The Best Dresses If You Want to Feel Comfortable Around Your Stomach

There are nights when you want the fitted dress.

The sculpted waist.

The shapewear.

The whole sucked-in-for-dear-life situation.

And then there are nights when you just want to eat the bread, drink the champagne and enjoy yourself.

Honestly, this is one of the most common conversations we have with women in the fitting room at Your Secret Closet.

They don't necessarily say:

“I need to hide my stomach.”

More often, it's:

“I just don't want anything really tight around here.”

And I completely understand the difference.

Maybe you're going to a wedding where you'll be eating and drinking for eight hours. Maybe it's a long lunch. Maybe you're feeling bloated. Maybe your body has changed. Or maybe you simply don't like the feeling of fabric clinging tightly around your stomach.

You don't need a reason.

And you certainly don't need to spend an entire event pulling at your dress, sucking in or wondering what your stomach looks like from the side.

So this Style Guide isn't about hiding your tummy.

It's about finding a dress that gives you shape, movement and comfort — and then allows you to forget about your stomach altogether.

First: Don't Automatically Buy Something Huge

This is probably where I'd start in the fitting room.

If a woman tells me she's conscious of her stomach, the instinct can be to reach for the biggest, loosest dress possible.

But sometimes that does the exact opposite of what you want.

An enormous amount of fabric can make the whole body appear larger because we've lost every bit of shape.

What I generally prefer is:

Definition somewhere + freedom around the stomach.

That definition could be at the shoulders.

It could be through the bust.

It could be at the natural waist.

It could come from a beautiful neckline.

Or it might simply be a well-constructed upper body before the skirt moves away.

You don't necessarily want to hide your entire figure because there's one area you don't want your dress clinging to.

A-Line Is One of the Easiest Places to Start

If you tell me you don't want to think about your stomach all night, an A-line or fit-and-flare silhouette is one of the first shapes I'd consider.

Why?

Because we can still create shape through the upper body before allowing the fabric to move away from the stomach rather than gripping it.

The LEO LIN Cleo Petal Sleeveless Midi is a great example from our collection.

The Cleo still gives you that gorgeous, feminine shape through the upper body, but the silhouette doesn't require fabric to be skin-tight across the stomach.

That's an important distinction.

You don't need an enormous dress.

You just need enough room that when you sit down after dinner, you're not suddenly thinking:

Oh God. I shouldn't have eaten that bread roll.

Eat the bread roll.

We just need to find you a better dress.

Ruching and Draping Can Be Absolute Magic

I love ruching when it's done properly.

A completely flat, fitted piece of fabric doesn't give you much forgiveness. Every little line underneath it can become visible.

Ruching gives us texture.

Draping gives us movement.

Diagonal lines, gathering and folds of fabric mean your eye isn't focusing on one completely smooth, tight surface across the stomach.

And importantly, ruching and draping don't mean you have to wear something loose or conservative.

You can still look sexy.

You can still wear a gown.

You can still have shape.

The Tojha November Gown is a great example of why movement and draping can be so effective.

You still get a proper event dress. You still get drama. You still get a beautiful silhouette.

But you don't have to feel as though every centimetre of fabric is shrink-wrapped around your stomach.

Feeling comfortable around your middle doesn't mean sacrificing glamour.

Don't Be Frightened of a Defined Waist

This one can surprise people.

If you're conscious of your stomach, you might automatically think:

“The last thing I want is something pulling in at my waist.”

But defining your waist and squeezing your stomach are two completely different things.

Sometimes showing where your waist actually is creates a much more flattering overall silhouette than putting yourself into something completely shapeless.

The LEO LIN Florence Velvet Ruffled Maxi is a good example.

There's so much beautiful visual interest happening with the Florence — the velvet, ruffles, movement and overall silhouette — that we're looking at the whole dress.

We're not staring at the stomach.

And that's really what good styling should do.

Instead of desperately trying to make one part of the body disappear, we're creating a beautiful overall proportion.

Waist Placement Still Matters

That said, where the dress defines your waist is incredibly important.

A waistband sitting comfortably at your natural waist can be fabulous.

A tight seam cutting directly across the area you're most conscious of?

Probably not.

And this is where generic advice like “wear a dress with a defined waist” becomes fairly useless.

We need to put the actual dress on the actual woman.

Where does that seam sit?

What happens underneath it?

Does the skirt fall away?

Does the fabric pull?

Does it feel good when you sit down?

Those things matter far more than what the silhouette is technically called.

Don't Assume Structured Means Uncomfortable

We often think that if we want room around our stomach, we need soft, floaty fabric.

Not necessarily.

Sometimes structure is actually your friend.

