Tops to Wear To Cover A Tummy Bulge and Still Look Modern
Tops to Wear To Cover A Tummy Bulge and Still Look Modern
Recently, I had a health problem that caused my tummy area to swell, obscuring my hourglass shape. Because I wanted to continue to look stylish, I decided to go on a hunt to find flattering tops that look modern but hide my big stomach. (On a bad day, my tummy can be very swollen, so much so that it is uncomfortable to wear pants, in which case, I will choose to wear a dress; but as I have gotten healthier, I want to get back into wearing some of my favorite trousers and shorts, so I began looking for the right tops to cover my problem areas.
Consider Your Body Type
Get to know your body type by measuring your bust, waist, and hips to determine whether you have an apple, pear shape, hourglass or vertical body type. This will help you as you begin experimenting to find tops that work the best with your figure type. When choosing the perfect top to cover your tummy bulge, you will want to be clear as to which body type you are, and which type of top will accentuate your best features and give you a stylish and modern overall look. Once you understand your body type you can begin to determine your focal point, i.e. where you would most like people to look.
Apple body shape may want to look for different styles than those with an hourglass body shape and a lower belly bulge. In addition, one’s bust also plays a part in choosing the right tops. I will try to share which tops work best with each figure type to help you choose a good option to cover your stomach area.
When we have a tummy bulge, we often think that we can only wear dark colors, or that we can only wear a baggy loose top, but this simply isn’t the case. However, looking for long tops, diagonal lines, and paying attention to your neckline, waist area, and bust will go a long way toward choosing a top that draws attention to your best features and away from the fact that you don’t have a flat stomach.
Shapewear can also help smooth tummy fat and help the lower body look much smoother. Experimenting with different fabrics can also help. For some flowy tops will be the best choice, however, for others something more fitted, like a longer sleeveless vest will be perfect to prevent unwanted attention to a lower body bulge. Keep in mind that whatever top you choose, it should accentuate your personal style.
Consider The Pants or Skirt You Plan to Wear
Make sure your pants or skirt fit properly around your waist. If your pants are sized properly, you should not have a muffin top in addition to tummy problems. Muffin tops occur with the waistband is too tight and the extra skin and fat push over the waistband. A great way to avoid this problem is to make sure the waist is big enough not to cause the problem. For some, this will mean low-rise jeans, while others, like me look better in high-rise jeans. The only way to determine which style is best for your body is by trying on different rises and sizes until you find a pair of pants or a skirt that doesn’t cause the additional bulge. Then you can focus solely on your tummy. You may also want to trade skinny jeans for a straight leg to create the look of a longer leg.
Create Vertical Lines
As you try on clothing, consider creating a vertical line. This can be done with vertical stripes, or by wearing single-color pants and top and then wearing a blazer or kimono over the top. (This is called a column of color) and there are many jackets and sweaters that can be used to create this effect. It works the very best when both the top and bottom are simple and the same color.
The Peplum Top
Oh how I love a good peplum top! Peplum tops have a ruffle at the waistline that bells out covering the belly area. This type of top is good for people like me with a lower belly bulge.
Wrap Tops
Wrap tops can be a great idea provided they are the right length. If the shirt is too short, it will draw attention to belly fat and can be a poor choice for apple figure types especially if the cut is too low or too tight. However, a wrap top that sits at the hipline and isn’t too low can be a great option. Wrap dresses and fit and flare dresses fall into the wrap category. So if you find you look good in a wrap top, you may consider expanding your wardrobe to include wrap dresses as they are an excellent choice especially if you would like to create or accentuate your waistline.
A-Line Tops
A-line Tops or “swing tops” are really great for women with an apple-shaped figure. They hide the belly as they don’t cling to the body and are one of the best tops for covering a bulge that starts under the bust line. A-line tops can come in flowy fabrics that draw attention away from the tummy. A-line dresses are a great style to cover both apple tummy bulges and lower tummy bulges like mine. They skim the body and do a great job of covering bumps and bulges.
Empire Waist tops
Empire waist tops are another great choice for women with apple-shaped figures. This style gathers just under the bust line and flairs out over the middle section. It skims the natural waist. The length should be at the hip area and is very feminine. If you look good in Empire Waist tops you will also look great in empire length dresses.
A few things to avoid: while some people swear that horizontal stripes can work, they are very hard to get right. If you have a pear-shaped figure, horizontal stripes can help balance narrow shoulders with wider hips. Tight dresses and tops are also quite difficult to wear when you have tummy bulges. However, shapewear can help smooth lines and bumps, if you find the perfect dress and it is a tight style. Waist belts can also be tricky, especially for those who have apple-shaped body types. However, the right belt can create an alluring waistline and accentuate the hourglass body type. Women often shy away from thicker fabrics and choose darker colors, however, thicker fabrics can create the appearance of structure which can be very slimming, and lighter brighter colors can lift one’s mood and look amazing no matter your figure type.
I hope this has given you some ideas of what to look for, and some modern options to try.
I honestly only see a flat tummy on you. But I totally get it. I have a flat tummy, but occasionally, I have a bloated feel and need these tips.
XOXO, Rebecca
Thank you Rebecca, but I do have a tummy problem right now, though it has been improving over the past month or so.
I actually thought this was a very good post. Usually these kinds of posts treat everyone the same. You didn’t do that. Thank you. Now I wish I could find some posts for really busty women. Most posts for dressing for a large bust are posted by people who think they have a large bust (eg34D) vs those of us who really do (eg38J or larger). If you have some tips, please post. Thanks.
Thank you Jackie. I will have to research for a large bust post–and will put the topic on my list.