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What to wear if you have a big stomach?


Having a big or prominent stomach can make getting dressed feel like a challenge. The wrong styles can make your midsection look larger, while the right styles can help minimize and balance out your shape. By choosing flattering fabrics, cuts, patterns and colors, you can create outfits that look great and help you feel confident. This article will provide tips, advice and outfit ideas to help you dress to flatter your stomach.

What causes a big stomach?

There are several potential reasons why someone may have a big or protruding stomach:

  • Weight gain – Overall weight gain can lead to increased fat deposits around the midsection.
  • Bloating – Digestive issues like constipation, food sensitivities and water retention can cause temporary abdominal bloating.
  • Weak muscles – Weak abdominal muscles can cause the belly to protrude due to lack of support.
  • Pregnancy – A growing baby bump leads to abdominal expansion.
  • Medical conditions – Some medical conditions like endometriosis or ovarian cysts can cause abdominal swelling and distention.
  • Genetics – Some body types are predisposed to carrying weight in the midsection rather than hips and thighs.

Regardless of the cause, there are steps you can take to dress in a flattering way for your body type. The key is to create balance, support and proportion in your look.

Tops and shirts

Choosing the right tops and shirts can instantly help minimize the look of your stomach. Here are some tips:

  • Flowy, loose and boxy fits – Avoid form-fitting or tight tops, which cling to the midsection. Instead opt for loose, flowy shirts and blouses in soft fabrics like jersey. Boxier “boyfriend fit” button downs can also hide the stomach.
  • Longer lengths and high-low hems – Look for tops that extend past the hips or upper thigh to provide more coverage and proportion. A shirt with a curved or high-low hem is great for covering the front stomach area.
  • Dark colors – Solid dark tops in black, navy, olive green or dark purple help camouflage and slim the appearance of the midsection.
  • Vertical details – Look for tops with vertical stripes, colorblocking and details like pleats or ruching down the center. This draws the eyes up and down rather than highlighting the width of the stomach.
  • Peplum shape – A peplum top has a short flared flap or ruffle along the waistline or hips. This detail minimizes the stomach by providing more coverage and balance.

Avoid boxy cuts, horizontal stripes, tight waists and cropped lengths, as those tend to make the stomach area more prominent.

Dresses and jumpsuits

Dresses and jumpsuits can be trickier if you have a large stomach. Look for these features to flatter your shape:

  • Wrap or faux wrap styles – Wrap dresses and tops with a cross-over V-neckline are extremely flattering for minimizing the stomach. The diagonal ruching is slimming.
  • Empire waists – A dress with a high empire waist hits right under the bust, flowing over the stomach area. This balances and conceals the midsection.
  • A-line or trapeze cuts – Avoid clingy sheaths and pencil skirts. An A-line dress or trapeze style provides more room through the stomach and hips.
  • Ruching and draping – Subtle gathered details or draping across the stomach create flattering dimension to skim over, rather than cling to, problem areas.
  • Dark colors and bold prints – Solid darker colors and eye-catching prints draw attention upwards and can minimize the look of the stomach.

Stay away from anything too tight, especially around the waist. Fuller trapeze and babydoll styles are much more figure-forgiving.

Bottoms

With the right bottoms, you can balance out a larger stomach and create a streamlined silhouette:

  • Higher waists – Look for pants, skirts and shorts that sit at or above your natural waist, rather than low on the hips. This provides more coverage and support.
  • Wide waistbands – A wide, thick waistband will smooth over the stomach area better than a narrow cinched waistband.
  • Stretch fabrics – Bottoms cut from spandex/jersey blends or materials with at least 2-3% spandex move with your body and don’t dig in or pinch.
  • Straight, wide or boot cut legs – Avoid skinny jeans, which cling to every lump and bump. Straight legs, boot cuts and wider flared pants balance out the hips and stomach.
  • Front pleats or flats – Pleated pants and flat front trousers camouflage the stomach better than ones with darts, seams and stitching.
  • Dark and solid colors – As with tops, bottoms in solid dark neutrals will be the most slimming over busy prints or light colors.

Avoid anything too tight, low rise or with front tucks and seaming. Focus on a higher waist to enhance your shape.

Layers

Layering is a great styling trick for concealing a heavy middle. Some flattering ways to layer include:

  • Long tanks and camisoles – Add a smooth, slimming base layer under tops and dresses.
  • Lightweight cardigans and kimonos – Choose an overlayer that provides more coverage but doesn’t add bulk.
  • Long vest or jacket – A long vest or jacket ending at mid-thigh helps balance a larger midsection.
  • Chunky scarf – Tie a statement scarf loosely around the neckline to draw attention upwards.
  • Cinch below chest – Cinch an untied open shirt or jacket right below the bust to define your waist.

When layering, remember to look for pieces that are deconstructed, lightweight and not too bulky. The goal is to streamline, not add more volume.

