White Dress for Women to Hide My Belly Fat

If you aren't loving your tummy area, shopping for dresses can feel like a nightmare. Some dresses can certainly be unforgiving when it comes to hiding a belly. However, there are many styles that do a great job at hiding or camouflaging the tummy. We show you all the best dresses to hide your tummy.

Whether you're looking for a formal belly-hiding dress or a day dress that flatters the tummy area, you will find plenty of options and ideas below.

Of course, while this article concentrates on tummy flattering dresses, there are many garments that can be used to hide your tummy.

Be sure to also check all our tips to hide your belly with the right clothes.

Lingerie and undergarments to go under your dresses

First of all, while they are nothing to do with the dress itself, the lingerie and undergarments you choose to go under your dress will make a huge difference to the way it looks. Even the best dresses to hide your tummy will work better with the right lingerie.

Depending on whether you're dressing casually and want to be comfortable, or whether you are heading out for the evening, this might mean anything from making sure the bra and panties you wear fit well and create smooth lines under your dress to choosing shapewear for a special occasion.

In general you don't need shape wear (I don't use it) but you do need to choose underwear that doesn't show any ugly lines. It also helps if your underwear covers your tummy.

Also take a look at the best bras for the large bust and the best bras for small breasts.

Shapewear is an option

Of course, while you won't want to wear it everyday, you may wish to wear some shapewear for a special occasion.

It definitely does help to tuck your tummy in.

These Spanx body shaping shorts tuck in the tummy as well as slimming thighs and providing some uplift for your rear.

SPANX Higher Power Shorts

Also check our article on the best shapewear for women over 40.

However, there are plenty of dresses that you can wear that hide the belly without the need of shapewear.

The best dresses to hide your belly are those that skim (and not cling) over the areas you don't want to highlight.

wrap dress

A wrap dress is a style that will suit the vast majority of women, no matter what your shape or size. The v-neck on the Fraiche by J dress (below) is flattering and you can alter how you tie the belt hide a little bit of a tummy.

Fraiche by J Wrap Front Long Sleeve Dress

Hide your tummy with a tunic and legging combo

Layering had always been a good option when you want to camouflage or hide something. And wearing a dress over pants can be a great option.

A flowy tunic or trapeze dress can work wonders when it comes to hiding a belly if you wear it over leggings.

The loose material of the tunic will drape over areas you aren't so keen on, while if you choose the right leggings or pants (check our recommendation for the best tummy control leggings), they will help to tuck in your tummy and create a more streamlined silhouette.

Dayle @artfulcitystye above (read her style interview here) wears a tunic dress over bright tights. You could also easily wear this style of dress over leggings.

Check out this similar dress, leggings, boots, statement necklace, earrings and cuff bracelet.

This dress (below) from Amazon is another good option. It has a great number of reviews and comes in a wide choice of colors. I'd wear it with leggings and a contemporary statement necklace.

SOLERSUN Chiffon Tunic Dress

Need new leggings? Then be sure to check our article on the best leggings for women over 40.

Formal dress

There's no doubt the past two years have been very different ones for everyone. But if you have events to attend this year, you'll want a more formal tummy-hiding option.

This one by Hanna Nicole covers the tummy because of the flattering overlayer. The asymmetrical nature of the drape helps to draw the eye vertically rather than across the tummy.

Hanna Nikole Cape Dress with Chiffon Overlay Pencil Dress

Vertical pattern dresses are great at hiding the tummy

Vertical stripes have a slimming effect, drawing the eye up and down, rather than across your tummy.

The stripes on the dress below could be useful for hiding a tummy. Stripes running horizontally will widen the bust visually and the vertical stripes should draw the eye up and down rather than across the belly.

Halife 3/4 Sleeve Stripe Elastic Waist Dress

Hide your tummy with dresses with prints

Choosing a patterned dress is  a great way to disguise a belly because the patterns confuse the eye, drawing the gaze up, down and around, and away from any belly bulge.

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) chooses a print that would work for any season. You could wear with boots for winter and sandals for summer.

Check out these dresses from PRETTYGARDEN, LaiyiVic and Amazon (short dress option). Complete her outfit with this similar pair of boots, handbag, hoop earrings and sunglasses.

The print and ruching on the faux wrap dress (below) could help to disguise a little bit of a tummy.