A beautifully structured fabric can hold its own shape rather than collapsing against every contour of your body.

The Acler Kenley is a great example of why I want women to try dresses before deciding they're going to be unforgiving.

Good construction can help create the silhouette itself.

You're not relying on shapewear underneath it.

You're not relying on your stomach being completely flat.

And you're not necessarily relying on metres of loose fabric to disguise anything.

This is why fabric and construction matter just as much as dress shape.

Thin and loose isn't automatically more forgiving than structured.

Sometimes it's completely the opposite.

Fabric Matters More Than People Realise

Two dresses can have almost identical silhouettes and behave completely differently because of the fabric.

A very thin satin can cling.

An unlined lightweight fabric can show every little thing underneath it.

A good crepe can skim beautifully.

A structured woven fabric can hold itself away from the body.

A softer fabric can drape rather than pull.

So instead of only asking:

“Is this dress fitted?”

I'd ask:

“What does the fabric actually do?”

Does it cling?

Does it skim?

Does it stretch?

Does it pull?

Is it lined?

And most importantly:

Can you comfortably sit down in it?

Satin Isn't Off Limits

I don't want this to become another Style Guide telling women what they aren't allowed to wear.

So no, I'm not saying you can't wear satin if you're conscious of your stomach.

But satin can be less forgiving when it's cut very closely to the body.

If you're looking at satin, consider whether the dress has draping, gathering, bias cutting, ruching or a little more movement through the skirt.

The Acler Werona Maxi is the kind of longer, elegant silhouette I'd want someone to actually try rather than automatically dismissing because they're worried about their middle.

A beautiful occasion dress doesn't have to be either skin-tight or a tent.

There's a very large and stylish area in between.

Draw the Eye Somewhere Else

This is probably one of the simplest styling tricks in the article.

If you don't want your stomach to be the focus, give us something fabulous to look at somewhere else.

The LEO LIN Sofia Puff Sleeve Maxi is a brilliant example.

Those sleeves do a lot of work.

They're dramatic, feminine and immediately draw your eye upwards towards the shoulders, neckline and face.

Instead of thinking:

“How do I hide my stomach?”

Try thinking:

“Where do I want the eye to go?”

The Sofia gives us a pretty clear answer.

Up.

The same principle can apply to an incredible neckline, statement shoulders, an open back, fabulous legs, beautiful embroidery or a killer pair of shoes.

We don't always need to hide one area.

Sometimes we simply need to create interest somewhere else.

If You Love Your Legs, Get Them Out

Being conscious of your stomach doesn't mean you're suddenly sentenced to floor-length dresses.

If you have legs you love, show them.

The Acler Limosa Mini is exactly the sort of style I'd want someone to try.

Rather than covering you from neck to floor because there's one area you're conscious of, we're doing the opposite.

We're showing off something you love.

The LEO LIN Yvonne Embroidered Mini is another great example.

You've got the shorter hemline plus all that gorgeous embroidery and detail giving your eye plenty of other places to go.

Suddenly your stomach isn't the star of the show.

And this is a really important distinction in the way we style women at YSC.

I don't particularly like starting with:

“What do we need to hide?”

I'd much rather ask:

“What do you want to show off?”

A Maxi Can Give You Incredible Freedom

At the other end of the spectrum, a maxi can be fabulous if you want movement and a little more freedom through the middle.

The Acler Werona Maxi is a beautiful option when you want something elegant and event-appropriate without feeling as though you've been shrink-wrapped into it.

The Tojha November Gown gives us another approach.

It has movement and drama and still feels like a proper gown.

And that's an important point.

A dress that feels comfortable around your stomach does not need to look like you've chosen it purely because it's “safe”.

You should still love the dress.

You should still feel fabulous in it.

Comfortable doesn't have to mean boring.

Embroidery, Ruffles and Detail Can Be Your Friend

Another thing I like to look for is visual interest.

The LEO LIN Yvonne Embroidered Mini gives us embroidery.

The LEO LIN Florence Velvet Ruffled Maxi gives us texture and ruffles.

The LEO LIN Sofia Puff Sleeve Maxi gives us those incredible sleeves.

They're completely different dresses, but they all demonstrate the same idea.

The eye doesn't have to land on your stomach.

And this is a much more positive way of dressing than trying to camouflage yourself.

We're not making you disappear.

We're giving the outfit somewhere else to shine.

Don't Forget What Happens When You Sit Down

This is my incredibly technical fitting-room test:

Sit down.

Seriously.

You're going to spend part of the event sitting.

A dress that feels perfectly comfortable while you're standing in front of a mirror might suddenly dig into your waist, pull across your stomach or create an entirely different shape when you sit.