Shapewear

If you like, consider wearing shapewear to smooth bulges and provide more structure:

  • High waist shaping shorts – High waist shorts in lightweight, breathable fabrics smooth over the stomach area.
  • Camisoles and tanks – Shapewear camis can flatten the tummy under dresses and tops.
  • Mid-thigh shapers – Shaping shorts that end mid-thigh prevent rolling or bulging at the hips and thighs.
  • Convertible strapless bra – A bra with removable, multi-way straps offers more versatility under different tops and dresses.
  • Seamless options – Look for shapewear in silicone/nylon blends that don’t cling or cause friction.

Focus the control and compression on the areas you want to smooth, not necessarily overall tightness. Proportion is key.

Fabrics

The fabrics and materials you choose can also enhance your shape:

  • Stretch knits – Jersey, modal spandex and interlock knits hug curves smoothly and don’t cling.
  • Natural fibers – Lightweight cottons, linens and silks flow and drape without bulk.
  • Microfiber – Smoothing microfiber shapes and slims bumps without compression.
  • Jacquard and dobby – Textured surfaces help disguise lumps and flaws.
  • Thick woven – Fabrics like denim, suiting and ponte contain flaws better than thin material.

Avoid anything too lightweight or sheer that will showcase every little bulge and curve. Stick to medium to thicker fabrics with some stretch.

Pants styles to avoid

Stay away from these pant styles if you carry weight in your stomach:

  • Low rise pants – These will gap at the back showing your midsection.
  • Skinny jeans – Tight jeans accentuate every little bump and curve.
  • Pleated front pants – The extra fabric can billow out and add bulk to the stomach.
  • Wide leg trousers – These give the illusion of wider hips and a blockier midsection.
  • Cuffed or cropped pants – Anything that cuts you off at the widest part of your shape will highlight it.

The best pants for a big stomach have a higher waist to hold you in, and a straighter cut through the hips and thighs.

Best colors to wear

Strategically wearing darker colors around your midsection will have a slimming effect:

Darker colors Lighter colors
Black White
Navy Pastels
Charcoal gray Neon
Deep purple Bright yellow
Forest green Light pink

Aim to wear darker colors around the midsection, pairing them with lighter colors on your top half, sleeves or hems. This creates a slimming effect.

Prints, details and accents

Certain prints, embellishments and accents can help minimize and balance a larger middle:

  • Vertical stripes – Thin vertical stripes are slimming and elongating.
  • Colorblocking – Contrast side panels or colorblocked details take emphasis off the stomach.
  • Patterns – Smaller tight patterns like polka dots, floral and houndstooth can have a smoothing effect.
  • Ruching and draping – Gathering and flowing fabric conceals bumps and rolls.
  • Self-tie belts – Worn high and loose, a belt draws eyes upwards.
  • Necklaces and scarves – Statement jewelry and accessories distract from the midsection.

Avoid anything too busy, large patterns, belt buckles or cinching right over your stomach. This will only bring attention to the area.

Posture and undergarments

Good posture and the right undergarments make a big difference in how clothing looks on your body:

  • Stand up straight to elongate your torso and prevent slouching, which accentuates a stomach pooch.
  • Invest in a supportive, well-fitting bra. A bra that lifts and smooths will help clothing lay better.
  • Wear shapewear that lifts and sculpts the stomach for a streamlined base layer.
  • Choose seamless underwear that won’t show lines under clothes.

Focus on shapewear and undergarments that provide comfort and support to help you stand confidently.

Fashion tips for hiding big stomach

Here are some top tips for styling outfits strategically to downplay a large midsection:

  • Wear tops untucked – Leave shirts and blouses untucked rather than tucking them in to avoid emphasizing your middle.
  • Choose tailored outer layers – Try blazers, cardigans and jackets nipped in at the waist to balance proportions.
  • Add volume to lower half – Opt for fuller pants, long flowing skirts and dresses to offset a heavier top.
  • Cinch in slightly below bust – Use a wide loose belt, tie a shirt or wear an open jacket cinched just under chest.
  • Look for front waist darts – Subtle darts from the waist seam in front of pants and skirts flatter a stomach pooch.
  • Wear darker colors near midsection – Strategically place black, navy and charcoal around your middle.

The key is to draw the eye upwards while balancing the upper and lower halves of your body.

Sample wardrobe staples

Here are some great wardrobe staples to include that suit a larger stomach shape:

  • Wrap dresses
  • A-line skirts
  • Flared trousers
  • Straight leg and bootcut jeans
  • Tunic tops and blouses
  • Flowy peasant tops
  • Boyfriend button down shirts
  • Jersey swing dresses
  • High waisted skirts
  • Long vest tops

Aim for softer fabrics with stretch, and cuts that cinch near the bustline or below to define your waist. Things like tapered pant legs, cinched waists and clingy fabrics will accentuate a stomach pooch.

Conclusion

Having a big or protruding stomach doesn’t mean you have to hide under baggy clothes. With the right styles and cuts, you can dress to flatter your shape. Focus on shifts in proportion using flowy tops, high waisted bottoms, dark colors around the midsection, and diagonal lines and details. With the expert tips and suggestions in this article, you can create fabulous outfits to dress your body type with confidence.