Best style of dress to camouflage stomach?

[KLD313]

I need a cocktail dress for a fancy wedding. Having kids ruined my stomach. It's deformed. From the front it looks square, from the side I look pregnant and if I suck it in and look down it comes to a point. I'm over weight, too and doubt I can lose much before the wedding due to medical issues. So, any thoughts on hiding it? Oh and my butt is huge, too so nothing flowy.

[mikala]

Have you tried on any fit and flare dresses? Some of them flare high enough to conceal tummies.

http://m.nordstrom.com/Product/Details/3499699?origin=&filter=

[Philly Mom]

Spanx make a huge difference for me. They have full body ones too. I like the way they make dresses fit, but not having to go to the bathroom in them.

[wendibird22]

I find rouching at the waist, a belt or tie are flattering because they define the waist instead of making it boxy. Empire waist makes me just look like I'm wearing a maternity dress. I would also suggest playing up a favorite part of your body. Got killer calves? Go shorter length. Got a great collar bone? Go strapless or off the shoulder. Got great shoulder blades? Go low cut back or cut out back.

[KLD313]

Have you tried on any fit and flare dresses? Some of them flare high enough to conceal tummies.

http://m.nordstrom.com/Product/Details/3499699?origin=&filter=

Thanks something like that may work if it doesn't make my butt look even bigger.

As for Spanx, that's definitely an option but it's going to be a long day between the church and the reception several hours later and idk if I can handle that.

[goldenpig]

I think faux wraps, ruching or gathering at the waist, and fit and flare dresses are all good at hiding the tummy. Also prints or vertical panels distract the eye and look slimming.
Here are a few options:

Maggy London Sarong dress (http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/maggy-london-sarong-dress/3085552?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=60139439&fashionColor=&resultback=3411&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_10_A)
3265

Xscape Ruched Sheath dress

Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique Pleated Fit and Flare dress
3267

Donna Ricco Floral Print Fit & Flare dress (http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/xscape-ruched-sheath-dress/3491570?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=322&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_3_D)
3264
Alex Evenings Embellished Faux Wrap dress (http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alex-evenings-embellished-faux-wrap-dress-plus-size/3552532?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Royal&resultback=5152&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_15_C)
3263
Lauren Ralph Lauren Colorblock Jersey Sheath Dress (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lauren-ralph-lauren-colorblocked-jersey-sheath-dress-plus-size/3519807?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=2203&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_8_B)
3262

[KLD313]

Thanks GP, and everyone else who responded. Very helpful!

[brittone2]

It doesn't help with dress choice, but have you ruled in or out diastasis recti? Very common in women post partum. I had one and only addressed it in the last year despite being a PT and knowing I had it :bag all that time. The Tupler website has instructions for a self-check. Lots of providers never talk about it with patients, unfortunately. I only mention it because I found my body much more frustrating to dress when my diastasis was still gapping a lot. Working on it made a *world* of difference. Crunches and certain other movements can actually make it worse.

[KLD313]

Thanks, Brittone. After DD I was convinced I had one. When I was newly pg with DS my midwife checked for one since I mentioned it. She said I didn't have one but had something else that I forgot the name of but she said don't do crunches (no proble lol) or use my stomach muscles a certain way while getting out of bed. She said to roll out. Idk what's going on with it after DS. Why my stomach is in a point I have no clue. It's gross. I tried to do that Tupler check once before and it grossed me out trying. What type of dr would check for something like that?

[CaliMommy]

Thanks, Brittone. After DD I was convinced I had one. When I was newly pg with DS my midwife checked for one since I mentioned it. She said I didn't have one but had something else that I forgot the name of but she said don't do crunches (no proble lol) or use my stomach muscles a certain way while getting out of bed. She said to roll out. Idk what's going on with it after DS. Why my stomach is in a point I have no clue. It's gross. I tried to do that Tupler check once before and it grossed me out trying. What type of dr would check for something like that?

My OB checked it for me at the 6wk post-partum, since I had twins. I would guess your OB or Primary Care?

