If you have a bulging tummy, it can be hard to find flattering clothes. If you are embarrassed by your belly sticking out, you are not alone. Most women have this issue. Whether you have extra weight around your belly or bloating, there are tricks to dress to hide your tummy. Best of all, these styling tricks are flattering and can make you look look slim.
As a stylist, I help my clients hide large tummies all the time! Here are my seven 7 pro tips to dress to hide your tummy for all of us real women out there!
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7 Ways To Dress to Hide Your Tummy
Minimizing the appearance of your tummy can be daunting if you don’t know how to dress. In some cases, certain clothes may enhance belly bulge! Here are some pro tips to dress to hide your tummy and improve your confidence.
1. The Wrap Dress
The wrap dress is the ultimate style for women of all sizes who want to minimize their tummy. The wrap style draws the eye in, creating an illusion of a waist. The draping and gathers of the wrap style are made to hide your tummy, The wrap dress is a feminine flattering style, and is very forgiving. I have this off the shoulder sweater wrap dress by Viottiset in two colors.
2. High Waisted Leggings
If you have a tummy, you know the pains of trying to wear low or regular-waisted pants. To avoid the “muffin top”, choose high-waisted pants. High-waisted pants offer tummy control and can slim a bulging stomach. Choose dark-colored high-waisted pants when dressing to hide your tummy. My go-to is this high-waisted wide legging by Promover. I always recommend it to clients.
3. Peplum Tops
The peplum style creates a waist while hiding your tummy. It creates an effortlessly feminine silhouette. This polo style peplum top by Kistore is a versatile item to wear days you want to hide a bloated tummy!
4. Tunic Tops
Tunic tops offer comfort when dressing to hide your tummy. Always wear a tunic top with high-waisted pants or a skirt to avoid that unflattering tummy bulge. This chic oversized tunic top by Ebifin will cover all your trouble zones.
5. Empire Waist Dress
The waist of an empire waist dress sits much higher than the natural waistline. This creates room for the tummy and avoids cutting a wide stomach off at an unflattering spot. I love this empire waist maxi dress by Auselily. It’s my go to all summer long!
6. The A-Line Dress
The A-line dress was made to hide the tummy area. It’s a comfortable silhouette that enhances the waist while minimizing the lower tummy bulge. If you suffer from bloating, the A-line dress should be in your wardrobe. This flutter sleave A-line dress by Yathon is flattering and feminine.
7. Tummy Control Undergarments
If you want to dress to hide your tummy, do not leave home without a tummy control undergarment. You don’t need to wear anything super restrictive and uncomfortable. You can find “light control” undergarments that are comfortable for all-day wear. Shapemints high waisted shapewear will surely do the trick!
Pro-Tips to Hide Your Tummy
There are many reasons why women may have protruding stomachs. For some, it’s due to bloating. For others, it’s to gain weight due to having a baby or aging. Now that you know the basic styles to use to dress to hide your tummy, here are some additional pro tips you’ll want to keep in mind:
Use Prints and Patterns Strategically
- Avoid using large prints at the tummy area as this will accentuate the size
- Avoid using horizontal stripes over the stomach area, as this will cause it to look wider
Use Color to Minimize
- Wearing dark colors over your tummy will create an illusion of a smaller stomach
- Wear brighter colors in other areas of the body to deflect attention from the tummy area
Be Mindful of Belts
- If wearing a belt, choose a thin belt that is the same color as your outfit. This will minimize the appearance of your tummy
Use Layering Camouflage
This is a styling secret that never fails. Wear clothes in pairs of “threes” to camouflage your tummy. Wear a long cardigan over a top and pants. Wear a long scarf or pashmina over a sweater and pants. You can also wear a blazer over a shirt, with pants.
Wear A-Symmetrical Clothing
- Asymmetrical tops and dress hemlines trick the eye to move away from the tummy area and break up the wide space at the belly. This is a great hack to dress to hide your tummy!
Color Block
- Color Blocking can be used to move the eye away from the tummy. Use color blocking strategically to hide the tummy area. Choose a color-blocking pattern that has a dark color at the waist while having lighter colors on the top and lower portions of the body.
Use Ruching
- Ruching creates soft gathers at the tummy which camouflages a building stomach.
Use Three Quarter Sleeve Length
- Three-quarter sleeve length prevents the appearance of bulk and volume at the waistline. This is an illusion that stylists love to use for a slimmer waistline. Long sleeves add bulk to the waistline, which will make your tummy look fuller.
Dressing Comfortably and Confidently
Regardless of your shape and size, all women have some part of their body they want to minimize. It’s easy to focus on the things you don’t like but, remember all the beautiful features you can leverage! Enhance your assets such as legs, breasts, arms, and even your booty!
Learning to dress for your body type is all about feeling confident and comfortable in your skin. Most women will have a protruding tummy at some point in their lives.
These styling tips for real women will help enhance your waistline and give the illusion of a flatter tummy. Know that you know how to dress to hide your tummy, you can be confident every day!
