The Best Dresses For A Big Tummy + Italian Styling Tips

Are you looking for the best dresses for a big tummy—and practical, flattering ways to style them for your body shape?

You’re in the right place.

I’m Alessia, the writer and founder behind Italy with an Italian, and in this article I’ll show you how to choose and wear dresses that help you feel comfortable, confident, and beautifully put together.

We’ll focus on dresses in their peak season—the warmer months and those in-between transitional periods—when choosing the right fit can make all the difference in how confident you feel.

Along the way, you’ll find simple styling tips, body-flattering details to look for, and a few shopping gems you may want to grab.

Let’s get started.

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PS: This post includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have or would personally buy.

Find The Perfect Dress

Different Types Of Tummy Plus Styling Tips

Before I start sharing the dresses styles and outfit ideas, I’d like to help you identify the type of tummy you have. That’s not to say you don’t already know that, but taking a moment to think about it now will make scrolling through the looks below much more helpful because you’ll know exactly which looks are best suited for you.

Lower belly or belly pooch: No matter how thin or not we are, most of us have this, especially as we start aging. It’s also something that can come and go based on hormonal changes, bloating issues, or simply how much we’ve eaten lately. Yours might be a little more prominent, making it more difficult to style, but don’t lose hope. This article will help you.

In case, you are confused about this type of belly, it sits lower on your stomach and pooches out, making your abdomen no longer flat.
Muffin top: This is the most common with people who tend to overeat, or gain weight in their mid section. Over time this type of tummy can create fat rolls, and create a muffin top that spills out of your pants or is visible under clothes, especially more fitted ones. I will give you specific dress styles and styling tips on how to pick dresses for this type of tummy.
Apple body tummy: If your body type is apple, that means your mid section is your largest area, while you might have slimmer hips, thighs and legs. In some cases, this body type will come with a larger tummy, which will make dressing a little more complicated. I will show you how to dress to flatter your body and feel confident with examples of similar body types.

How To Pick The Right Dress To Hide Your Belly

1. Know your dress type. That’s the first tip you will spot throughout this post. I am going to suggest the best types, but you will have to go in store, order online, or simply pull different styles of dresses out of your wardrobe and try them on. That’s the only way you are going to find your best dress type/s. Once you do, you can order online much more easily by simply knowing that detail and your size.

2. Pick the right colors. Be aware of how different colors, color combinations, and color placement can help you slim, elongate, and flatter. It’s important you also know which pairings do the opposite. I will share more about this too.

3. Use prints to your favor. Prints can help you attract the attention to different areas of your body, as well as confuse the eye and help you flatter your tummy. I will show you different examples.

4. Layering can do wonders. It’s amazing how adding a layering piece can help you elongate, hide your belly, and elevate the entire look. Of course, it’s also a great thing to do for staying warm and transitioning your dresses into multiple season. We’ll look at how you can do this, depending on your tummy type and the dress you are wearing underneath.

5. Scarves: Italian women love accessorising with scarves. You should copy that, not only because it elevates your outfit and makes it instantly more elegant, but also because it’s a simple way to deter the attention from your tummy area. Don’t worry, I will show you the best scarf types and how to wear them.

6. Unique design & fabric details: Gathering, unique silhouette, frills, wider sleeves, and asymmetrical hem lines can help flatter a big tummy, as well as attract the attention away from that area. I will show you practical dress ideas so you know what to look for when shopping.

These tips should help you dress with a big tummy more confidently, no matter the size of the tummy or your dress size. They work both for plus size women, as well as women who are suddenly having to deal with a larger tummy.

But first, let’s start with the one dress you might be fearing the most – the white dress. I want to inspire you by showing you how trying out one in the right style and following the other tips might lead you to find your favorite white Summer dress for the season.

White Dress With A Big Tummy

If you think you can’t wear white because of your belly problem, let me show you otherwise. The key is to wear something that either hides it or flatters it, and finish the outfit in a way that directs the eye elsewhere.

