7 Clothes to Wear That Give You a Flat Stomach

Want to look instantly slimmer in all your clothes? Learn to minimize a poofy tummy and create a skinnier silhouette with these fashion tricks for hiding a mushy middle.

You can feel confident in your outfits without doing a million crunches. You just need to learn some key fashion tricks for what to wear to conceal a curvy tummy.

Here's what you should wear to get a flatter stomach instantly in clothes.

1. Shapewear & Other Undergarments

The best thing you can do to get a flatter stomach in your clothes is invest in some shapewear.

Body shapers can make you look instantly skinnier by flattening and containing your belly, while smoothing bulges.

When you wear skirts and dresses, another option is to wear nylons or thin tights with a "control top" that's designed to hold in your stomach.

You can even look to your underwear for help. Instead of skimpy thongs or bikinis, try stretchy "boy short" undies that help hold in your belly.

2. The Right Jeans

Battling a bit of tummy bulge? Avoid low-rise jeans that can create the dreaded muffin-top effect, or high-waisted denim pants that can widen your middle.

Instead, opt for a mid-rise jean style, with a waistband around your middle to hold your tummy in. Choose a dark wash jean that will have an overall slimming effect.

Avoid styles with whiskering or distressing above the knees, as this draws unwanted attention toward your middle.

The best jean silhouette to camouflage a big stomach is one that balances your shape and draws the eye all the way down, and away from your belly. Try straight-leg, boot-cut or flared jean styles.

3. A-Line Skirt

If you're self-conscious of your tummy, you'll love the way an A-line skirt can give you a flat stomach.

This skirt style is fitted through the waist, hips, and upper legs, then flares out toward the knees, creating a wide point low on your body that balances a heavy middle.

You can choose a knee-length style, don't go shorter, you want to draw the eye downward.

Or, try one of this season's fashionable mid-calf length skirts. Be sure to avoid tapered skirts, such as pencils or tight columns, which make you look widest in the middle of your body, where you're trying to distract attention from.

4. Color-Blocked Sheath Dress

The color blocking trend, still going strong, can be a great way to create the illusion of a flat stomach. Look for a dress in a pretty jewel tone, such as cobalt blue, emerald green, or magenta, that has black panels along the sides, or a wide band of black at the waist.

These color tricks nip you in at the waistline, making your stomach look instantly slimmer. When shopping for dresses, hunt down those in medium-weight fabrics that skim over, but don't cling to, your body's curves.

You want to avoid both too-light polyester fabrics that highlight every bump, and too-heavy fabrics like tweed that can add unwanted bulk.

Dresses with material that drapes across your body can be very flattering, as are empire-waist styles that conceal your stomach by moving your waistline higher. Want to create an empire style instantly? Just cinch a wide, dark belt over your dress, a few inches above your natural waistline.

5. Colorful Tunics and Wrap Tops

Tunic tops that hit around the hip bones can give you a flat stomach by creating a long, lean line on your body. These tops look great layered over dark jeans or trousers, especially in a bright color that pulls attention to your upper half.

Don't let your shape get lost in unflattering baggy or tent-like tops, that will only make you look bigger. Tunics should never be tight but fit your body fairly closely, to skim over a tummy while still showing off your shape.

Empire-style tunics and blouses that flare out beneath the bustline, or wrap tops that show off your waistline, are other great options to minimize a bigger stomach. Again, choose bright (or light) colors to draw attention upward on your figure. Solid colored tops will be most flattering, but you don't have to avoid pattern if you love it.

Vertical and diagonal stripes look great on you, especially in tone-on-tone shades. You can also minimize your stomach in color blocked tops with a darker color on the bottom.

6. A Bright Blazer

A properly fitting, structured blazer can make you look skinnier overall by creating a V-neck silhouette, while giving your shape definition.

Choose one in a bright color to bring attention up to your face, and liven up a flattering outfit of slimming, dark-colored separates underneath.

Your jacket should fit you perfectly at the shoulders and nips in at your waistline, to highlight your slimmest point.

For the office, try wearing a brightly hued blazer as a topper for a knee-length, A-line black dress. Or create a casual chic outfit for weekends with a colorful blazer over a shirt and jeans in the same dark hue, such as a navy top and indigo denim, for a stylish and tummy-minimizing effect.

7. Flat-Front Trousers

If you've got a tummy, you probably already know to avoid pleated pants, which only add volume to your stomach area.

Flat-front trousers in a dark color are a must-have staple for the office, and a great piece to wear to get a flatter stomach.

While black and navy pants are easy to wear to work, don't feel you have to limit yourself to these colors.

Flat-front, slim leg or flared trousers in other deep shades, such as oxblood or even dark olive, are fashionable for work and still slimming to your lower body.

As with jeans, look for a waistband that hit just at belly button level, to hold in your stomach and prevent over-the-waistband spillage. Look for trousers with side pockets that zip or button closed, rather than regular front pockets, to reduce bulk over your tummy area.