Shopping - Ladies with (Non-preggo) Bellies!

I like the Croft and Barrow line at Kohls. Since my belly is bigger than it should be I have found that higher rise slacks work wonders for the area. I pair them with Empire waist or more flowy tops to hide the belly. Which I have named Hildegard. LOL

Yep, I need to embrace crunches and sit ups - but instead I have learned to dress to fit my body. Ugh, I hate the 40s.

Try Not Your Daughter's Jeans (NYDJs) they may help you.

Chicos has clothes that work well on "belly's".

The problem is most minimize the belly by constricting it. If you have no problem with comfort just get some squishy type device and wear what you want. I work with all shapes and the styles that don't point out belly fat tend to be the exact styles that make people ask if you are pregnant.

My belly is basically flat, not my doing so much as good genes, when I wear anything with an empire waste my idiot boss asks if I am pregnant. Um, I have four kids, I will turn 44 in a month, and I am well versed in different forms of birth control, what do you think?!

Oh when you walk around or even sit at a desk suck in your stomach, swear to bob it does work your abs.

Oh gads and what ever you do don't buy an a line dress, nothing says I am fat but hiding it like a dress that could have been purchased at a tent and awning store! Nah if you are going to go that route get the kind that is cut so that it drapes against you to the waist and then flairs out. The flair draws the eyes away from the waist and with an added jacket you create a nice optical illusion.

Oh yeah, wrap type tops hide a lot as well. There are a few ladies at work that look real good who have a bit of extra weight in the middle, I keep trying to remember what they wear. They also have those scarf type jackets, they are kind of long and have unusual shapes to them. Very distracting in a good way.

I have to agree with the Nordstrom recommendation. Call & make an appointment with their personal stylist department - it's free. And they can do the running around for you. Nordstrom may appear too spendy, but they have so many options for every person's figure, and to have a few key things that fit great is way more valuable than having a lot of things that are poor fitting. The stylist will work within your budget, especially if you go in July during their Anniversary sale or during the 1/2 yearly sales. They'll find you some things that can go from work to casual. You don't have to re-work your entire wardrobe on your first visit, and you don't have to buy everything there. Find a couple of key items - a great fitting pair of black trousers, a great pair of jeans, a great pair of shoes, and maybe 2-3 tops and a great fitting jacket. Don't shy away from having their tailor adjust things for you - a hem, a cuff or a small adjustment to a pleat can make a huge difference in how something fits. Their Caslon brand is reasonably priced and has some stretch to hide your tummy. The Not Your Daughters Jeans brand are worth every cent to lenthen your leg line and minimize your tummy. Make sure things mix well with everything else. Even take a digital camera to document suggestions of what can go with what else. Go to sears or JCpenneys or target for very basic things you can mix in, like white/black t-shirts, and even some funky jewelry. The stylist will keep track of what you have in your wardrobe, and on subsequent visits, can suggest things to update your look without breaking the bank.

My girl friend was just commenting on this same topic. She's delighted with her new style - she found jeans she with stretch in them and pairs them with a slightly tailored jacket - she says she feels more hour glass shaped and less like a "ball with legs" (her words - I think she's lovely!). She made an appointment with a personal shopper at Nordstrom, and the shopper helped her find the new clothes. She was concerned about the budget before going, but when she got there, she explained what she was looking for and how much she wanted to pay and the shopper worked within her budget (finding her sale items and will call her when a few other items she liked, but didn't want to pay full price for, come on sale). She was very happy with her experience. Do you have a Nordstrom near you?

Hmmm... a personal shopper is in my future. I've always had a belly, even at my thinnest (and I'm not at my thinnest) and I feel your pain. I find that longer, non-pencil style skirts do much better for me than pants. 50-s style skirts. I have no other ideas, unfortunately. Wrap things are great, but I don't feel comfortable wearing most of them to work.

Not Your Daughter's Jeans (NYDJ). Find them at Nordstrom. Find them at Zappos. Get a personal fit first, before heading to buy them online. You'll be surprised.

I found that jeans that come to the belly button or just below smooth out the front well. Target has a great line of jeans with different waistlines, I had to try on a few different types to see what worked for me. Higher and we're back in the 80s, lower and your belly flops out over the waistline.
I also like boy-cut underwear. Shirts that are a bit longer and flare at the bottom create a waistline. V-neck shirts draw the eye down in stead of across the shoulders, and make you look more slender through the waist. I also like halter tops that tie behind the neck and leave the shoulders bare, as I have broad shoulders and my arms are still nice. And I will admit to switching to a skirt and a halter top bathing suit.

I agree with sucking in your stomach too, it does help in the long term. When in doubt, get a good girdle thing. But don't rely on it too much, I have found mine restricts me too much in some clothes, and pushes the fatty parts together, therefore making me look even more preggers than if I just let it all hang out comfortably ;)

Empire waist tops, with banding under the bustline. Avoid ones with a lot of extra fabric, that gives the pregnant look.

NYDJ rock! Check out sample sale sites like Hautelook and Ideeli, they frequently have them for $50. Avoid low rise or junior size jeans!

Ruching at the waist (gathered material) is a great disguise.

Google it too, you should come up with some pictures. HTH - I am a size 4 and still have the belly issues after 2 big babies!

I have to third the suggestion for "Not Your Daughter Jeans" they are awesome for bellies and have a womens line if anyone needs that too. They have a really nice dark blue and black denim and they make regular cotton knit pants with stretch too...not just jeans. They are the only pants I like to wear these days. They are also half off at "Nordstrom Rack" their outlet store if you have one in your area. And the Nordstrom's trip if you can, a personal shopper will definitely help you figure some things out. They also have Yummie Tummies that is a spanx like tank top that helps you hold in your tummy. But it looks like a regular tank on the top and bottom for layering... I think Target and other stores have versions for a little less but the yummy tummy one is the best. Oh and I am shorter so I try not to wear any empire shirts that are blousy or come too long on my hip. If you like those shirts you could always get them tailored shorter. Have fun!

You have great suggestions already. I just wanted to point out something I have now heard 3 times in the last month (so it must be something I needed to hear) from 3 different sources. Weight control is 80% food and 20% exercise. So really, you don't need to worry so much about the exercise right now. I bet a lot of your day is moving around.

Everyone has time to watch what they eat. Just start simple: smaller portions, no seconds, sweets or salties (whatever your weakness) on every 3rd day, water instead of "diet" sodas, more fruits and veggies, etc You get the idea.

You will be amazed at how much better those new clothes will look!

Spanx! For real. THey help control the little extra around the tummy.

Try everything on. Don't just buy off the rack. Clothes are so hard to find that fit well.

Good Luck!

Hit the undergarment section. Support, spanks and all that stuff will help the skin or extra flab our babies leave with us. Congrats on your 4 yr old and loosing most the lbs.

Do you have a Lane Bryant store nearby? They specialize in plus sizes that are fashionable.

Get trousers with an elastic waist. Wear tops that don't cinch the waist. A jacket or blazer that stops at the hip line hides all. A line dresses are also help and so do empire ones. A coat that is an A line is the best to wear.

Other than that you can get a book about yoga and do the poses at home.