From shapewear to peplums and pleats – my top eight ways to dress a ‘midlife tum'

The Sun

17-07-2025

IT is the tricky area where stubborn fat is difficult to shift – especially in mid-life.
Forums such as Mumsnet are full of women asking how to dress their tummies.
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It's an issue for all sizes, as hormonal and metabolic changes in forties and beyond lead to fat being redistributed to the stomach area.
But don't despair, stylist Claire Hall, 52, one half of social media duo Rants and Big Pants, reveals her tips and tricks for dressing a midlife tum.
START UNDERNEATH
FOR every outfit, it's important to start with a good base.
A lot of women hate the words ' control underwear ', but shapewear is so clever now so there is nothing to fear. It's not constricting, you can breathe in it and there are so many variations.
Even if you just buy a smoothing pair of pants it's going to help you feel more confident because you'll have a smooth silhouette with no digging in or discomfort.
If it digs in it's going to create a bump somewhere so you need to look for shaping knickers that go above your waistline and hold everything in rather than the sorts that like squashing you.
I really like high-waisted tights and shorts because they smooth you out from the top of your waistline down to your thighs.
DON'T HIDE YOUR TUM
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WHEN it comes to tums, I always say this, it's not about hiding your tummy.
Lots of women say 'Oh, I want to hide my tummy ' but unless you're going to wear a tent, it's generally impossible.
The key is to balance your stomach out with the rest of your outfit.
I'm a plus sized style guru - how to hide your stomach easily and fashionably WITHOUT uncomfortable shapewear
It's about drawing attention away from it and creating other focal points and not making it the centre-piece of your whole silhouette.
You want to create an hourglass silhouette – think strong shoulder line and then some volume on the lower half, with a defined middle.
DITCH THE SKINNY JEANS
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WIDE leg trousers create really good balance for a tummy.
If you imagine a lady in a pair of skinny jeans, her midsection is going to be the main thing on show, whereas if she were in a wide-leg pair of jeans or trousers, that wide leg completely balances out her tummy, so it's not the focal point as a result.
A flat-panelled pair of trousers are the best.
You're looking for a wide leg with a side fastening, so there is no detail at all on the tummy.
It makes the stomach area very smooth.
PLEATS ARE PLEASING
WHEN it comes to skirts, don't shy away from pleats – they can be helpful.
Some women say they can't wear pleats because they create too much bulk over my tummy, but there are so many different styles of pleats.
If you get pleats that lie flat, and are positioned centrally rather than wide, they will actually visually narrow that area.
Again, look for A-line shapes. They are comfortable and will elongate your body and show off the narrowest part - your waist.
If you think you haven't got a waist, just create one with a skirt that sits on top of your hips around your middle, drawing the eye away from your lower stomach.
FOLLOW THE RULE OF 3
THERE are three things you must look out for when choosing a dress.
The first is a strong shape in the shoulders – such as a frill detail or puff sleeve.
Secondly, opt for an A-line shaped skirt. The longer your skirt is, the better the balance.
If it's a shorter skirt, it's not going to give so much balance for your tummy.
Thirdly, look for waistline detail. This can be some on-trend shearing, a waist panel or darts.
You want to create a feature of the waist – a belt will work too – to create an hourglass figure with a balanced top and bottom.
Ruching on the side of a dress, around the waist, is also brilliant for drawing attention away from the tummy.
The material also disguises the stomach because of the gathered detail.
PLUMP FOR A PEPLUM
MANY of us are scared to tuck our tops in or show off our waistline because we feel that our tummy is exposed.
But the waistline is quite far above your tummy area and will become the focal point as you are drawing attention away from the stomach area to a narrower point.
Even though it does feel as though you are slightly exposed by tucking in a T-shirt or a blouse, it really helps to make a more defined shape.
Alternatively, try a peplum. There are loads of them around and the style is great because you have the waist detail as well as the peplum of fabric, which sits over the tummy area.
As it is part of the design, it looks intentional but it also hides what's underneath.
FIND WHAT SUITS YOU
IT has never been better for women to shop for swimsuits with tummy control, shaping, and sculpting. My advice is to try them to see what feels right for you.
With a bikini, choosing the right one depends on your body shape and where it sits.
Everyone's tummy is in a different position. For some, the protrusion is quite high up on their frame while for others it is quite low down.
If it is low down, I would avoid a low-waisted or low-slung bikini bottom because everything is just going to hang over the top. You want to be looking for a high-waisted cut.
V-front bikini bottoms also work wonders as the shape slims down the tummy area by visually lengthening the torso.
Also consider sizing up. This avoids the material digging in and making you uncomfortable.
AND SIZE DOESN'T MATTER
A LOT of women hate the thought of having to wear a dress size bigger but if you size up, the garment hangs better on you.
Say you have a pair of darted trousers, when they're a little snug the pleat from the dart is going to pull and become wider.
This will really emphasise everything you are trying to flatten.
Whereas, if you were to size up, it would hang so much better.
The same rule applies with a skirt or a jumpsuit, or even a dress.
The garment will hang a lot nicer if it is perhaps a size bigger.