If you've entered menopause, you may have found yourself gaining weight or seen your weight redistributed with more in your belly--not uncommon due to decreasing estrogen levels. While belly fat may pose a health risk, it can also cause a problem when getting dressed, and you may find the fashions that once looked great on you no longer do. As you work with diet and exercise to whittle down your waistline, here are five ways you can disguise your menopause tummy, so you'll feel better about being "of a certain age."
1. Blouson Shirts
A blouson shirt is gathered at the waist or hip and billows out a bit above it, cleverly camouflaging a Buddha belly. To make blouson tops work best for you, make sure they end below your problem area, or they'll only accentuate it. Dark colors and prints will also help hide your late-in-life figure flaw.
2. Ruching
If you just have a bit of a bulge, ruching is an ideal way to hide it. Remember those Vicky Tiel dresses that were so popular in the 1970s and '80s? A number of Tiel's fashions used ruching to stylishly draw the eye away from tummy troubles, and that sewing technique is still in vogue today. The key to making ruching work is to find the right balance between too tight and too loose and to combine ruched areas with asymmetry or vertical draping to keep the eye moving.
3. Caftans
Caftans are a perfect solution for warm weather because they even work over swimsuits. You can find caftans everywhere today, from high-end designers to bargain shops, and because they are a retro item, you'll also see them in thrift and vintage shops. Look for caftans that skim over your front and end either just below your hips or wherever you would hem a dress for the most flattering effect. Stay away from anything that's too oversized (no mumus!).
4. Swing Tops
A top that swings away from the tummy like a bell can also camouflage that area nicely. IC Collection has a line of swing tops that work for every taste and build. Look for their longer gauzier blouses to wear with leggings or skinny jeans, or you can combine one of their single-button jacket tops with dressy trousers or a skirt. IC Collection tops also use asymmetry to move the eye further away from the tummy, so you get a double whammy of subterfuge. For more information, contact Unique Styles TX or a similar company.
5. Empire Waist
Finally, a bit of muffin top can also be hidden with an empire waist cut. To make sure this look doesn't appear too childish or costume-y, opt for modified empire waists that start a little below the sternum and flow softly from there. You can also find pretty, feminine empire waist tops that use criss-crossing fabric over the bust or gather in a knot under the breastbone, both of which work wonders to direct the eye to a more fabulous part of your figure.
