Cut, cling management, and cammo. Also? A bra that fits right, keeps my boobs on the front of my body without letting them brush my arms, and undies that don't create any lines.
A top that is straight, skims my squashy bits and hits at or above my happy place (on me, about the level of my pelvic bone or right where my legs join my torso at the highest point, which, given that I have a short torso, are spots very close to each other). A top that is slightly A-line. A long necklace, a flattering neckline, a good armhole. Bottoms that come up higher. I almost never buy petite pants, I buy regular ones and hem them, to get the extra bit of rise because it is more flattering to my middle. I have some magic ponte leggings with a three inch wide textured elastic band, and I would cheerfully clone them.
Today I have on a tucked top (generally not a tucker) with a blazer over it. The blazer is cammo for the squishy bits, which because of the structure of the jacket, it skims over. A longer cardigan or jacket over an untucked but somewhat more fitted inner layer is also flattering. I am a sleeve pusher-upper or roller, which visually subtracts my arms from my middle and makes me look slimmer.
