What to wear in the summer if you have a massive stomach

[MegsSmeg]

I'm very overweight and carry most of it on my stomach. I'm like a round ball stomach on legs. What should I wear in the summer. Dresses make me look pregnant. Are cropped trousers and baggy tshirts my only option?

I think a cotton shirt rather than a tea shirt

To be honest from your description you may think you look pregnant in anything. So I’d go with comfort, dresses that you can cinch in with a belt, long skirts with a more fitted top?

Have you looked at COS? Website is awful but it's very well made and interesting shapes

Loose and long striped linen shirt and denim shorts.

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0965932006.html

.

Unless you have very slim ankles, cropped trousers are rarely the answer. If by "baggy tshirts" you mean old men's ones, that's not going to be flattering either.
Hoolihan has made some good suggestions, although if your stomach is as big as you say, tucked in shirts might not work; you might be better with an untucked or open shirt over a vest/lower cut tshirt that does not cling to the wrong bits. Maybe a swing style one.
What size are you? How old? What's your lifestyle? With a bit more detail we can all be more helpful.

No offence @Hoolihan but I don't think that outfit looks complimentary on the model..

I'd avoid anything cinched at the waist, I'm not big but I don't have a slim waist so avoid anything cinched.

Wrap dresses, a line dresses and peplum tops are the friend of an apple shape. Anything that basically cinches you in at the waist and skims over the stomach area. Shift dresses, shirt dresses or long tshirt dresses again that gather in at the waist with jeggings/leggings are a staple of mine in summer.

www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0912100007.html

www.fatface.com/women/clothing/dresses/nina-dappled-animal-jersey-dress/963109.html?dwvar_963109_color=indigo&cgid=women-clothing-dresses-and-skirts#pagination=true&start=25

www.next.ie/en/g68849s1/580052#580052

www.next.ie/en/style/st817008/M11639#M11639

www.next.ie/en/g5732s5/982605#982605

www.marksandspencer.com/printed-high-waisted-shorts/p/clp60497114?color=PINKMIX

These shorts are great as they’re loose, and not button fit. They also do other colours if you’re not a fan of pink!

I think fit and flare dresses are the most flattering. They cinch in at the waist and skim over the belly. I have a large belly and it's the style I tend to favour, and for summer I'd go for a couple of midi/maxi styles to start.

I have a big stomach, entirely self inflicted. To be honest nothing really hides it very well, so if it was me, and it is! I would focus on wearing something you feel comfortable and happy in.

I find wearing layers helps, so a tight vest or shape wear, loose blouse (asda or next is where I buy from), jeggings,cropped for summer, to take focus off stomach a longline cardi or kimono.

Tshirts look better if they are long and some of the men's from primark are surprising good, or swing type ones from yours. I've also bought a could of maxi dresses from amazon that comes in under bust and flows out. Unfortunately it just takes a lot of trying things on

Thanks all, lots of suggestions to try out. I've not heard of COS so will take a look as well as googling 'fit and flare' etc. But, yes, suspect I'll look pregnant and awful in anything. Big babies, ill health and lockdown have not been good for me! It takes all my courage to leave the house at the moment!!

@AlfieandAnnieRose

www.marksandspencer.com/printed-high-waisted-shorts/p/clp60497114?color=PINKMIX

These shorts are great as they’re loose, and not button fit. They also do other colours if you’re not a fan of pink!

Definitely not shorts @MegsSmeg . I don't get the fascination in this country with shorts as soon as the sun is out . Few people can carry them . I would suggest you get a couple of floaty type dresses even although you say you don't like them . These are both from Debenhams and very cheap currently . A curvy woman definitely looks better in a dress than shorts and some top .

Those pink marks and Spencer shorts would disappear up my ample crack in about 4 strides.

A curvy woman definitely looks better in a dress than shorts and some top.

I used to subscribe to this school of thought and spent summers really uncomfortable, coping with chafing thighs. Then I bought some shorts last year and yes, my legs look crap, but I’m a million times more comfortable and anyone who judges me for wearing shorts can, quite frankly, stick their opinion up their arse.

Hey apple shape over here too! I agree it’s difficult to find those flattering shapes but once you know what to look for it’s easier to locate. Some people have already covered this above, but low v neck dresses and tops are great. Also tuxedo style blazers. Flared jeans to balance you out if you’re broad on top. Pencil style dress with ruching around the stomach if you have good legs. Kimono style dresses. Mini skirts that go straight down, with a long top over the top. A ‘french tuck’ (google it) to the side rather than the front when wearing trousers and skirts. As you can tell, I’ve done extensive research in this area. Have a look on Pinterest for apple shape outfits for more ideas

By the way Meghan markle is apple shaped, albeit a super skinny one, so good person for outfit inspo, if you have a google. She rocks a great fitted shirt, which I think always looks good on big tummies if you have the right jeans/shorts and the shirt is long enough to cover tummy but tuck a side into the waistband