5 Women Reveal Their Favorite Belly-Skimming Pieces That Make Them Feel Gorgeous
by The Candidly Team
Our midsections are one of those things that are designed to fluctuate - throughout our lives but also throughout a given day. It doesn’t matter what size or weight we are, our bellies are omnipresent entities announcing themselves at any given moment.
And if you’re a woman around the age of menopause, you’ve probably already lived the reality of your hormones making you more likely to gain weight around your abdomen than anywhere else. Fun!
But wherever you’re at in relation to your own waistline, what I can tell you as someone who’s honestly been a range of sizes and has never not had a belly, the most crucial thing will always be wearing clothes that make you feel good.
And those clothes do not have to be disappointing sacks we hide away in. Because as much as there are days when our swollen, cramping, hormonal bellies make us want to dress like this:
…there are plenty of other options that complement curves and create lines that we can feel excellent about.
With that in mind, we asked 5 women who carry weight in their bellies to tell us what their essential go-to style items are. And once again, we found ourselves adding all of them to cart.
One very small disclaimer: as much as we wish we could show you how good these things look on the actual women who recommended them, we don’t get to choose the photos. But rest assured, we chose these pieces precisely because of how well they work on every size woman, especially an “apple-shape.”
1. LYANER Women's Casual V Neck Cross Wrap Long Sleeve Solid Blouse
Vanessa, Writer, The Candidly
“Hear me out, nursing tops are super comfy and roomy. This one has the same look but not for breastfeeding and is more fitted. I wear a tank under it both for physical comfort and to prevent a wardrobe malfunction. ”
Price: $22
Runners up: “THIS one comes in a pack and can be layered with a tank or t-shirt. It doesn't even look like a nursing top and doesn't have hidden access.”
“THIS one is a much more specific nursing shirt. But nobody is gonna know unless you pull open the panel and whip your boob out in public. Which is problematic for more than the shirt design. It's flowy, comfy, and has a high-low thing I don't hate.”
2. Karen Kane Flared Maxi Skirt
Vanessa, Writer, The Candidly
“Bury me in a maxi skirt. Not paying attention to the tummy when your ass looks amazing. My black maxi has never done me wrong.”
Price: $88
3. Summersalt The Silky Luxe Smocked Maxi Dress
Audie, Editor in Chief, The Candidly
“They don’t make enough maxi dresses. I don’t know who ‘they’ are, but the maxi dress is one of the most flattering shapes on every human alive. They’re skimming, they float, they make you look twice as tall as you are, and this one in particular is gorgeously flattering. It’s loose, but the smocked waist keeps it from looking like some oversized mumu. I wear it with a flips and a jean jacket. I fling my hair in a quick bun and heels and POOF I’m at a wedding. It’s so versatile it’s shocking.”
Price: $115
4. Clare V. Grande Fanny
Audie, Editor in Chief, The Candidly
“My go-to piece is a Fanny pack. It works both as a ‘this suddenly makes my outfit pop’ and an ‘oops, I’ve just eaten 78% of this for the table plate of nachos by myself.’ You can see the frequency with which I wear one HERE and HERE and HERE.”
I know the price for this one is a little bit vomitous, but since I wear one constantly, I let myself think of it as an investment piece.
Price: $325
5. Eileen Fisher Handkerchief Linen Classic Collar Shirt
Barbie, Our Editor in Chief Audie’s Mom
“This perfect, roooomy linen shirt worn with cigarette pants or skinny jeans is my uniform. Day or night. I wear boots in the winter and flip flops in the summer. I never think about getting dressed, I’m always comfortable, and people constantly ask me where I shop.”
Price: $158
6. Free People Hot Shot Onesie
Leslie, GM, The Candidly
“The most comfortable piece of clothing I currently own. The fabric is so soft and comfortable, I truly never want to take it off.”
Price: $70
7. Re/Done Comfort Stretch High Rise Ankle Crop
Carolyn, Managing Editor, The Candidly
“Jeans that are too soft don’t offer any support, while stiff jeans make me feel like I’m being suffocated. This pair strikes that ideal balance between stretchy and structured, so I feel completely ‘held in’ without being squeezed. They’re slim-fitting and high-waisted and pretty much perfect, which they’d have to be to justify the cost."
Price: $265
Runner up: “For a pair that’s a little less pricey but was built to support your midsection, I like THESE from Good American which also size up to 26 Plus.”
8. Reformation Twilight Dress
Carolyn, Managing Editor, The Candidly
“One special thing about this dress is that it’s smocked in the back so there’s plenty of breathing room. The front is extremely smoothing around the smaller part of your waist and gets looser at the lower belly without the skirt being too full. Overall, it creates a perfect, flattering shape. And it comes in extended sizes HERE.”
Price: $278
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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