Berydress Sheath Faux Wrap Dress

Another option is the long sleeve belted dress (below) which has a flattering v-neck and comes in a choice of prints and colors. It has plenty of positive reviews from women who say it is soft, stretchy, flowy, and covers any lumps and bumps.

HUSKARY Belted Dress

Try a dress with asymmetrical elements

I'm sure you know how much I love asymmetric clothing.

Opting for an asymmetric dress is a great way to draw attention away from your belly. A dress with asymmetry can create vertical and diagonal lines, giving a slimming illusion.

Depending on how much of a belly you feel you need to hide, you can opt for a dress that is more fitted or looser.

I'd swap the ripped jeans (below) for leggings or slimline pants.

ZANZEA High/Low Hooded Dress

Asymmetric clothing is very flattering for your body. Even if you don't want to downplay your tummy but another area of your body, consider adding asymmetrical pieces to your wardrobe.

Be sure to check my recommendations for the best asymmetric clothing.

Shift dress

A shift dress in the right fabric (natural is best) won't cling in all the wrong places. It will skim over your midsection and show off your legs.

There are a couple of examples for you below, one in a print pattern and one block color.

Sara @style_designco above chooses a leopard print look with her sneakers.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress (another option here), sneakers and crossbody bag.

You could also try a block color shift dress like the Halogen dress (below) which you could wear with a statement necklace.

Halogen Pleat Detail Shift Dress

Draw attention to your neckline

By drawing attention upwards to your neckline, and therefore your face, you will take the attention off your middle section.

This dress from Alex Evenings (below) features embellishment which draws attention to the neck and shoulders and away from your tummy.

Alex Evenings Shift Dress with Embellished Illusion Detail

Shirtdress

A shirt dress can be a good option to hide a belly. You could choose for a dress with buttons down or with a belted waist.

Eugenia @theeageofgrace above (read her style interview here) opts for a striped shirtdress and statement boots.

Steal her look with this similar shirtdress, boots and crossbody bag.

Sopliagon Cotton and Linen Maxi Shirt Dress

Hide your tummy by layering your dress

It's easier to think about layers in terms of separate tops and bottoms.

But, you can definitely still add a stylish layer over a dress.

Choose a long sleeveless vest to add style (and tummy camouflage) to your outfit. This creates a slimming effect of a column of color in the middle, and two columns on either side, breaking up your silhouette so your belly is not as noticeable.

This sleeveless cardigan can easily be layered over a dress. For instance, if you popped this over your favorite little black dress, you would create a flattering column of color down the middle of your outfit.

Isaac Liev Sleeveless Cardigan

Or, you could layer a pashmina like the shawl (below) over your outfit to create a tummy-hiding drape.

ShineGlitz Pashmina Shawl

Empire waist dress

What works for one woman will not necessarily work for the next, so really this is about playing around with what works for you. Some women report that these kind of dresses make them look pregnant, while others find them the ultimate tummy hiding dress.

An empire waist dress could work for you by drawing attention to the slimmest part of your torso, which will be the part directly underneath your bust, and skimming over your belly rather than clinging.

You can also opt to emphasize your breasts with an empire dress if this is part of your body you like.

Julie @stylishparadox above (read her style interview here) looks fabulous in her empire line dress. You can see that the stripes run across her bust to emphasize the chest area and then they run vertically down to minimize the tummy.

She is wearing a pair sandals from Steve Madden and a handbag from Brandon Blackwood. Check out this dress for a similar look.

Another empire dress you might wish to try is the loose dress (below) which comes in six colors. Reviewers say it is a nice weight and drapes well.

QiMei Empire Waist Loose Dress

Frills or ruffles can hide tummies too

Just as with the draping you opt for, you can choose frills or ruffles which create a number of effects.

You could, for example, draw attention away from your tummy by having ruffles on the arms. Just make sure, if you do, that the sleeveless doesn't fall at the same place as your belly.

Or, you could find a dress which has a frill or ruffle drawing the eye upwards and downwards rather than across.

The ruffle dress (below) would look good worn over leggings. You could choose leather leggings and heels for a night out.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Tara Cascade Ruffle Dress

Drapes are a tummy's best friend!

Depending on the way a drape falls on you, it can either emphasize or disguise a belly.

It may be a question of experimenting a little until you find one which works for you.