Here’s how I would do it, depending on where your belly sits.

How to wear it to hide a lower belly:

Wear flattering well fitted seamless undergarments.
Choose the sleeve cut you prefer.
Choose the length that you feel most comfortable wearing. However, if you have beautiful legs, don’t be afraid to show them. That actually helps disguise your belly because it draws the eyes away from it. Of course, we always want to do it in the most elegant and classy way, which in my opinion is just above the knees.
Wear bold accessories – shoes, belt and purse. Matching them will create a very Italian, cohesive and classic look.
The most important part is to find an A line dress that has a high quality thick structured fabric that holds its flare and flares at the right point for your belly. You also want it to have the right shade of white that looks good against your skin tone, but that doesn’t look cheap or dirty. Depending on where your pooch starts and whether it comes with love handles or not, you might need to look at an A line dress with an empire waist, which sits and flares higher than normal.

Wear it like this to flatter your apple shape tummy:

If you have a bigger mid section, shift dresses are going to be your best friend. You want a dress that flares higher up, unlike an A line, and creates a beautiful volume that helps disguise that section.

With this style, you want a shorter length, just above or below the knees, and heels or flattering shoes that can balance the volume the dress has created.

Wearing a sleeveless dress, or choosing one with clear sleeves, helps lighten the dress in those areas where you don’t need the coverage.

Again, you want to draw the eyes away from the middle section, by adding interest and color to your shoes, or your earrings.

Wear it like this to hide your muffin top:

Both outfits above can work with a muffin top. The key is to wear the right underwear that contains everything in a seamless way. I would suggest trying both types of dresses, and see which one you like best.

Depending on the type of muffin top you have, don’t be afraid to try something a little tighter, like a wrap style dress or even a sheath dress. Make sure you try it with the right undergarments!

Colored Dresses To Hide Your Tummy

You’ve likely grown up believing that the best way to disguise a part of your body you don’t like is to wear black, or other dark colors. That’s correct, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear bright colors. If worn the right way, bright colors can actually flatter your tummy. Let me explain.

If you are wearing a two-piece outfit, like pants and a button up shirt, the colored piece should be the one you want to attract the eyes towards. In the case of a big tummy, the pants will be the pop of color and the top will be the darker color. That way, people’s eyes will be drawn away from your tummy.

Of course, the cut and shape of both pieces plays as much importance as the color.

You might be thinking that because dresses usually come in one solid color, bright colors will only draw more attention to your tummy. You are not wrong, but it works slightly differently.

When you wear a full pink or red dress, and choose a style that already flatters your big tummy, the pop of color will usually draw attention as a whole, without necessarily having the eyes go to your tummy.

I can confirm this after having looked at multiple people with different shaped bodies wearing bright dresses.

With that said, let’s look at colored dresses for each of three big belly types we identified in the beginning of this post.

I am going to use a bright fuchsia pink dress as an example, but I recommend you swap the color for a bright color that complements your skin tone.

PS: If you don’t know it, I am going to write a simple article to help you understand your best colors. Bookmark this blog and come back. You can also sign up to my newsletter and I will inform you when it is available for you to read.

If your problem is love handles or a muffin top:

Wear your fuschia dress with the right undergarments that hold everything in, are seamless and flatter the rest of your body shape – your legs, your derriere and your chest too.
Go for a classic A line dress.
You can choose puffed sleeves to attract the eye away from your problem area.
Pair it with your favorite accessories. Italians love wearing beige with fuschia, but they are also not afraid to color block.

Want to hide your belly pooch?

Wear your fuschia dress with the right undergarments that hold everything in, are seamless and flatter the rest of your body shape – your legs, your derriere and your chest too.
You can go for a classic A line dress, but make sure that the flare starts at the right point.
You also want a fabric thick enough to hold its flare and not show the tummy area.
Big sleeves are again a good way to direct the attention elsewhere.

