Ever wonder how to dress to hide a belly? Try an Empire Waist!
An Empire waist is a type of dress or top with a fitted bodice and a raised waistline that comes far up above the natural waistline to just under the bust. The skirt is gently gathered and flows softly over your tummy and bottom half.
The empire waist silhouette originated in Greco-Roman times when women wore tunics with high belts under their busts.
This popular style is flattering on many body types. It’s a favorite with over 40 women around the world because it hides middle age spread and generous hips.
It’s particularly fab on gals who have some belly fat because it acts as a great camouflage. The empire waist draws the eye “up, up and away” from the problem area.
A bonus… this style also make you look taller. How? Your legs look longer and leaner because you waist is made to look higher. And it’s so feminine too. Could it get any better?
If you are wondering what looks best worn with the Empire style- here are some suggestions:
1. Leggings or tights – Many women over 40 who feel they can’t wear leggings or tights just haven’t discovered the empire waist top. This style is the perfect compliment. It’s loose and flowy, so works well with the skinny proportions down below, and it is long enough to cover your behind and thighs so it doesn’t look like you are wearing a leotard.
2. The Right Neckline- The most flattering type of empire waist top or dress is a V-neck or scoop neckline. The high waist puts a nice emphasis on your bust line and showing some d’ecolletage makes your bust look more attractive as well as lengthen your neck and is just more all round flattering. Sometimes you’ll find am empire waist top or dress with a deep v- neckline and in this case it’s quite appropriate to wear a rounded camisole underneath and have it peeking through like the model in the black and camel top photo above. Higher necklines also work if you are small busted.
3. Accessories- You can wear a short or longer necklace with an empire waist top or dress. Dangly earrings also suit this style nicely.
4. Cardigan – In the last few years cropped cardigans have been popular and they look really cute with an empire waist top or dress.
So if you are looking for something to hide your jelly belly, without having to suck it all in with shape wear, then the the Empire waist style is one you should try.
The most flattering types of empire waist tops and dresses are the ones that gently flow straight down from the empire wasitband, rather than having a lot of folds or gathering at the waistband which adds bulk.
Do you look good in an Empire waist style? Send us a photos and we’ll post it!
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
This is CRAZY BAD!! It only makes women with belly’s look PREGNANT!! FACT!
Does anyone know where the beige and black embellished empire top in the photo came from? I’d love to purchase this.
I have to agree with most of the posts. Unless you are stick thin, most empire waist blouses will make you look pregnant. The only exception I have see is those without a lot of fabric around the stomach area. Then you can get away with it.
I have a very high waist, if I wear pants at my waist and a short shirt, I look like I’m all legs (and I am tall with a 36 in inseam. I am all legs, it’s not attractive.) So some empire tops help me there, to not accentuate the shorter body. But I have to be EXTRA careful which kind I get.
Sorry. As much as I think they were trying to be helpful with this style, I think it was a HUGE miss, with over 40 women who carry extra weight around the middle.
The empire waist fools no one. It makes everyone look preggers.
On a 40+ woman, it’s just embarrassing.
I have tried the empire style in all forms because it is suggested EVERYWHERE to hide a tummy. Where did this idea come from?!! I am always assumed pregnant – very embarrassing for me as well as the other person. The only empire style that I can slightly get away with (only sometimes) is when there is absolutely no gathering at the bust.
Hi Ladies,
One point we want to make here about the empire waist. Make sure you choose an empire top or dress with an A line skirt under the bust seam to flare out over your torso. If you go too full or have pleats under the bust you are right;you will look pregnant.
The Glam Gals
I quit wearing empire waist clothes of any kind a few years ago. I had picked up some weight and had just gotten married a few months prior, and everyone was asking if I was pregnant since I was wearing that style as I had heard it camouflaged a tummy. I wasn’t, and wasn’t able to get pregnant, and the questions were just too painful. I donated all of my empire waist things and haven’t looked back! (I did lose the weight though, after being diagnosed with a thyroid issue, which led to me not being able to get pregnant at the time)
I echo the others here. Very small bust (A to smallB) and high rounded tummy and hips too 36-36-44. Empire seems to sit right at top of the bump. Have same problem when belting high. Any help appreciated.
I strongly agree with Janet. I have a small, but very visible tummy. Whenever I wear an empire waist line, people start wondering whether I’m pregnant (I’m 48!). It definitely gives a maternity look.
I am a woman with a large tummy and a large bust (H cup). This look is a disaster on me. My hips are small and I think I qualify as an apple shape, though maybe not. (50″-40″-38″).
I agree, pictures with real people help me visualize.
I’m with Janet on this. All empire waist lines make me look pregnant, to the point that people ask me when I’m due.
Empire waists look good on many people, especially many shorter women. But at 5’11″ with long legs, it is absolutely not a look I have ever been able to wear. Also, for people who have small waists, camouflaging that asset by putting the waist higher up at a wider point does a disservice. Any time I read “flattering on all body types” I cringe, because I really can’t think of any style that is flattering on ALL body types.
Janet, I couldnt agree with you more. I really prefer to see photos of bigger women in different styles to emphasize the point. everything looks great on a skinny woman!
great work!
I’m sorry but I can’t agree with this. An empire waist looks great on women with no stomach and smaller bust. On anyone else it looks like a maternity outfit, no matter how large or small a tummy one might have. Please show an example of a woman with a tummy, from the side. It’s clearly not a good look. Sorry to be such a downer. I really would like to see a non-model size person in one of your example pictures. I’m willing to change my mind.
Hi Janet, Empire waistlines emphasize the bust, which is exactly what the apple shaped woman should do to call attention away from her larger midsection. Dresses with empire waistlines fall in a straight line from the bust to hide the midsection, and have a slimming effect if you have a tummy.
Great article with fashionable examples!
I agree with the 90% here. I have clients with A-B cup bustlines and high tummies that protrude beyond their busts when viewed from the side. They look pregnant – like 8-months. Empire does nothing for my plus-size ladies other than make them look even more pregnant. I’m still looking for an ideal solution, but I find that, in the case of the small-busted woman, shoulder and bust line emphasis – ruffles, bright colors, etc. – help to visually balance the figure. No gathers beneath the bust. No ribbons, ties, elastic. Short of wearing a sack large enough to clear the belly, I haven’t found much else that’s attractive. Please be realistic in your choice of models. Women come in all sizes, many of them LARGE. And they are the ones that really need the body-image boost that attractive clothing can give them.
Hi Barbara, Agreed! If you have a high protruding tummy empire waists don’t help much but if you have a jelly belly below the navel they are wonderful! For high tummies, a loose flowy top is about the only thing that hides.