Look for a dress that has a flattering draped effect, but does not add extra bulk around the tummy area, or draw attention to it. The drape front wrap dress (below) is likely to be flattering on most figures.

Karen Kane Wrap Style Drape Front Dress

Use layers to hide your tummy

Layers are always good for hiding a multitude of "issues" that you aren't keen on.

Deborah @deborahgates_ above (read her style interview here) shows off a style that would be good to hide a tummy. The drapes skim over the belly area while her red necklace draws the eye up to her face.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, pants, sandals, necklace and bracelet.

Some dresses already come with clever layers built in, like this overlay dress (below) which would be perfect for any formal events you are invited to, for going out to dinner or for wearing more casually with flat sandals during the warmer months.

Chaus Crisscross Back Overlay Short Sleeve Dress

Pleated dress

Pleating can have a lot of advantages when it comes to hiding a belly.

The pleats mean that the dress is not close-fitting. Plus, pleats naturally create a series of vertical lines. The off-the-shoulder pleat dress (below) draws the attention to the shoulders and also the bust, making the waist appear slimmer.

Mmondschein Off Shoulder Pleated Chiffon Dress

Puff sleeve

Puff sleeve dresses are particularly on trend right now.

This dress from Pretty Garden (below) has sleeves that end at the bust line drawing the eye there rather than to the belly.

PRETTYGARDEN Puff Sleeve Midi Dress

belted dress

I've featured a number of belted dresses above already as you shouldn't shy way from trying a belted style. Just be sure that you try different places to belt your dress, and settle on emphasizing your slimmest point.

The print on the tie-dye dress (below) will help to hide a tummy and you can play around with where you tie the belt for the most flattering effect.

Fraiche by J Tie Dye Belted Long Sleeve Midi Dress

Blouson dress

A blouson dress is another option which can work for some women but not for others. The blouson top can create the illusion that your top half is a little larger as well as draping over the tummy, which makes your waist look smaller.

Calvin Klein Chiffon Blouson Dress with All Over Embellished Skirt

trapeze

A trapeze, or a swing style dress skims over the tummy area and, if you choose a high-low style like the dress from Karen Kane (below), they can emphasize the legs instead.

Kimba @kimbalikes above wears her asymmetric, trapeze tunic over her jeans.

Check out this swing top from R.Vivimos that you can wear with this similar pair of jeans, loafers and headband.

Karen Kane Maggie Cap Sleeve Trapeze Dress

Sweater dress

A sweater dress could be a good idea if it is cool where you are.

Sweater dresses can either be very flattering or they can look boxy and cling to every lump and bump. Choose a dress in a soft knit that drapes rather than clings. It's best not to choose knitwear which adds unwanted bulk such as cable knits. Wear with your leggings or with skinny pants.

The long sleeve dress (below) is relatively loose fitting and would look good worn over leggings with boots for winter. The button detailing down the side will draw the eye to your legs rather than tummy.

OFEEFAN Long Sleeve Dress

Summer dresses

Perhaps you're heading into summer where you live, or you're lucky enough to be vacationing in warmer climes. In that case, you'll find inspiration below:

Belly bulge is very common in women over 40. Even though I'm quite slim all over I too have a belly bulge and I'm not keen to highlight it.

It's very common to develop a tummy at peri-menopause or menopause, even if you haven't previously had a problem with this area of your body.

One easy way to hide this belly bulge is to choose dress that's wide and drapy like the dress I wear in the picture above.

Since the dress fits snugly at the top and is supposed to go wide, it's still very flattering and no one needs to know that you have a tummy.

The dress I am wearing above is from Stella Carakasi but is no longer available. Below are tie dresses that can also hide your belly.

Naggoo Short Sleeve Split Dress

HUSKARY Summer Maxi Dress

Or, you could choose a tunic dress. The one below from Amazon is quite short, so you may want to wear leggings underneath.

TINYHI Swing Tunic Dress

• Alex Evenings
• Eileen Fisher
• Karen Kane

What do you feel are the best dresses to hide the tummy? What has worked for  you?

Continue reading:

1. 14 Sure-Fire Ways To Hide Your Belly With The Right Clothes
2. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
3. The Best Pants And Skirts To Fit And Hide Your Belly

Like this article on the best dresses to hide the tummy? Save it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Alison @wardrobe_oxygen

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