8 Dress Styles That Hide Your Tummy

I loved being pregnant. It was the only time in my life that I was really excited about the size of my tummy. Since then, it’s been a bit of a nuisance, as pants that start out feeling comfortable can be snug by the end of the day.

Not all tummies are created equal, of course, and when we talk about this area, it’s important to remember that your tummy’s size is relative to the size of your body. In other words, my tummy is poochy relative to my overall frame, and might not be considered significant on a woman with a different build. All that matters here is that you have a tummy that you’d like to minimize.

I’m always looking for dresses that are comfortable and flattering and downplay my belly area, and fortunately, there are plenty of styles to choose from this season that fit the bill. And a few that don’t. First, let’s start with the dresses to skip:

1. T-shirt and tank dresses. Straight knit dresses are unforgiving and show every bump and lump in the tummy area.
2. Bodycon dresses: See above. These are like t-shirt and tank dresses, but tighter and even harder to wear.
3. Thin knit dresses. Do you see a pattern here? Any dress in a thin knit material is going to show everything.

Now that we’ve covered the challenging styles, let’s look at 8 dress silhouettes that are chic, flattering, and forgiving to the belly area. And you can find them all right here.

The Trapeze

What it looks like: A trapeze dress is narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, and often flowy, creating an inverted triangle silhouette.

You can find these styles right here.

The Empire Style

An empire style, which features a seam or definition just below the bust, is a classic dress style that can often be flattering on a fuller belly type. Skip this style if you have a very large bust or if the dress is overly flowy on the bottom half, as that can make it look like a maternity dress.

You can find these styles right here.

The Ruched Dress

Ruched dress have been hard to find the last several years, so I was thrilled to see them back. A little gathered fabric can do a lot to minimize a small-to-medium tummy. The more fabric in that area, the more forgiving, and the thicker the fabric, the more flattering it will be.

You can find these styles right here.

The Draped or Wrap Dress

Skip the simple wrap jersey dresses in favor of these, which combine a wrap with extra draping and fabric for extra tummy minimizing. These are best for small-to-medium tummy types.

You can find these styles right here.

The Fit & Flare Dress

One of the most universally flattering silhouettes, the key to success in hiding the tummy with this style is to have the flare start just above the belly and to pick a more substantial fabric.

You can find these styles right here.

The Long Flowy Dress

A long flowy dress can range from a gauzy maxi to a more structured shirtdress. The key to long dresses with volume is to create balance somewhere by showing the neckline, waistline, or arms to prevent the mumu effect. These can minimize the tummy area no matter what its size.

You can find these styles right here.

The Short Structured Dress

Yes, it’s a bit boxy, but it’s also short, so the leg adds balance. How short is up to you, but showing leg in an otherwise straight and shapeless style is what lends this silhouette its flattery. Depending on the style, this is a silhouette that can work for all tummy sizes.

You can find these styles right here.

The Short Flowy Dress

Like the style above, the shortness of this style gives it the flattery, but the flowy fabric can also create some feminine shape.

You can find these styles right here.