Embracing the Wine-Tum

Viognier is a particular thrill of mine. Something just off-dry. Not sweet, not medium, just off-dry. A good Aussie Riesling is also quite delightful, especially when rousingly cold. Whilst we’re still in these chilly early-Spring days, a Kiwi Pinot Noir also hits the spot nicely. All of which is increasingly evident in my wine-tum.

As our bodies change – be that through lockdown indulgences, omnipresent elasticated waistbands, the miracle that is childbirth, menopause or simply life – it can present our wardrobe with new challenges that need confronting. And so, this week, I turn to the wine-tum and how to dress it. Spoiler: shrouding it is not the answer.

For the record, I am not in the business of shaming anyone for a little bit of softness: I am a walking, talking epitome of softness, and (for the most part, although not always) I’m OK with that. My intention here is not to incite embarrassment or feelings of inadequacy. Quite the opposite. Knowing how to dress our bodies and all the nuances that combine to make us completely unique, allows room for the confidence needed to feel secure – just as you are – to flourish.

So here are some of my tips for dressing a soft tummy which will, hopefully, help you regain any confidence that may have been temporarily misplaced.

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Don’t be afraid to go UP a size

Have you heard of the Ebbinghaus illusion? It’s an optical illusion demonstrating relative size. Looking at the image above, in which case is the orange dot smaller? The one on the left, right? Wrong. In both images, the orange dot is the same size. I use this image in my consultations to illustrate the importance of choosing the right size in your clothing. If you wear something too small for you, you will appear bigger, and vice versa. When dressing a soft tummy, it’s really important (especially with waistbands) to choose a size that allows you to feel secure and comfortable – neither restrictive, nor saggy over the bottom. Wearing too tight trousers or jeans can, at best, cause muffin tops that leave us self-conscious, and at worst back pain. The correct size will allow for a smooth line down the side of your body which is instantly more flattering than lumps and bumps.

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Good lingerie

£26, Figleaves, simplybe.co.uk

No, I’m not going to tell you to haul on a pair of restrictive Spanx on a daily basis (although they absolutely have a part to play for some occasions). Any of my clients will tell you that I have a tendency to rabbit on about the importance of a good bra. And by a good bra, I mean one that lifts your bust up and in. It’s not about cleavage on top, it’s about allowing air and space to circulate under the bust, which is, for most women, our narrowest part. I despise minimiser bras that have a tendency to squish the breast tissue flat and build out that area around the ribs.

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Empire line dresses

£265, Rixo, net-a-porter.com

Dresses or tops with a seam directly under the bust that flare out into an A-line or bias-cut skirt (especially when paired with a great bra) are super flattering on soft tummies. Which is most convenient because there is a plethora of them on the High Street for Spring, just in time for the imminent lifting of at least some of our lockdown restrictions.

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Prints

£59, Massimo Dutti, massimodutti.com

Printed tops or dresses can be really helpful in distracting the eye when it comes to tummies. It’s important to bear in mind the size of the print: if you’re on the more delicate side of things, look for a smaller, ditsy print, and if you’re bigger-boned, then larger prints will be more flattering on you. (NB: As I’ve said before, I’m not using ‘big-boned’ as a euphemism. You can be a size 6 and big-boned. Consider whether your finger and thumb meet around your wrist. If they don’t, opt for bigger prints, and if they overlap, go for ditsy.). Sadly, it’s increasingly difficult to find interesting tops that have some length to them – most seem to be cropped. Ideally a top will be long enough to tuck loosely into your waistband.

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Mid-Rise Trousers

£125, Reiss, reiss.com

We often see in bodies that where we are longest, we are leanest, and where we are shortest, we’re fuller. (This has always seemed particularly cruel to me – not only do I have to contend with short legs, but they’re also on the stocky side). When it comes to carrying weight around our middle, it is often especially true for those who have shorter bodies and longer legs. Bearing that in mind, mid-rise trousers or jeans are likely to be the most flattering on soft tummies: they stretch the torso by stealing length from the legs, as well as being high enough to encase the softness, preventing any jiggle escaping. Avoid pleat fronts on trousers that can add extra volume, though.

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Great jewellery and a v-neck

from £145, Missoma, missoma.com

Dressing for confidence means drawing your audience’s eye to the parts of your body that you love as much as it is drawing the eye away from the areas we love that little bit less. A stonking pair of earrings, or some layered gold chains resting on your collarbone are instantly flattering and will catch your audience’s eye.

Now I just need some sunshine and a cold glass of Viognier, and I’ll be right.

And while I have you, don’t forget to swing by my Lust List (link is in the menu in the top right corner) to see my edit of the best of what’s new in the shops this week.

ADMIN: Everything I’ve included here, I’ve included solely because I really rate it. I may though, if you purchase some of the items mentioned, earn a small commission from that purchase.