On the hunt for stylish dresses to hide a tummy? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re shopping for dresses for smart work occasions or simply for the warmer season ahead, we’ve rounded up the very best for you to browse.
Dresses that make you feel and look your best should be key players in any spring capsule wardrobe. Whether you’re looking for everyday essentials or for stand-out occasionwear pieces, such as the best wedding guest dresses. Midis, maxis, and even minis are heroic staples that soon become the backbone of any wardrobe. However, finding styles that fit and flatter your body type can be challenging, which is why we’ve rounded up styles to make you feel more confident and at ease.
Before we get started on our search for stylish dresses to hide a tummy, it’s important first to state that nothing should ever stop you from wearing items that you love. However, that’s much easier said than done, and we can all get a little self-conscious sometimes. From experiencing body changes due to everything from bloating to the menopause, if your hang-up is linked to your middle, these stylish dresses to hide a tummy are guaranteed to help boost your confidence.
The most stylish dresses to hide a tummy
Dressing for your body type is all about highlighting the areas you love the most. By making these a focal point, you can glide past the parts that you might feel less comfortable with. Identifying the shape and style of dress that works best for your body type is a great way of simplifying getting dressed and, in the long run, will ensure you always feel confident.
From a timeless wrap dress to a breezy trapeze design, there are certain silhouettes to look for when hunting for stylish dresses to hide a tummy. The styles we’ve rounded up are flattering frocks that are comfy, versatile, and forever on-trend. Apart from flattering designs, functional elements are also something to consider. Look for the best dresses with pockets, practical lengths, quality materials and prints and colours that you can style through multiple seasons.
“Once you find a shape of dress you love, you can experiment with different colours, prints and lengths to build up a confidence-boosting wardrobe,” says woman&home fashion director Paula Moore.
To give you a head start on finding your forever frock, I’ve curated the most stylish dresses to hide a tummy, as well as consulting the experts on how to wear them.
Dresses to hide a tummy: wrap dresses
Universally flattering, a wrap front dress is a total fashion failsafe for all shapes and sizes. The crossover front will pull you in at your waist, and wrapped designs often have a tie sash or knot to one side, which cleverly draws attention away from your stomach. As well as being tummy-flattering, the deep V-neckline on a wrap dress will suit bigger busts or give smaller chests a boost too.
HUSH
Pure Merino Wool V-Neck Midi Wrap Dress
Hush are masters at creating elevated basics, and this merino wool dress is no exception. Timeless and stylish, the long maxi-length add an extra layer of elegance.
Whistles
Whistles Alex Textured Wrap Midi Dress
This olive-toned dress feels perfect for the brighter spring season ahead. Featuring a clever wrap front and a floaty mid-length skirt, it will fit and flatter a range of body types.
Phase Eight
Julissa Red Wrap Midi Dress
A bold red with romantic flutter sleeve detailing, this head-turning number is a guaranteed confidence-booster. Keep the rest of your look simple with slingback heels and let the dress take centre stage.
Dresses to hide a tummy: Empire Line Dresses
Empire line dresses are fitted around the shoulders and top, and then flare out from just below the bust, making them a wise choice for anybody feeling worried about their tummy. The fit-and-flare shape will draw attention to your slimmest point, and then the looser skirt will skim over middles without swamping you in fabric.
Boden
Irene Puff Sleeve Dress-Multi, Botanical Flourish
This playful printed dress will serve you through the warmer seasons in style. Featuring a botanical print in pastel blue, orange and green, this frock will become your go-to for beach holidays or sunny daytime trips.
Nobodys Child
Forest Green Satin Long Sleeve Stella Midi Dress
Embrace forest green this season. The V-neck design and empire waist form a flattering silhouette, and the long sleeves offer a sophisticated finishing touch. Add heels and swish your way to any event.
Fat Face
Multi Regular Isla Gingham Midi Dress
Step into spring with this chic gingham dress. It features a flattering empire waist, sweet puff sleeves and a relaxed silhouette.
Dresses to hide a tummy: Belted Dresses
A great way to make your tummy appear smaller is by pulling your middle in with a belted detail. Wider belts will work wonders to cinch in your tummy for an instant hourglass silhouette, and if you opt for one in a matching colour to your dress, it will be even more flattering on your midsection.
ME+EM
Mixed Media Midi Dress
Invest in this tie-belt dress from British clothing brand ME+EM. It features contrasting cream seams for an architectural finish, and these seams actually can help towards creating a flattering silhouette too.
Mint Velvet
Teal Print Tie Maxi Dress
We love the tie belt on this teal dress, which adds extra definition to the waist. You could dress this piece up with wedge heels or wear it for the office paired with your best knee-high boots.