How to wear a bright dress if you are apple shaped?

The right undergarments are key.
Go for a shift style dress that has enough fabric and flares at the right point, preferably from the neckline down.
Wear a short dress, or opt for sleeveless. That will help you direct the attention to your legs or your arms, and away from your tummy.
Wear your bag handheld, in a contrasting color. That way the eye will go there, which is far away from your middle section, especially if you have long arms.

Printed Dresses Should Be Your Best Friend!

If you thought that black dresses are your best friend, well, say hello to your other bestie.

Prints, whether they are full on dresses or single garments worn strategically to confuse the eye, are great to have in your wardrobe. Plus, they are also a fun way to add personality to your outfits.

If you happen to be someone who likes dressing in a minimal style, you can also find subtler and less bright prints to complement your wardrobe. However, the bigger and busier the print, the stronger its ability to hide your belly.

Let me show you three examples, one for each big belly type.

An A line maxi shirt dress with a beautiful busy print will disguise your lower pooch, muffin top and love handles.

If you have an apple shaped body, try a printed shift style or even a straight line tunic style dress in a half size larger, or in your size if it comes with extra fabric. We don’t want any fabrics clinging to our bodies, especially when we have areas to hide!

If your problem is more minimal, a printed dress in an empire style is all you need to disguise the eyes.

Of course, the right undergarments are still a must. And you can use any of my other tips, even with printed dresses – color blocking, wearing your bag away from your mid section, showing your legs, etc.

Layering Your Dresses Can Slim You!

If it’s Spring, Fall, or Winter, you can use your outerwear to help you create a contoured silhouette. However, even in the warmer months, there are still other ways to achieve that look. Tailored vests are a great example, but not the only one!

Let’s look at an example for each of the three tummy types.

These three examples work for all three types.

The first might not work for apple shape bodies because of that waist seam. I would suggest a dress without seams, or even better, a shift dress.

Can you see how each dress style gives you both femininity but also enough fabric to disguise the eye? The darker color also helps with that.

The layering piece helps elongate but also covers any areas of concern, especially because it creates a straight line.

If you are a petite woman, I would suggest choosing colors that are fairly close to each other to avoid too harsh interruptions, because monochrome elongates and slims. Of course, opting for the same color layering piece is ideal, especially if you have a printed dress like the third example. That’s going to maintain the monochrome effect while also adding more interest to the outfit.

Try These Types Of Dresses For Your Big Tummy

Have you ever tried a peplum dress?
What about dresses with extra gathering?
Or wrap style dresses that split and flare?

Let me show you what I mean.

The peplum is especially perfect if your tummy sits higher up.

Whereas all the other examples are perfect for lower belly issues, muffin tops and love handles.

If you have an apple-shaped body, I would suggest still trying the peplum, because that effect can still make you look slimmer, but you need to try it and see it for yourself.

I would also suggest trying style dresses like number three, that flare and have gathering at the waist but also extra fabric details around the chest area and arms. Those details will create interest and break from the straight lines that normally emphasize the body shape.

A great detail that’s going to balance if you happen have a large tummy but are also small on top, is going to be an extra fabric overlay on top of the dress – usually attached to the dress. This also serves to cover any tummy that sits higher up.

You can also try it if you have an apple shape, but you may want a fabric detail that falls into an asymmetrical design to avoid adding more bulk at the top of your body. Example one is the best one in this case.

Wear A Scarf On Top Of Your Dress

Wearing a scarf not only helps disguise the eye from your tummy area, but also elongates your body. It must however be wide and long enough, but also not too long.

You can wear it hanging around your neck, and in front of your torso, without tying it. This is Italians’ women’s favorite way to wear a scarf for styling.

You can also tie a knot at the neckline and make it hang slightly open, so that it hangs over the tummy area.

Of course, a scarf on its own cannot do magic. You must be layering it on top of an outfit that’s already working for your body shape. You can see what I mean in the examples below.