An empire-waist top cinches in just below your bust and flows outward down your torso—the perfect style to direct the eye away from your midsection. A peplum-style top with a plunging neckline will also keep the eye moving vertically instead of horizontally.
Be careful not to tie it too tight because the belt can create more bulges around your body. The wrap top makes you look thinner up top because it draws the eye in a diagonal line instead of a horizontal one.
You can still dress bright and cheery with pops of color—a scarf or necklace is the perfect way to accent the darker backdrop of the top.
Avoid thick vertical stripes because these can have the opposite effect, drawing the eye horizontally and making you look wider up top. Make sure the top isn’t too tight because vertical stripes that are skewed because of the muffin top will put more attention on that area.
Make sure the entire hemline falls below the waistline of your jeans so you’re not accidentally revealing your muffin top on one side and hiding it on the other.
However, large prints with low color contrast can look just as slimming. For instance, a large green floral print on top of a slightly darker green backdrop is a great choice. You should especially avoid tops and sweaters that have color-blocking on the lower torso area. Any wide rectangles or hard, geometric shapes will make you look wider in that region.
A scooped neckline is another good choice because it can accentuate a large bust and make your neck look longer. Boat necklines help widen your shoulders, which can help balance out your shape if you have wide hips.
Avoid cropped varieties because that will only draw attention to the area above the waistline of your jeans.
Avoid jeans made of only (or mostly) cotton denim because they won’t stretch at all, which means the waistband is more likely to pinch into your lower torso. When you’re buying jeans with a lot of stretch, it’s better to go for a size that’s a bit looser because they’ll shrink a little when you wash them.
If you find a pair that fit perfectly around your butt but have a looser waistline, that’s a better option than going down a size and having the waistline cut into your lower torso. You can always wear a belt!
Jeans that are tight on the side-hip area will push extra skin and body fat upward, creating a muffin top.
This will balance out your curves and, as a plus, make your thighs look thinner. Jeans with a boot cut flare are a good choice to balance out your upper body, especially if you’re a pear or hourglass shape.
Skinny jeans are the perfect way to complement a loose tunic top or flowy off-the-shoulder blouse.
Jeans will naturally stretch over time the more you move around in them, but if you’re on the fence about the tightness, it’s best to go up a size anyway (you can always shrink them in the wash if you need to!).
Be sure to stay true to your size. Shapewear that’s too small can roll down or create more of a bulge where the constricting material ends. Check the label to see how constrictive it is—the more nylon in the fabric, the tighter it will cinch your body. If it’s summer or if you live in a hot area, look for shapewear that’s made with a blend of cotton and microfiber. Those fabrics may not give as much constriction, but comfort is key to looking and feeling great in any outfit!
You can even wear it as is and top it with a long sweater or blazer.
The belt should fit around your waist right above the waistline of the jeans—literally right on top of the bulge. Choose a statement belt if you’re wearing something more monochromatic and a more subtle belt if you’re wearing lots of other accessories (like bracelets, necklaces, and rings).
