightly slimmer so you don’t look like you’re swimming in denim material. It also has a higher waistline, and doesn’t look as baggy around the ankles. What you get essentially is a loose jeans cut that strikes a balance between skinny and palazzo.

Jeans, $54.95, from H&M.

Wide-leg pants provide visual balance and gives your legs ample room to breathe and feel comfortable. The key to making wide-leg pants work is finding one that is cut higher up on the waist, and features a cropped length.

Pants, $89.90, from Topshop.

You’ve probably heard that darker colours are more slimming, and it applies in the same way in this situation. Choosing a duller or darker coloured bottom allows you to have the appearance of smaller hips and thighs. And just because you’re wearing a darker bottom, doesn’t mean your outfit needs to be blah! Dress it up with a colourful top or a pair of statement heels.

Jumpsuit, $34, from Zalora.