Hide Your Tummy Flaws: Tank Top Tricks

Hiding your tummy in a tank top is all about choosing the right style, fit, and fabric. Here are some tips to help you achieve a flattering look:

- Opt for a longer-style tunic or an asymmetrical top to create a vertical line and elongate your silhouette.

- Look for draped, peplum, empire, or wrap styles that flatter your figure and draw attention away from your tummy.

- Avoid tight or clingy garments. Instead, choose tops with ruching or draping that skim over your belly.

- Wear leggings or skinny pants with longer, draped, or asymmetrical tops to create a balanced outfit.

- Create vertical lines with long cardigans, jackets, or vests to disguise your tummy and give the illusion of length.

- Avoid bulky garments around the tummy area, and consider a vertical loose drape instead.

- Experiment with prints and patterns to distract the eye and camouflage your belly.

- Highlight other parts of your body, such as your legs or shoulders, with hemlines or off-the-shoulder styles.

- Pay attention to sleeve lengths, ensuring they don't end at the widest point of your belly.

- Invest in good shapewear if you're comfortable with it—it can provide a smoothing effect under your tank top.

Wear a top with ruching or draping

Ruching is the gathering of fabric and is different from smocking. Tops with ruching are instantly slimming and bring attention to the breast area rather than the tummy.

When choosing a top with ruching, it is important to select the right size—not your dream size (the one you wish you wore)—but the one that actually fits right now. If you don't know what that means, ask for help.

A crossover top is very effective and creates asymmetrical vertical lines, which is an extra bonus. Karen Kane is a good brand to look out for to find flattering, layered, crossover tops.

The best tops to hide a tummy are wrap tops, asymmetrical tops, tops with ruching, and peplum tops.

Choose a wrap top

Wrap tops are a great option for hiding your tummy in a tank top. They give the illusion of an hourglass figure by tying under the bust and typically have a V-neck, which is flattering as it lengthens your silhouette.

Wrap tops are also versatile and can be dressed up or down. For a casual look, pair your wrap top with jeans and sandals or sneakers. For a more dressed-up look, you can wear a wrap top with a skirt and heels or dress pants and loafers.

When choosing a wrap top to hide your tummy, look for one made with a thicker fabric that has some hold and structure. Fabrics like cotton, linen, and even denim will skim over your tummy without being clingy. Avoid very thin, clingy fabrics, which are rarely flattering.

You can also create a slimming effect by choosing a wrap top with vertical stripes or a vertical colour block pattern. This will draw the eye up and down, making your silhouette appear longer and leaner.

Additionally, look for wrap tops with some structure around the shoulders, such as puff shoulders or ruffles, or add shoulder pads to create the illusion of an hourglass figure by balancing the shoulder and midsection.

Opt for an asymmetrical top

Asymmetrical tops are a great way to hide your tummy in a tank top. They create vertical and diagonal lines, breaking up your silhouette and drawing attention away from your midsection. Look for asymmetrical tops that start on the left and then go vertical down to the right. These will create flattering vertical lines and make you appear taller.

• Made by Johnny Swing Tunic Top
• AllSaints Lock Rolled Neck Asymmetric Sweater
• Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top
• Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Tremarz Asymmetric Top
• Naadam Asymmetric Patchwork Button-Front Shirt
• Star Vixen Hanky Hem Top

Wear a peplum top

Peplum tops are a great way to hide your tummy in a tank top. The peplum style is a type of blouse or shirt that has a flared or ruffled fabric attached at the waistline, creating a flouncy, skirt-like effect. This design feature can be quite flattering and effective in hiding belly fat. The fabric that flares out from the waistline creates a loose and flowing effect, which helps to draw attention away from the midsection. The flare drapes over the belly area, providing coverage and minimizing its visibility.

The flouncy and eye-catching nature of a peplum top helps divert unwanted attention away from the belly. The ruffles, draping, or intricate details around the waistline draw the eyes upward and create a focal point away from the midsection. This visual distraction shifts the focus to the overall design of the top, rather than the belly area. A peplum top is great for creating some waist definition.

• Choose a peplum top with a flared or ruffled fabric that is attached at the waistline. This will create a flouncy, skirt-like effect that will help to hide your tummy.
• Look for peplum tops with ruffles, draping, or intricate details around the waistline. These elements will help to draw the eyes upward and create a focal point away from the midsection.
• Opt for peplum tops in lightweight, flowy fabrics such as chiffon or silk. These fabrics will skim over your body instead of clinging to it, creating a smoother silhouette.
• Try wearing a peplum top with a structured jacket. The jacket will help to create a more defined waist and will also provide additional coverage for your midsection.
• Experiment with different styles of peplum tops to find what works best for you. You can try peplum tops with different necklines, sleeve lengths, and fabric types to find the most flattering option for your body type.

Select a top with a v-neck or scoop neck

V-necks and scoop necks are a great way to draw attention away from your tummy and up towards your face and neck. This is especially true if you combine it with a wrap style.

V-necks are universally flattering and are perfect for women who don't have much of a natural waist, or who are heavier in the tummy. They visually point to the shoulders and waist, drawing the eye in and up.

Scoop necks are similar to V-necks in that they elongate the look of your torso and draw attention to your face. They are also good for women with a large bust as they can make it appear smaller. However, if you have a small bust, you should avoid a very deep, low scoop as this can squash your chest and make it look smaller.

Frequently asked questions