How to Look Slimmer in a Tight Dress

It's very common to have some belly fat you'd like to hide, especially if you want want to wear a tight-fitting dress. A few extra pounds around the midsection can make you feel self-conscious about the way you look but wearing the right undergarments, dress pattern, and accessories can help you feel confident and look great in a tight dress.

Ways to Hide a Belly Bulge

Wear a bold print.
Choose a dress in a flowier fabric that doesn't cling to your midsection.
Wear tights that are the same color as your dress.
Draw attention to your shoulders with a wrap or scarf.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Finding a Dress in the Right Fabric and Print

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1
Select a dress in a style and fabric that makes you feel comfortable. If it does not feel great in the store, don’t buy it. If it’s too tight that it makes you uncomfortable as you stand in the dressing room, it will only feel worse when you wear it out. Try on multiple dresses until you find one that feels good.
- Well-tailored dresses in structured fabrics can help to flatter curves. Avoid clingy fabrics or ill-fitting cuts, even if you like a particular dress style. Keep trying until you find one that fits your shape and proportions—or one that can be easily tailored.^{[1]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- When buying a dress online, always check reviews and see what other people say about comfort and fit. And it's best to buy from an online store that has an easy and free return policy so you can return it if you don't love it once it arrives.
Darker colors are slimming because they hide wrinkles, bulges, and other indicators of fat.^{[2]
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Research source} Colors like white or beige can make you look like you have more belly fat than you do because they actually highlight those lumps and wrinkles and draw attention to them.^{[3]
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3
Wear narrow, vertical stripes. The key to creating an illusion of a slimmer body is elongation. Vertical stripes or vertical design elements—like seam or color blocking—draw the eye up and down and make you appear tall and lean.^{[4]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Stick with narrowly-spaced thin stripes (like a pinstripe) for the best slimming effect. The wider the stripe, the wider it can make you look.
- Avoid wide, horizontal stripes. They draw the eye outward and can make you look wider than you actually are. If you do want to wear horizontal stripes, thin and narrowly-spaced stripes have the most slimming effect.^{[5]
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Chose a low-contrast print without a clear focal point. The trick to finding a good print is selecting one that makes it difficult and unnatural for the eye to focus on any one part. In addition, make sure the scale of the print is in proportion to your overall figure. For instance, a smaller person should wear a smaller print.^{[6]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- Pair a small print with solid accessories and attention will be drawn away from the fabric of the dress and away from your midsection.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Wearing Undergarments That Fit Properly

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To avoid making your belly look bigger, wear a bra and underwear that fit you properly and don’t create unnecessary lumps and dimples. If your undergarments are too tight, your skin and any excess fat will bulge out of the sides. If they are too large, they will create unnecessary folds and wrinkles.^{[8]
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Alena Le Blanc
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Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

Alena Le Blanc
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Undergarments are the foundation of a great outfit. Confident style starts from the inside out. Wearing well-fitting undergarments helps you avoid discomfort and visible lines under clothes. Invest in high-quality pieces for proper support and confidence.
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Try high-waisted underwear to provide added control over extra belly fat. Wear a high-waisted thong with a lace hem to eliminate panty lines on your rear and smooth out any bulges or dimples around your belly. Many types of high-waisted underwear come with built-in tummy slimming panels for extra protection from those unwanted bulges.^{[9]
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- High-waisted underwear that is too small or has weak elastic due to age can roll down as you walk. Be careful when choosing your underwear that it is the right size and strong enough to hold up while you wear it.
3
Use shapewear to smooth out your silhouette.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Shapewear compresses fat and smooths lines, bulges, and wrinkles and can take inches off your waistline.^{[11]
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Research source} Many women, including famous actresses and models, wear shapewear because it boosts their confidence and makes them feel red-carpet confident.
- When choosing shapewear for a tight dress, choose a smoothing bodysuit or slip-style option. Shapewear shorts with a high-waist can roll down or shift while you walk, causing the belly fat to push out at the seams and create an unflattering look.^{[12]
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- Doctors have stated that there may be health risks associated with shapewear and very tight clothing.^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Accessorizing Your Look

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1
Wrap a belt or a sash high on the thinnest part of your waist. While you do not want to draw attention to your belly, most women carry that extra belly fat low. If you wear a complementary belt or sash up at the narrowest part of your waistline, it will highlight your slimmest area.
- If you have a larger frame, opt for a wider belt, and if you are more petite, a thin belt is best.^{[14]
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Draw attention upward with a beautiful scarf. Add a scarf in a complementary pattern or color and wrap it so it sits high on your chest and shoulders. This way, attention will be drawn upward to your scarf and your face and away from your midsection.^{[15]
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- However, avoid wearing a bulky scarf, as that will cut off your neckline and make you look wider on top and in your face.^{[16]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- If you have a patterned dress, use a solid scarf and if you have a solid dress, opt for a patterned scarf.^{[17]
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Frame your face with jewelry.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} If you want to divert attention away from your midsection go bold with a big necklace and flashy earrings. You’ll want to choose a necklace that sits high around your collarbone to keep attention drawn upward.
- Avoid long-length and dangly pendants that will bounce off your belly as you walk.
4
Wrap yourself in a fitted cardigan or tailored jacket.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Choose a jacket in complementary color that falls only about hip-length and is tailored the waist. It sounds counterintuitive, but a tailored jacket actually draws the eye inward at the smallest part of your waist and makes you look thinner overall.^{[20]
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- Avoid a bold-print jacket because it can draw the eye away from the jacket and toward your midsection. Solid colors are best for the slimming effect.
Match your stockings and your shoes to the color of your dress. The continuous color from head to toe will create the appearance of long and lean figure and make you look thinner.^{[21]
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Research source} If the weather permits, go with thick tights instead of pantyhose because the thicker material will make you look even taller and thinner.^{[22]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Walking with Confidence

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Walking with too much of an S-shape can make you look heavier by exaggerating your curves. Aim to walk with the confidence and posture of a runway model by straightening your spine and relaxing your shoulders as much as you can.^{[23]
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Maintain your straight posture while standing or sitting. Slouching and sitting with a hunched back pushes all the belly fat together making it appear as though there is more fat than is actually present. To avoid the appearance of belly fat when you sit or stand, keep your back straight and your shoulders back and relaxed, just as you do when you are walking.^{[24]
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Strut your stuff in heels to make your legs look longer and body thinner. This will draw the eye to your legs and your shoes and away from your midsection. Many women opt for solid color pumps to elongate their legs and create an overall thinner and taller appearance.
- Avoid chunky or thick heels as they can make your stride clunky and make it hard to walk with good posture.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I hide belly fat under a dress?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. Since 2010, Natalie has specialized in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

I suggest finding a dress in a solid color to help slim your figure. Vertical stripes can also lengthen your figure and hide belly fat. Additionally, make sure you're wearing a dress in a material that moves with your body instead of a material that sticks to your skin.

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Question

My belly fat sits up high to my breast. Cannot wear dresses, it sticks out like I am pregnant. Any help?

Lorayna Pittsley

Community Answer

Try using shapewear, it helps flatten your belly and smooth out curves. Also, if you wear a looser dress that has a belt around the waist, it immediately makes you look much slimmer. Try it out, and just try to look as confident as you can. If you look confident, you automatically look better to others!

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Strategic ruching in the midsection can help camouflage belly fat.^{[25]
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Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}

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Warnings

Shapewear and other clothing that is too tight can be dangerous because it can cut off your circulation and in some cases lead to blood clots. If you feel a tingling sensation, you should take off the tight garment and massage the area to improve circulation.^{[26]
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