[brittone2]

Many docs don't check, don't really know how to check, or miss it. What you describe are common precautions for people with diastasis recti. No "jack knife" sitting up, no crunches are two big ones. I think you should get checked. A PT with experience in postpartum stuff would also be able to check you. You could ask whatever care provider you see for women's health issues, but again, many do unfortunately kind of brush it off.

[anamika]

It doesn't help with dress choice, but have you ruled in or out diastasis recti? Very common in women post partum. I had one and only addressed it in the last year despite being a PT and knowing I had it :bag all that time. The Tupler website has instructions for a self-check. Lots of providers never talk about it with patients, unfortunately. I only mention it because I found my body much more frustrating to dress when my diastasis was still gapping a lot. Working on it made a *world* of difference. Crunches and certain other movements can actually make it worse.

How do you work on the diastasis? I know I have one and the PT taped me for some time but it is still pretty awful to look at. I use a Spanx type thing all the time!

[KLD313]

Thanks. I think I'll call my midwives office and ask. It's a different one than the one who checked me last year.

[hillview]

wrap (real wrap) dresses work well too -- Diane VF has some great ones that I adore.

[brittone2]

How do you work on the diastasis? I know I have one and the PT taped me for some time but it is still pretty awful to look at. I use a Spanx type thing all the time!
The Tupler website has info on how to check yourself. If you do a google I think a youtube should come up. You could also work with a knowledgeable healthcare provider (PT who does women's health/post partum issues, or an OB/GYN who isn't going to brush it off).

I did the splinting for a long time (tupler splint) and it was really not fun. \ still have some to close but it is much shallower, the top and the bottom portions are closed, and it is overall a significant improvement. My clothes fit better, and I had to size down to the smaller sized splint within just a few weeks. I no longer have to accommodate the bulging belly as much in my clothing choices as it is much less of an issue. It really made a difference in my overall shape and it was easier to dress myself without feeling frustrated. It was *just* the work on the diastasis, no weight loss. I'm in the normal range for weight and so forth, but that bulging tummy was tremendously frustrating to work around.

[twowhat?]

I have a diastasis and have devoted a lot of time to hunting for clothes that hide it and are still comfortable:) I'm skinny all over except for the belly and it almost seemed to make things extra challenging because I have a tiny waist and really slim shoulders...and this huge bulge to hide below all that.

Structured dresses - not knits - work better. Knits tend to hug curves (bulging tummies included). If you do a knit, sometimes a heavier weight knit that isn't too slinky (like ponte) works well if it's a tailored style.

Sheaths with box pleats work great - this was the biggest surprise to me because the skirt on a sheath doesn't flare away from the waist. But I have found that as long as the sheath has box pleats at the waist and as long as the hem isn't of the knee-hugging variety, it totally works i have at least a couple of dresses in this style for work. A-line skirts (again, with heavier fabrics or more structure, and pleats) work great.

I've also found that empire waists do not help - at all. They just make me look preggo. But I have found that dresses with the smallest point at the natural waist or just slightly above work great. Belts work great too on the right dress. A stretchy knit dress like a wrap dress absolutely will not work in a solid color but *may* work in a bold print. I do have a wrap dress in a print that works because the pattern helps hide the belly but in a solid color - awful! I have found that solid colors only really work on structured dresses either in a heavier knit that holds its shape or in a non-stretchy weave. Here are some styles that work well (notice the box pleats on the sheath dresses):

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=26497&vid=1&pid=410142002
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=42231&vid=1&pid=560955012
http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/suiting/super120s/PRDOVR~48444/99102428951/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~20+17+4294966902~15~~ ~~~~~/48444.jsp
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/Sale/AllProducts/PRDOVR~46914/99103039003/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~30~~20+17+4294966902~15 ~~~~~~~/46914.jsp
http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/weartowork/PRDOVR~04948/04948.jsp

eta: Eva Franco is one brand I seem to keep coming back to - they have lots of structured dresses with lots of interest in heavier fabrics and lots of options with box pleats. I own 3 Eva Franco dresses - one cocktail dress that I adore, one wool sheath for work and another sheath in a stretchy but heavyier-weight synthetic also for work. All have box pleats.

etaa: I said that stretchy knit wrap dresses don't work BUT a woven wrap dress probably would work well.