How to Dress When You Have a Flat Bum
Are you middle-aged and losing your butt? After 30, our bums start losing muscle mass and tone, making them droop and wrinkle. Things get worse when we hit menopause, and falling estrogen levels lead to less fat in our butts, making them look flat as a pancake. What’s a gal to do?
The good news is that you can take your butt from flat to fabulous! With the right styling tips and pieces, you can effortlessly create the illusion of a rounder, fuller bum! Now, let’s talk about how.
How to Dress A Flat Butt to Look and Feel Fabulous
1. Steer Clear of Shapeless Jackets
Shapeless sweaters, jackets, and tops that fall straight down in the back and around your waist are not your friend; these make a pancake butt look, well, more pancake. A shapeless jacket lacks any definition, essentially swallowing your natural shape and making your butt appear flatter than it may be. Instead, choose jackets with a shape in the back to give the appearance of a rounder, fuller butt. This lace-up jacket is an excellent example of how to boost the look of your booty! If you need some more inspiration, I have a list of some of my favorite jackets.
2. Wear Body Skimming Dresses To Accentuate Your Hips and Butt
It might seem counterintuitive to wear a body-skimming dress or skirt when you have a flat butt. However, the goal is to wear clothing emphasizing a feminine, hourglass shape. Think A-line, full skirts, and fit-and-flare dresses that nip in at the waist. Steer clear of loose-fitting dresses with excess fabric; these will make your bum look lost. Opt for skirts and dresses that skim—not cling—to your curves. If you’re struggling to find a dress that fits your body type, check out this post for some tried-and-true tips on finding a dress that will make you look WOW.
3. Define Your Waist
If menopause has made you thick through the middle, you can create the illusion of a waist, which will help your butt. In other words, if you want your butt to look bigger, make your waist look smaller.
To do this, choose dresses that are belted at the waist or a style that cinches at the waist (like fit and flare). A dress that emphasizes your waist via a belt or embellishments like beading or ruching will also make your waist look smaller and your bottom fuller. If you can’t seem to find a style you like, I have a bunch of fabulous waist-defining dress options in this post!
4. Wear Light/ Bright Colors and Patterns on Your Bottom
Many women prefer wearing dark colors on their bottom half (to shrink their booty) and brighter colors up top. But, if you want to remember that you do indeed have a behind, it’s a good thing to wear lighter or brighter colors on your bottom half. Dark colors shrink the area they cover, while light, bright colors (such as white) expand a space.
Fitted white jeans will make the most of a flat bum, and they make finding a top easy. Don’t be afraid to have some fun with it, though—you can also add pops of color and still look Age-amazing! These orchid ankle pants or these light purple jeans look chic and add a little drama to your look.
Leggings and pants with busy colorful patterns also draw attention to your booty. Keep your top a solid color so all eyes go to your bottom half.
5. Seek Out Bum Enhancing Pants and Jeans
While the style of pants that suit you best largely depends on your body type (Rectangle, Hourglass, Apple, Inverted Triangle), flat-bottomed gals will get a boost from pants and jeans that cinch at the waist, making their bums look bigger. Stretch material also helps contour your behind.
You can also get an extra boost by avoiding loose and baggy pants through the leg and opting for slimmer-fitting styles that accentuate your posterior. For example, boyfriend jeans may be comfy, but their relaxed fit drags down an already droopy behind.
Boot-cut pants are better because they taper at the knee, making your bum look more prominent. Also, choose mid-high-rise jeans over low-rise jeans because they make your bottom look higher.
Other details that can help? Jeans or Jean skirts with high back pockets that sit towards the middle of your backside will make your bottom look rounder and higher—like these. Flap-style back pockets or pockets with any buttons, embroidery, or busy detail also help to pump up the look of your butt and create the illusion of a rounder rear.
6. Try Butt Boosting Right Shapewear
From traditional shapers that flatten your waist and tummy (making your butt look bigger by comparison) to booty-enhancing miracle workers like ‘booty bras’ designed to give your bum a lift and padded shapewear shorts, there are lots you can wear underneath to resculpt your rear.
7. Wear Heels
High heels shift your posture. They tilt your pelvis, forcing your booty back and up by 30 to 40 degrees. This makes you look curvier, creating the illusion that your bottom is fuller than it actually is. I recently found a ton of stylish, no-frump block heel sandals that offer height and comfort! Pair some of those heels with a pair of fitted jeans, and you’re golden!