If you're hiring something for a wedding, long lunch, corporate event or dinner, test it.

Sit.

Cross your legs.

Lean forward.

Have an imaginary champagne if necessary.

And if you're already uncomfortable after 30 seconds in the fitting room, you're not going to magically become more comfortable four hours into the event.

And Please Don't Automatically Reach for Shapewear

Shapewear is brilliant if you like wearing it.

But I don't think it should be the automatic solution every time a woman says she's conscious of her stomach.

Sometimes the solution isn't stronger underwear.

It's a better dress.

If shapewear makes you feel fabulous, wear it.

If you're going to spend the entire night unable to breathe properly and desperate to take it off, let's find you a dress that doesn't require it.

You're supposed to enjoy yourself.

Sometimes Going Up a Size Is the Best Styling Decision

Nobody sees the label when you're wearing the dress.

If a size 10 technically zips but is pulling across your stomach and the size 12 falls beautifully, wear the 12.

You're not going to look smaller because you've squeezed yourself into the smaller size.

Often the opposite happens.

Fabric pulling horizontally across the stomach can draw attention directly to the area you're trying not to emphasise.

The larger size may skim instead.

And suddenly the whole silhouette looks cleaner.

Dress the body. Not the number.

Think About Where You're Actually Going

This is something we sometimes forget when choosing a dress.

What I'm happy wearing to a two-hour cocktail party might be completely different from what I want on my body for an eight-hour wedding.

If your event involves:

Champagne.

Canapés.

Dinner.

Dessert.

More champagne.

And several hours sitting at a table...

Factor that into your dress choice.

There is nothing glamorous about loving your outfit at 4pm and desperately wanting to rip it off by 8pm.

Comfort is part of good styling.

Our YSC Picks If You Want to Feel Comfortable Around Your Stomach

If you came into Your Secret Closet and told me:

“I just don't want anything clinging to my stomach,”

these are some of the dresses I'd want you to try.

LEO LIN Florence Velvet Ruffled Maxi

A beautiful option when you want drama, texture and movement. The ruffles and overall silhouette give the eye plenty to look at without making the stomach the focal point.

Tojha November Gown

A gorgeous example of using draping and movement rather than flat, tight fabric across the body. You can still feel properly dressed for a formal event without feeling restricted.

Acler Kenley

Proof that structured doesn't necessarily mean unforgiving. Great construction can help create the silhouette of the dress rather than relying on your body underneath it to do all the work.

Acler Limosa Mini

If you love your legs, use them. A great mini shifts the focus and is a reminder that feeling conscious of your stomach doesn't mean you need to cover your entire body.

LEO LIN Cleo Petal Sleeveless Midi

A gorgeous option for creating shape through the upper body before allowing the silhouette to move away rather than grip tightly across the stomach.

LEO LIN Sofia Puff Sleeve Maxi

Those incredible sleeves immediately draw the eye upwards. A perfect example of using statement detail to create balance rather than trying to hide part of your body.

LEO LIN Yvonne Embroidered Mini

Embroidery, detail and a shorter hem give the eye plenty of other places to go. Feminine, fun and a great option if your legs are something you love showing off.

Acler Werona Maxi

An elegant longer option for someone who wants an occasion dress without feeling as though she's been shrink-wrapped into it.

And you'll notice these dresses don't all look remotely alike.

Some are minis.

Some are maxis.

Some are structured.

Some have movement.

Some draw attention to your legs.

Others bring your eye towards the shoulders, neckline or beautiful detailing.

That's deliberate.

Because there isn't one magical “tummy-hiding dress”.

And actually, I don't particularly like that phrase anyway.

We're not trying to make part of your body disappear.

We're trying to find the dress you can put on, look in the mirror and stop thinking about your stomach.

The Most Important Test? Stop Checking Your Stomach

This is probably my real measure of whether we've found the right dress.

When you first walk out of the fitting room, where do your hands go?

Are you immediately pulling the fabric across your stomach?

Turning sideways?

Sucking in?

Asking:

“Can you see my tummy?”

Or do you look in the mirror and say:

“Oh my God. I love this.”

That's what we're looking for.

Not necessarily the dress that makes your stomach appear the smallest.

The dress that makes you stop thinking about your stomach altogether.

Because you're going to a wedding, the races, a birthday, a black-tie event or a fabulous dinner.

You're supposed to be talking, eating, drinking, dancing and enjoying yourself.

Not spending six hours holding your stomach in.

And sometimes the most flattering dress you'll ever wear isn't the one that changes your body.

It's the one comfortable enough to let you forget about it.