( InStyle.com ) -- Style-maker , TV host and opinionated fashionista Carson Kressley explains how to give yourself a complete makeover -- inside and out . Style-maker Carson Kressley spills the naked truth on giving yourself a mental makeover . Minimize the negative . As Coco Chanel said , `` Fashion is architecture : It 's a matter of proportions . '' In other words : No matter which part of your body you dislike , there 's a clever way to divert the eye elsewhere . Try different styles and employ horizontal ( widening ) , vertical ( elongating ) and diagonal ( slimming ) lines as necessary . Venture out of your comfort zone . `` Many women get used to dressing their body a certain way because they think it 's the only thing that works for them , '' says Kressley . Find a boutique or department store with well-trained salespeople and try on three styles you 've never worn . It might be a fabric such as jersey that you 've always deemed too clingy or an Empire-waist camisole that you 're convinced looks too young . Not every experiment will be a success , but even one new style or color will prove that there are more ways than you thought to look your best . Do n't be ruled by your insecurities . If you 've been avoiding the beach or missing out on parties because you 're afraid of being the largest person there , grab a friend and go to the very place that incites terror -- just be sure you 're wearing an amazing outfit . Avoid a blackout . `` Have you ever seen a happy goth ? '' muses Kressley . `` I think everyone needs color to feel good . '' Too many women rely on head-to-toe black as a form of camouflage . But any hue can be slimming if worn monochromatically -- so instead of black , reach for plum , gray or chocolate brown . Clean out your closet . Whether you 're holding on to clothes that are too small because you hope you 'll fit into them someday , or clothes that are too big for fear you 'll grow back into them , you 're keeping past wounds open . `` Old clothes stop you from living in the present , '' says Kressley . `` They reinforce what you used to look like . '' Get rid of anything you have n't worn in two years and replace it with something new that makes you feel pretty . And while you 're out shopping , have a house-cleaner swing by for good measure . Write yourself a love note . Some women are so obsessed with their hips that they fail to notice their flat tummy . Remind yourself of your virtues by writing a note that says something like `` Hey , you have a great chest ! '' Tack it to the bathroom mirror so you 'll see it in the morning and before bedtime . `` We 're so trained to look for the negative that we need a physical reminder of the positive , '' explains Kressley . Have a princess moment . Treating yourself to a massage , a body exfoliation , a professional blow-out , a brow shaping or a mani-pedi can elevate your mood by affirming to yourself that you 're worth the splurge . Get naked . Some women on Kressley 's show are so self-conscious about their bodies that they 're reluctant to be naked around their husbands . That discomfort affects how they feel when dressed too . Before you can move as if you own the room , you 'll have to be at ease inside your skin , and spending time in the buff can help . One idea : Take a bath with the ( gasp ! ) lights on -- no candles . `` Feeling comfortable with your body alone is the first step to feeling comfortable with your body around others , '' says Kressley . If all else fails , fake it . One of Kressley 's favorite mantras is `` looking cute is feeling cute . '' So if you 're having a low day , force yourself to go through the motions . Put on your makeup , do your hair , wear a great outfit . Sometimes faking it can give you enough of a boost to lift you out of the doldrums . `` Feeling pretty , '' Kressley says , `` changes your whole outlook because you feel good about yourself . '' Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. All rights reserved .
Fashionista Carson Kressley : Women get stuck in fashion ruts . Well-trained salespeople can help you try new styles , colors . Old clothes reinforce old looks ; toss anything you have n't worn in 2 years . Remind yourself of good things about your body .