8. Choose Waist Cinching Tops
Another way to create the illusion of a larger bum is by wearing tops that either cinch your waist or bring the attention down. Peplum tops are a fabulous example of a top that does both! They cinch at the waist and flare out over your hips, making you look curvier, and a flat butt appears fuller and less pancake-like.
9. Wear Structured Skirts
If the occasion calls for a skirt, but you don’t want a flat butt to take the spotlight, the key is to find skirts with structure. A-line, tulip, and bubble skirts all add volume and create the appearance of a curvier silhouette. Which skirt you choose can also depend on your body shape. For example, a bubble skirt compliments a rectangular body shape, whereas an A-line compliments an hourglass figure. It’s all about structure and balance, gals!
10. Leather Makes a Booty Pop
Leather pants are one of the most versatile pieces you can own, and you probably didn’t know that they’re also fantastic for boosting and filling out a flat but! The leather adds texture and reflects light, which enhances your appearance, creating a fuller-looking bum. Plus, depending on the occasion, you can create a look that’s anywhere from rocker glam to fancy dinner chic.
Create the illusion of a rounder bum with these simple tips and tricks!
Don’t let a droopy tush get you down. Give these tricks a try to get the look of a perky posterior so you can go from feeling drab to fab!
Keep up with my LTK storefront to see all of my favorite outfit ideas, from everyday fashion to tips on dressing according to your body shape. You can also join my private Facebook group, Fabulous After 40 Dressing Room, to chat about all the stylish ways you’re reshaping the appearance of your booty!
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I have what they call flat butt syndrome, but it’s mostly in one butt cheek, more than the other.
Have you tried the padded shapewear? Just remove the pad from one side!
I have a high flat but big waist. AT 74, I have worn clothing that covers up but is not flattering.
I am not trying to make the butt look more prominent. Just find pants that don’t sag at the bottom of the butt and look terrible.
Don’t they make slacks that fit women with literally no butt???
Hi Wendy, It Sounds like you need a good tailor. I don’t know of any extra small pants behind, but that is a good idea! If you want your seat to look more prominent in jeans, go for big pockets at the back or a design on the back pockets. I hope that helps!
I had a flat butt when I was young. Now, at 65, I have no but. I don’t care for shapewear. Texas is too hot for any extra clothing. I have found that the pants I buy at The Gap store are made differently. Every pair I tried on was flattering. There wasn’t all the extra material sagging in the back. Even the pants that aren’t made of spandex fit better. My daughter didn’t take after me, complaining that the Gap pants never fit her. The Kardashian sisters designed jeans that did more than flatter. They gave me curves. I search for them in the resale shops.
I have a tiny waist and hips that everyone compliments me on, but no big butt. I look good in my skirts and my jeans that enhance, but I don’t know how to shop for dresses.
Hi Raquelle, You need a dress that builds up your backside, so it sounds like a fit and flare would be great with your tiny waist and shapely hips too!
I’m nineteen but have no butt, so here I am.
Ah, yes, one more thing to think about. Ha, ha, ha. I’m back at the gym twice a week to tone up…but I love all the great tips you shared.
Hi J, It’s happening to all of us (Lol!) I just added squats to my workout to perk up my posterior too. Cheers, Deb
Help!
I have the WORST clothes shopping problems and don’t know what to do or wear!
I have a belly after having five kids, and no matter what I’ve tried (exercise, diet, walking, jogging, running, etc.), I can’t lose it, so I have NO WAIST!
I also have flat but and NO hips, yet I have long slim legs!
It’s summer, and I have NO shorts or swimsuits to wear, and any I’ve tried on look terrible!
It’s so frustrating and depressing!
I’m also on a meager budget!
So I can’t afford $200+ pants or a tummy tuck!
Hi Margo, Although it is hard to give specific advice when I have not met you, it sounds like you could be an apple shape https://www.fabulousafter40.com/5-tips-for-dressing-your-apple-shaped-body. Have a look at this. It might give you some tips and as for clothes. It would help if you had some nice flowy tops over shorts or pants and some flowy dresses. Have you tried Target, Kohl’s, JCPenney, and Walmart? They all have the latest trends at budget prices. Don’t give up. Just try many things until you find the shapes that work for you. Darker colors on the top and lighter ones on the bottom will also help play down your tummy, so white pants with a flowy navy top, for example.
Best wishes.
Thanks for the tips. I am excited to go shopping now.
That first gold jacket, I love the detail on The back. And I love receiving all of the style information you share with us!
Excellent post!
Mid-rise pants create a muffin top worse to see than a flat bum. You can buy high-rise jeans with higher pockets on the backside and with ‘lift’ technology. Compensate and camouflage without creating yet another eyesore.