We’re forever reminded of the importance of a #summerbod. As if billboards and instafeeds chock full of slicked-up six packs weren’t shaming enough, every inch of public greenbelt is awash with bodies that are better than yours come summer.

And it’s hardly surprising many of us are miles from beach body-ready when we couldn’t be bothered to pay for gym membership, let alone spend hours getting to grips with the ‘4 core-building sets crucial for awesome obliques’ (whatever that means).

But there’s a big difference between not bothering and not caring. We’ve got nothing but praise for the man who’s cool with de-shirting regardless of present company – but, for the rest of us, how we look both in and out of our threads is still a top concern.

While we can’t compete with a Groupon voucher for liposuction, we can share the wardrobe tricks to trim the fat. Here’s the skinny.

Back To Black

Black is slimming. You’ve heard it a million times before, and that’s because it’s true.

Yes, believe it or not, your girlfriend’s latest issue of Cosmo wasn’t wrong: all-black ensembles zap the fat. But why is that exactly? Because it hides all the shadows cast by your wobbly bits – if there’s no colour, there’s no contrast.

Just make sure your get-up is all the same saturated shade of black throughout: dull, washed out jeans aren’t only scruffy, they won’t hide that spare tyre either.

Vertical Limit

Vertical lines are the best way to combat the pounds. Stripes, zips and pockets that run vertically draw the eye up and down, helping to create an optical illusion that makes the body appear elongated – and instantly lowers your BMI.

By the same token, steer clear of horizontal lines, which not only make you look larger but stump your height too. (Otherwise known as the Danny DeVito effect.)

Trim The Fat

The garms hanging in your wardrobe aren’t the only fat-shedding weapons at your disposal; there’s another blubber-melting tool in your bathroom cabinet.