Reiss
Short-Sleeve Belted Midi Dress With Linen in Rust Orange
This rusty orange dress has a classic midi silhouette and features a smart collared neckline and lightly puffed sleeves. The thick waist belt makes this dress one of the best stylish dresses to hide a tummy, as it will draw attention to the centre of your waist.
Dresses to hide a tummy: Illusion Dresses
A cleverly placed seam, contrast colour, or panel can completely transform how your figure looks. An illusion dress not only disguises any insecurities, but can also add curves to straighter body shapes. Vertical lines will attract attention and create the appearance of a narrower silhouette, which in turn will flatter your tummy.
Anthropologie
The Somerset Maxi Dress: Shirt Dress Edition
A versatile choice, this polished dress will work for both weekend outings and the 9-5. Cleverly crafted with contrast seams and an empire waist, this dress has an extremely flattering design.
Whistles
Alex Stripe Shirt Dress
This ticks all the figure-enhancing boxes with its stripe pattern and belted design. It boasts longer length sleeves, a button-front and an on-trend brown hue. Add this dress to your current brown outfit ideas.
Hobbs
Andrea Colourblock Dress
When it comes to elevated occasionwear, Hobbs has you covered. A sleeveless shape with flattering side panels that create a slimming illusion, this dress is a fantastic option.
Dresses to hide a tummy: Ruched Dresses
Ruched areas across the front and sides of your dress can work wonders to cover up any lumps while adding extra style points to your outfit. Subtle pleating details can also add the illusion of curves to your waist and hips for the most flattering finish.
Ruched or draped dresses are an absolute winner when it comes to dresses to hide a tummy. The clever gathering will gently glide over your midriff and, depending on the angle, can highlight your waist, nipping you in, in the process.
Mango
Ruched Midi Dress – Women
This simple, elegant design has heaps of styling potential. Its black colour, gentle draped bodice, and ruched detail add a flattering finish to the tummy area. Finish off with a blazer or long, tailored coat.
Mint Velvet
Navy Heart Print Zip Front Midi Dress
This playful love heart print will liven up your wardrobe effortlessly. Complemented by long sleeves and featuring a ruched front around the waist and tummy, this dress is a flattering choice.
ME+EM
Asymmetric Detail Ruched Maxi Dress
This bright red hue will make you stand out from the crowd, and it will tie in with the spring/summer colour fashion trends 2026 perfectly. The ruched front offers coverage, and the long maxi length makes it perfect for special occasions.
Dresses to hide a tummy: Trapeze Dresses
The light and airy shape of a trapeze dress makes it super easy and comfortable to wear, and despite the name, it doesn’t have to be huge and tent-like either. The cut doesn’t cling to your body so it will drape nicely over a larger midsection or curvier hips. Opt for trapeze dresses that are slightly fitted across the shoulders and upper chest to add some definition, and look for shorter lengths to avoid looking swamped in fabric.
Autograph
Pure Cotton Mini Shirt Dress
This mini shirt dress has a floaty silhouette that’s perfect for relaxed everyday styling. The short sleeves and mini length create a fresh, contemporary silhouette.
Fat Face
Bella Green Ditsy Garden Regular Dress
If you’re on the hunt for spring-ready dresses, this floral dress is an instant hit. It features a pretty ditsy floral print and a bow-tied neckline that gives it a vintage feel, and it will work well into summer too.
Whistles
Whistles Full Volume Gathered Dress, Sage Green
Another sleek frock to add to your collection, this sage green number is the kind of staple you’ll get plenty of wear out of—style with a leather knee-high boot and a sharp blazer.
Printed Dresses
Don’t shy away from bold print. A big and busy pattern can act like wardrobe camouflage to detract attention away from your tummy – and all while making a fashion statement! Hero prints like polka dots, stripes, and florals are a wise investment, as they are a total classic and work well for any age and style.
Prints and patterns are great when you’re looking for dresses to hide a tummy. The abstract designs can draw the eye up and away from your middle.
Nobodys Child
Navy Floral Dara Midi Dress
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dresses from this British clothing brand. This floral dress will work all year round thanks to its navy and cream colour palette. A classic silhouette with a tiered skirt and high-neckline, it’s a never-date dress.
Sezane
Pippa Dress – Leopard – Organic Cotton
Already a best-selling style, this leopard print dress is bound to sell out fast. It features a clever tie-waist that will cinch you in at the waist, and it’s made from a soft cotton jersey fabric, making it a comfortable choice.
Next
Navy Blue Floral Printed High Neck Tiered Occasion Maxi Dress
Next knows a thing or two about dreamy dress designs. This floral tiered dress is ideal if your calendar is full of wedding invitations, if you’re wondering what to wear to the races, or if you’re planning a spring getaway.
