20 ways to a perfect bum

1: Improve the appearance of a flabby bottom by body brushing for two minutes each day before showering to increase the flow of lymph. Henrietta Lee, a nutritionist at The Organic Pharmacy in King's Road, London (020 7351 2232) says: 'Your rear can easily become sluggish, so you need to boost it with body brushing and exercise. You should see visible results after three weeks.'

2: Control briefs can give you an instantly slimmer, perter rear - although they look far from glamorous when you're undressed. They also only really work well for smaller sizes, says Jill Kenton, director of royal corset makers Rigby & Peller: 'Above a size 14, there's a limit to what material alone can do.' She recommends control briefs by Barbara of Paris (from £41) or Magic Knickers by Wishes (from £24.95). Available by mail order from Rigby & Peller, 020 7491 2200.

3: Improving your posture is one of the simplest and best ways to look taller and slimmer - and at the same time define your derriere. Alexander Technique practitioner Noel Kingsley says: 'Slouching not only makes your shoulders stoop and your stomach stick out, it can make the muscles around the pelvic area collapse, so your lower body looks far dumpier than it really is.'

He advises visualising your head going upwards and your back lengthening as you go about your everyday tasks. Contact Noel on 020 7491 3505.

4: Emphasising your waist is a great way to slim down the appearance of your bottom - which is why this season's wrap dresses are so flattering. 'Many women make the mistake of wearing a long cardigan or jacket in the hope of covering up their bottom,' says wardrobe profiler Sarah Whittaker (020 7266 9898). 'In fact, they have the opposite effect because anyone looking at you will see a large block of material stretching from your shoulders to your knees.'

5: Square cut jeans will make you look bulkier around the backside - go for a pair cut for women's curves. 'Street by Nolita, which cost around £110 from House of Fraser, and Diesel's Cherone, £130 from Selfridges, are both very flattering,' says Whittaker. 'I recommend them to all my customers.'

6: Pick skirts with a kick in them - such as a flip at the bottom or this season's tulip skirts, which have a fishtail-style panel at the back. They will give you a much slimmer silhouette than a straight skirt.

7: Wear floral and print tops to draw attention to the upper body and away from the lower body, advises Whittaker. 'There's a fantastic range available in the High Street this spring,' she says. 'Whistles, in particular, has a good selection.'

8: Exercise to create longer, leaner muscles rather than the compact ones you will get from a weights work-out, advises Carolan Brown, former fitness trainer to Princess Diana. Carolan, who runs the Soma Centre holistic gym (020 7361 1995) in Kensington, West London, suggests the following exercise:

Lie on your back with your arms stretched above your head. Lift one leg up to the ceiling and lift the arms up to meet it. Keep your stomach tight and exhale as you do so. Inhale as you lower your legs and arms. Repeat on the other side. Repeat ten times.

9: Sitting on your bottom does nothing to improve its shape, says fitness-trainer-tothestars Cornel Chin, author of Exercise For Everyone (£9.99, Quadrille). 'The more you're on your feet and moving around, the better toned your backside will be,' he says.

10: Chin believes you can dramatically improve the appearance of your bottom by incorporating simple exercises into your daily life. 'As you are walking along, make a conscious effort to squeeze alternate buttocks. When your leg goes back, clench the buttock on that side hard. You'll start to see a difference after just ten days,' he says.

11: Another Cornel Chin tip is to walk upstairs two steps at a time. 'Squeeze the buttock of the upper leg as you push down onto the stair and this will engage the deep lying muscle fibres,' he says.

12: When sitting down, use the time to simultaneously clench your buttocks really hard for a slow count of five. Repeat ten times, then do 20 pulses (quick pulsing contractions). Repeat once an hour and you'll soon see dramatic results.

13: Cosmeceuticals guru Danne Montague-King has developed a body sculpting treatment which promises a loss of three inches per leg after five treatments. After buffing, a biofreeze ointment is applied to make the skin go cold, followed by the application of Dannè body sculpting enzyme cream to break down fatty tissues. You are then wrapped up for 35 minutes while the enzyme cream acts to tighten and firm. From £95 for 11/2 hours. Call 0151 348 4490 for your nearest stockist.

14: French cosmetic surgeon Dr Georges Roman has had great success targeting cellulite on thighs and bottoms with his specially developed Mesotherapy vitamin injections. Dr Roman has seen some clients drop a dress size after a course of injections, which improve the metabolism and increase circulation. Call 020 7323 2123.

15: A course of Ultracell massage treatments help tone up a flabby backside. The Ultracell machine transmits an ultrasound wave into the bottom area to break down fatty tissue. From £35 a session. For your nearest salon, call 0870 7777 818.

16: Nutritionist Henrietta Lee says a detoxifying diet will improve the appearance and size of your bottom. She recommends eating fresh fruit and vegetables for a week and cutting out refined carbohydrates, particularly those made from white flour such as pastries, biscuits, white pasta and bread. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol, and drink at least two litres of water a day.

17: Try Wolford 20 Push Up tights (£22) to give the effect of a bottom lift. Jennifer Lopez is reportedly crazy about these tights, which have transparent legs and opaque panties.

18: After your shower, massage-your bottom with rosemary oil, grapefruit oil, or oil of St John's Wort. All are excellent for breaking down fatty tissue. From pharmacists.

19: Avoid salt and refined sugar is key to losing weight off your bottom. While sugar is high in calories, salt puts a strain on your kidneys, leading to water retention and bloating.

20: For home-made pampering treatment, blend half a cup of mustard oil with grated fresh ginger, add two tablespoons of brown sugar and leave for one hour. Then apply to your derriere and scrub with a loofah, followed by a hot and cold shower. This will improve circulation, disperse fatty deposits and leave skin smooth.