Styling Tips for Men Who Want to Hide Belly Fat

1. Know Your Body Shape, Loosely

Body shape descriptions are a quick way to describe how an outline reads, not a diagnosis.

Triangle, Inverted Triangle, Rectangle, Trapezoid and Hourglass follow familiar styling usage; Oval and Diamond are described in The VOU’s own words.

Our seven male body shapes are rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, oval, diamond, trapezoid and hourglass.

A fuller abdomen does not settle which one describes you.

In this guide, we use Oval for a rounded outline with fullness spread fairly generally through the torso, and Diamond for an outline whose middle stands out more distinctly between a comparatively narrower upper and lower torso.

A belly can also sit within a triangle, rectangle or other outline.

If you think you might be an oval body shape or a diamond body shape, or you are unsure, both guides are worth reading, and the fit advice below applies whichever label you choose.

2. Fit the Fullest Point First

Most of the difference between a shirt that draws attention to the middle and one that does not is fit.

A garment that is too tight pulls into horizontal creases and gaping buttons across the abdomen; one that is far too big adds folds of extra cloth.

Aim for garments that close without pulling and hang cleanly over the middle.

Buy shirts and jackets to fit the fullest point of your abdomen and your shoulders, then have a tailor adjust the rest.

Common adjustments include shortening sleeves, taking in a shirt above or below the middle, and hemming trousers.

What a tailor can do depends on the garment’s cloth and construction, so ask before buying something that only fits with major work.

Check each garment standing and seated, in the posture you actually stand in rather than holding your stomach in for the mirror.

• Shirt buttons lie flat without gaping across the abdomen
• Jackets button without X-shaped creases radiating from the button
• Trouser waistbands stay put when you sit, without digging in or rolling
• Hems and sleeve lengths are adjusted after the body fits

3. Choose Trousers by Where the Waistband Sits

Your natural waist and the fullest point of your abdomen can be in different places, and your natural waist is not necessarily level with your navel.

A waistband that sits under the fullest point of the belly can roll down or dig in when you sit; one that sits on or above it often stays put more comfortably.

Rise labels such as mid or high vary between makers, so check where each waistband actually sits on you, standing and seated.

Pleats are not only for slim builds or only for larger ones.

A pleat adds room at the hips, seat and thighs and lets the trouser drape from the waistband, which many men with a fuller middle find more comfortable; flat fronts give a plainer line if they fit without pulling.

Choose by fit rather than by rule.

A straight leg or a gentle taper below the knee is a common choice because it keeps the trouser in proportion with the upper body.

A very narrow leg can make the middle look larger by comparison.

Braces are worth considering if a belt keeps sliding below the belly; they hold the trousers from the shoulders and let the waistband sit where it was cut to sit.

Dark, solid trousers are an easy starting point and pair with most tops.

Pairing them with a top in a similar or slightly lighter shade keeps the outfit continuous, though no colour is guaranteed to slim.

4. Choose Shirts and Tops That Skim

Look for shirts that skim the body: close enough not to billow, with enough room at the fullest point that buttons lie flat.

Fabrics with a little weight, such as oxford cloth, twill or a firm jersey, tend to hang more smoothly than very thin, clingy ones.

Tucked and untucked are both valid.

A tucked shirt with a belt close in colour to the trousers gives a neat, traditional line, but a belt or contrasting waistband crosses the body near the middle and can draw the eye there.

An untucked shirt with a straight hem that ends around the middle of the seat avoids a waistline altogether and suits casual wear.

Choose by occasion and by which you find more comfortable.

V-necks and open collars show a longer opening at the neck, which many people find lengthens the upper body, while crew necks give a higher, rounder neckline.

Plackets, fine vertical textures and narrow stripes add vertical detail; studies of striped clothing have not shown a reliable slimming effect, so wear stripes because you like them.

5. Use Jackets and Layers

An open jacket or overshirt adds a vertical edge on each side of the torso and a layer of cloth that hangs over the middle instead of following it.

A blazer with a lightly padded shoulder is meant to draw the eye upward and give a firmer line at the shoulders.

Fastening is a matter of fit and preference.

On a single-breasted jacket, the fastening button should close without pulling; a two-button jacket is usually worn with the top button fastened, and a one-button jacket with a higher button stance is another option.

A double-breasted jacket adds an overlap of cloth across the front, which some men like for its continuous line and others find adds bulk at the middle, so try it on before choosing.

A lightweight wool blazer over a button-down shirt is an easy starting point.

Navy, charcoal and deep burgundy are versatile, and textured cloth such as flannel or hopsack adds interest without needing a bold pattern.

Look for layers that skim the body without clinging.

6. Consider Colour and Texture

Many people find that darker tones such as navy, charcoal and black, and a single colour or close shades from shoulder to shoe, make an outfit look more continuous.

Research is limited: one controlled study found darker clothing made a figure look slightly slimmer, with the effect depending on the background, so treat colour as one option among several and compare outfits in a mirror.

Texture adds interest without relying on bold pattern.

A charcoal wool blazer with a deep navy shirt, for example, keeps the outfit dark while giving the eye some variation.

Vertical pinstripes are a traditional choice; as with other stripes, wear them if you like them rather than as a fix.

If you would like to explore which shades suit your natural colouring, our seasonal colour analysis guide for men explains one approach.

You can also take our seasonal colour quiz for men as a starting point.

• Start with darker or tonal outfits if you want a continuous look
• Wear jackets open for vertical edges
• Choose cloth with some weight and light texture
• Pick fits that skim rather than cling

7. Draw Attention Upward With Accessories

Accessories near the face and chest give the eye somewhere to settle above the middle.

A pocket square, a lapel pin or an interesting collar can do this, and a tie forms a vertical line down the centre of the torso; let the tip reach about the waistband so it does not stop short over the belly.

• Use a pocket square or lapel pin to add interest near the chest
• Let ties reach the waistband
• Choose glasses, watches and collars you enjoy, since they sit where people look

8. Consider Compression Wear, If You Like It

Compression undershirts and underwear are an option some men use to smooth the line under fitted shirts.

They come in different levels of firmness, from light to firm.

They are optional.

If you try them, choose a level that lets you breathe, sit and eat comfortably, and stop wearing anything that pinches, rolls or feels restrictive.

A shirt that fits the fullest point of your abdomen will usually do more than compression worn under a shirt that is too tight.

• Try light compression first
• Check that the garment does not bunch or roll when you sit
• Prioritise comfort over smoothing

9. Stand Comfortably and Fit for Real Life

Stand naturally upright and comfortable when you try clothes on.

Fit them to the way you actually stand, sit and move, rather than holding your stomach in for the mirror, so the garments keep working through the day.

Conclusion

Dressing with a fuller midsection starts with fit at the fullest point of the abdomen, then the waistband position, cut, colour and layering choices that suit the look you want.

None of these tips requires changing your body, and none is compulsory.

Compare a few options in a mirror, keep the ones you like, and use your best-fitting garments as the reference for the next ones you buy.