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It happens every year.

Sneaky pounds from holiday treats and family dinners are starting to gather around our middles — and other not-so-flattering places.

You can’t wish away the weight overnight. but you can, for the time being, do a little camouflage.

Local retail professionals offer some time-worn tips to help hide the holiday bulk.

Wear the right size

Wear clothes that fit you well, no matter your size. Too many women attach themselves to a size they think they should be, not the size that fits best.

Jodi Skorupski, a wardrobe stylist in metro Detroit, suggests buying staples, such as jeans, in your current size — even if you plan on losing weight.

“Wearing clothes that are the right size for you will always make you look thinner than clothes that are either too tight or too big,” Skorupski said.

Lori Ann Vought, store manager of DOTS in Fort Gratiot, said wearing clothes that are a size too small “are the biggest giveaway.”

“You’ve got to be comfortable,” she said. “The tighter the clothes you wear, that’s what makes you look bad.”

Comfortable clothes designed to make you look thin — such as apparel with tummy-control panels — are popular, said Suzanne Kuhn of Suzanne Ladies Fashions in Kimball Township.

“Women are dressing for comfort today,” Kuhn said. “Everything’s stretch. they want to look good but they want to feel good.”

Layer up

Multiple layers of clothing are key. A form-fitting tank or camisole underneath your sweater, blouse or shirt will slim your midsection, said Peggy Smith of the Shop the Shop in Algonac.

Vought agrees: “Camis that are stretch Lycra — they’re my little secret.”

Long, flowy tops also help to disguise your waistline. Garments with shape that skim the body instead of clinging to it are important wardrobe staples, Skorupski said.

Vought suggests sparkly, sequined tops to distract the eye from problem areas.

Vertical stripes also are great camouflage, Skorupski said.

The magic of a jacket

Stylists and retail professionals agree: A jacket is one of the most important wardrobe essentials to help hide excess weight.

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“It’s nice to layer things, especially if you don’t want an obvious roll to show,” Smith said.

When worn over multiple layers, wrinkles and bumps disappear from view.

The material is important. Kuhn suggests picking lighter-weight materials because heavy fabrics such as wools and tweeds add bulk and pounds.

Watch your proportions

In addition to making sure your clothes fit well, they should be proportioned to the shape of your body.

“Find the right cut for your shape — especially petite sizes,” Smith said.

Shorter women should wear shorter skirts so their legs aren’t lost in the fabric, said Janet Lindsay of Marcile’s Fashions and Bridals in Richmond.

The same goes for jackets and blazers for petite women — they should end at the waist, not their hips.

Taller women can wear longer skirts and patterns, as flowy clothes tend to flatter their figure, Lindsay said.

Shapewear: do you dare?

Spandex shapewear are favorites of some women. described as panty hose without the feet, with some styles covering the entire torso, shape wear is said to smooth your silhouette.

“It takes 10 pounds off the way you look!” Smith said.

However, if you’re not comfortable in the body-hugging under-attire, retailers suggest you avoid it.

“If you don’t feel comfortable with it, you’re going to feel like you’re stuffed in,” Lindsay said. “Some fabrics, you can’t hide it no matterwhat.”

Accessorize

Fun accessories help to distract from problem areas.

Annette Tituch, sales associate with the Fashion Bug in New Baltimore, suggests scarves and long, layered necklaces.

Lindsay said wearing flashy earrings draws the eye away from the center.

Fashion scarves, Vought said, are a dramatic way to bring color to your face. “They are so pretty and take away from looking at other parts of your body,” she said.

Stay away from heavy knit scarves, Skorupski said, which add unnecessary bulk.

Things to avoid

Belts worn too high on the body, such as at the rib cage, accentuate your new curves too much, Vought said. if you choose to wear a belt, keep it at your hips.

Avoid horizontal stripes, which can make you look wider. Tituch’s old standby is to wear slimming black.

Large patterns add poundage and bulk, Lindsay said, as do form-fitting outfits made of stretchy materials.

Skorupski also suggests avoiding large, oversized sweaters and sweat shirts.

Even though they may be comfortable, Skorupski said they make women look heavier.

Hair

Simply changing your hairstyle can help.

Hannah Hering, a stylist at Salon PiZazz! in Port Huron, said the best style to make you appear thinner is one that fits your face shape.

Women with round faces should stay away from curly hair. and a light shade “will give the illusion of a bigger face,” Hering said.

Women with blond hair should keep it straight, Hering said, and have it treated for low lights.

Long, straightened hair in darker tones is the best way to elongate the face.

“I have people come in, and they’re down about their weight. once they leave a salon, they feel so much better about themselves,” Hering said.

Experts’ tips help mask those extra holiday pounds