10 French Chic Tips for Hiding A Round Tummy

Slimline Black Blazer

A round tummy is a problem that countless women suffer from.
There are many reasons why your tummy may not be as flat as you would want: you’ve recently had a baby, put on weight through the wrong diet, got a bit older, or perhaps 

that's just the way you are built.
You may have tried all sorts of diets and tried doing endless body crunches to get rid of this annoying little gremlin. Either way takes time to have any effect. Why wait? While you're working on the inside, you can also work on the outside.
This is where turning to French Chic can help you.

As the festive season approaches, you may like a solution that gives you immediate results and can tide you over to the New Year. Here are 10 simple French Chic tips to help you conceal a round tummy with style, RIGHT NOW:

1/ Shapewear
Let's talk foundations. Foundation garments to be exact. Let's bring this stubborn tummy under control with shapewear.  “Shapewear?” I hear you cry. “These things are too tight! I’ll choke in them!”
I hear you, my friend, believe me. I agree that some shapewear is more akin to putting on your baby sister’s clothes. And you may look like you’re wearing sausage casing or have been swallowed by a python! But, you don't have to go the whole hog with ultra constricting, full-body shapewear. Simply, a great pair of larger (but pretty) knickers with a flattening front panel can make a difference. They will give you a smooth outline immediately, a great starting point. You have to lay the first stone, non?

2/ Design
Pick tops that make you look slender over the tummy area.
Tunics are very good for this. They are cut long and lean, following the line of the body, but not too closely. Add a soft, loose belt to give the idea of a narrow waist and flat tummy.
A-line tops that accentuate your bust but skim over your tummy are a very good choice. If they have a V neck, even better. The eye will be drawn to the V and not your tummy. 
An empire line top may also work to hide a round tummy. However, choose one that is not cut too wide or you will look pregnant, even if you pair it with tight jeans.

3/ Fabrics
Avoiding tight and clingy fabrics makes sense when suffering from tubby tummy troubles. They would only accentuate the area you’re doing your darnedest to hide. With this in mind, choose fluid fabrics that drape elegantly over, instead of sticking to, your tummy.

4/ Colours
In my books and some of my blog posts, I explain in depth how to use colours to your benefit. To recap: dark colours recede to the eye, hence they are better than light hues to conceal a problem area. 
Wearing a dark top or limiting that dark colour to the tummy area will help conceal it. You can stick to ubiquitous black of course, but you don’t have to. Although French women love wearing black, they are partial to navy too. Navy is not as harsh to the complexion as black and très French Chic.

5/ Illusion
You can try wearing tops or dresses that create an illusion of a slimline tummy and narrower waist. Think geometrical prints, vertical stripes and illusion dresses. These clever designs create a visually slimmer silhouette which trick the eye into believing this is true. 

6/ Scarves
Follow chic French women by wearing scarves. These are perfect for attracting  the eye. Choose them in a bright, contrasting colour to the rest of your outfit. 
When worn close to the face, people will be looking up so will not be noticing your tummy. 
Tie it and wear it long at the centre of the torso to help hide the tummy from view. 

7/ Necklace
In the same vein as the scarves above, wearing a long pendant necklace is a good idea. An statement piece will stand out by itself and draw the eye towards it, and not towards your tummy. It will also visually divide your middle and thus make you appear narrower.

8/ High waist
High waisted trousers and jeans will tuck you in, in all the right places. These can serve essentially as girdles. Greatly under-estimated in my opinion.

9/ Cardigan
As we are heading into the winter season, you probably want to start wearing cardigans. I, like most French women, love them. I am particularly fond of the feminine little cardis that can be worn over dresses. Great for the office. 
Believe it or not, cardigans can be fraught with ‘dangers’! 
Danger No 1
Watch out for the length of the hemline. If the hemline stops at the tummy area, it can emphasise your ‘rondeur’. So opt instead for a longer style, that you can tie (loosely!) with a belt. 
Danger No 2
Be careful here not to fall into the ‘granny trap’. A longer line cardigan may age you, so keep the look younger by choosing a cheerful colour (avoid brown or beige), wearing high heels and knee length skirt.

10/ Jacket
French Chic loves jackets and blazers. No wonder! They can uplift and upgrade your outfit instantly. This is what to do to hide your round tummy:
- Choose a jacket or blazer that is seamed at the waist as it will give you a slimline figure. Pair this jacket or blazer with a top in a dark colour. 
- For even more contrast and to conceal completely the problem tummy, get the jacket in white/cream or light colour.
- Pair with a top in black, navy or very dark colour.
- Do not tuck your top inside your skirt or trousers/jeans.
- Keep the jacket unbuttoned. This has the same effect as an illusion dress.
- Go even further, add a scarf worn long or a pendant necklace.

So there you have it: Plenty of French Chic tips to hide your round tummy. I hope these will give you more confidence for the holidays.

Which other style problems can I solve for you? Please let me know in the comments below.

A bientôt
​Marie-Anne ♥︎

If you found these tips helpful, you may also enjoy these:
How to Hide Your 7 Main Problem Areas to Look Slimmer
Thanksgiving Dinner: Which Dress To Wear For Your Shape
Figure-Kind Prints: Prints That Help you Look Leaner
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image via designsnext.com