Stylish dresses to hide a tummy: Pleated & gathered front dresses
Dresses with a gathered or pleated front not only draw you in for a slimmed-down silhouette, but they are often more comfortable to wear. A gathered waist detail or a shirred top half will add shape and definition to an otherwise loose dress, and the gathered fabric detailing around the band cleverly disguises any insecurities around your stomach.
The Fold
Viore Georgette Dress Navy
Introducing your new favourite frock. In midnight navy and featuring a gathered front, this dress is made from soft crinkled viscose for an elegant finish. The Fold are a brand renowned for its excellent tailoring, but its eveningwear is equally impressive.
Zara
Midi Dress With Belt
This beige dress is an elevated daywear piece that can work for smart work occasions as well as smart weekend styling. It has a waist-defining belt with gathered pleats, which makes it a flattering choice.
Mint Velvet
Mid Indigo Denim Twist Midi Dress
This denim dress has an enduring appeal that works from season to season. It also features a pleated front that will skim past your tummy and waist to create an hourglass silhouette.
What To Consider When Buying a Dress
- Your Body Shape – Aside from your budget and the occasion you’re shopping for, a great starting point is to figure out your body shape. Rather than just focusing on covering your stomach, understanding your natural shape means you can find items that will accentuate and show off your best assets. As well as dresses, figuring out your body type will help you find all kinds of staple pieces, including the best jeans for your body shape. For example, hourglass shapes have a naturally smaller waist, so opting for dresses with details to cinch you in at your middle will look fantastic. While apple shapes often have a smaller bum and slender legs, shorter length frocks will be a wardrobe winner. Thinking about your body as a whole, rather than focusing on your tummy, will make dress-shopping all the easier.
- Colours – While we are firm believers that you can where whatever you want to wear, it’s worth keeping in mind that very light clothing tones can make paler skin look a little washed out. Take some time to think about what colour suits me, so you can aim for shades that pop against your skin tone and hair colour. This will add extra wow to your wardrobe while making you feel good.
- Fabrics – Materials are a big thing to consider too – cheaper dresses are often made of synthetic materials like polyester, and won’t have as much give. Opting for natural-based fabrics like cotton and linen when you can means that you’ll feel more comfortable and your dress will likely last longer, too. “Fabrics like crepe, chiffon, or soft jersey provide movement without clinging, helping to create a smoother silhouette,” explains Megan.
FAQs
How to style a tummy-hiding dress?
woman&home‘s Digital Fashion Editor Caroline Parr gives us her top tips for styling your new frock – “When it comes to styling, accessories can help draw the eye away from your tummy. If it’s a loose style or simple midi dress you’re wearing, statement jewellery, head-turning scarves, and colour pop bags are all good options to add interest and texture.
On the other hand, if you’re disguising your tummy with details like pleating and ruching, you might want to keep accessories to a minimum and allow the dress to do all the talking.
The best shapewear isn’t essential but can give you a confidence boost, particularly for a big occasion like a wedding (and if it’s only for a few hours). Avoid the firmest styles and instead opt for comfortable but smoothing options – they do exist!”
What material is best for hiding a tummy?
Very clingy and stretchy fabrics can highlight your mid-section, so if you’re worried about your tummy, it’s best to avoid them. Or at least look at designs that utilise wrap or draped silhouettes to balance out the clingy material.
Try slightly thicker fabrics with some hold and structure; cottons, linens, and even denim will all be roomier and won’t be as skin-tight. As well as skimming over your middle, these fabrics will often be more breathable and so more comfortable to wear.
If you do want to opt for tighter fabrics, looking for breathable shapewear that supports and sculpts your shape should help you feel more confident in a more fitted dress.
What style of dress is most slimming?
There isn’t just one style of dress that will universally fit and flatter everyone; finding a dress to hide a tummy is all down to personal preference, your body shape, and what you enjoy wearing. If I had to pick one, though, I’d suggest starting with a wrap dress, as the crossover front will accentuate curves on hourglass and pear shapes, or help to create them on apple shapes and sportier frames. As well as drawing you in at the waist, the diagonal cut will skim across lumps and bumps on your midriff nicely. The knotted or gathered side will draw the eye to the side of your figure rather than the front for a slimmed-down and smoother feel. Wrap shapes are a wardrobe winner if you’re worried about your midriff.
Caroline Parr
Caroline is Digital Fashion Editor for woman&home, and has been a fashion writer and editor for ten years. After graduating from the London College of Fashion, she has spent the last decade tracking down and writing about celebrity outfits, covering events ranging from the Met Gala to the King’s Coronation. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of brands, but always likes to know about new and under-the-radar labels.
Currently Group Fashion Director at Future Publishing, Paula Moore has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years. She oversees the fashion pages for Woman and Home, Simply Woman and Home, Woman, Woman’s Own, Woman’s Weekly, and Chat magazines.
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