Author dishes long and short of slimming summer style

NEW YORK — You have no willpower to give up ice cream, and you're too lazy to get to the gym. With summer right around the corner, you're running out of time — or so you thought.

Danica Lo, author of "How Not to Look Fat," says there are ways you can maximize your slimming potential without crash diets, exercising like crazy or resolving to spend the rest of your life in jeans and baggy T-shirts (those only make you look bigger).

In her new book, the New York Post columnist and former plus-size model gives the skinny on how to do wonders with your figure, from how to stand (pigeon-toed) to the most flattering hairstyles, clothing and even sunglasses.

"I think women should dress the way their bodies really are — not the way they wish their bodies were," says Lo. "That's why you see so many fashion mistakes, so many women dressing so they look bigger than they actually are."

So with the sun — and the skin — coming out, Lo discusses summer clothes that are most flattering on big women.

SHORTS: "I know a lot of women want to wear shorts and miniskirts for the summer, but I kind of advise against shorts in general," says Lo. "There are very few people who can actually pull off wearing them." But it's 95 degrees! OK, so if you insist on wearing shorts, look for a pair that end at mid- or upper thigh, where that curve is on your inner thigh. You never want to wear something that ends at the fattest part of your body. No curve? Choose a length that ends between 2 to 4 ½ inches from your crotch.

CAPRI PANTS: Capri pants are everywhere this spring. But these pants that stop in between the shin and the ankle are horrible for almost everyone, says Lo. "If you look at pictures of supermodels, super-skinny, size 0, 6 feet tall, they will look a little bit shorter and wider wearing capri pants on the runway than they do wearing full-length trousers," she says.

SUNDRESSES: Warm weather means sundresses, which means sleeveless, spaghetti straps or no straps at all. But what if your arms are so flabby they flap in the wind? Wear a cardigan, says Lo. Just make sure the cardigan is a lighter color than the dress. You will look like you are sinking away from the cardigan, and you'll look slimmer.

Choose a drop-waist dress to elongate your torso — one that hits right at the knee. Her recommendation: a simple black sheath dress. She says it's body-skimming sleek, and perfect for nearly every occasion.

SKIRTS: There's been a renaissance of skirts — bubble skirts, peasant skirts, boho skirts. But unless you are slender on top, as in no chest, skinny arms, (think Audrey Hepburn), you may want to think twice before pulling on that skirt.

"Even Pamela Anderson could never wear a pouffy skirt," says Lo. "She would look incredibly funny because she would look big on top and big on bottom." Lo suggests a linen, knee-length skirt.

PANTS: Yes, skinny pants are trendy. But the models who are wearing them in the magazines are all super-skinny, says Lo. Some of the larger models, as in size 4, don't look that good in skinny pants. Women should stick to boot-cut, in which the calf length and width are longer and wider than the thigh area.

As for low-rise, there's nothing more unattractive than a stomach spilling over the top of a pair of pants. "It's hard to find pants that are not low-rise," says Lo. "But more and more you'll find things that are midrise, that fall midway between the belly button and the hip." Pick dark colors, she says. Light colors will make your rear stand out.

TOPS: Spaghetti straps and strapless tops are not the most flattering on a big-chested woman because their boobs spill over the side. Not to mention you can't wear a bra with them. Scoop necks overemphasize the roundness of the bosom, and mock turtlenecks aren't flattering — period.

For the summer, Lo prefers halter tops because they create an hourglass figure. Again, there's that bra problem. But Lo says there are companies that sell tops with built-in underwire up to an HH cup.

SHOES: Wear heels, especially if you have a big butt. The rule is the chunkier the leg, the chunkier the heel. Pointed toes are best. Rounded toes are second-best.

Don't wear shoes with a square toe, says Lo. (You don't want your feet looking like blocks, do you?) Ankle straps are bad. Your leg will look wider and fatter. "Think of your leg as a line. You want the line to be as long and unbroken as possible," says Lo.

Can't part with the flip-flops or flats? Choose something that is cut lower in the front.