If you are self conscious about your stomach what do you do?

[PragmaticDramatic]

Wear clothes that ‘flatter’ ( I hate the word and hate what I means in the context of clothing) the area?

Wear clothes that hide the area?

Wear what you want regardless and accept it and try and overcome the self consciousness?

I am trying to do option three, it’s not easy but I am doing my best.

Try for option 3 mostly
Figure men seem happy enough to walk around with beer bellies out

I mean I don't deliberately draw attention to it but it's a stomach and if people don't like it they can look away

Option 3 and an extra glass of wine 😀.

l think loose fitting tent like things do the opposite of hiding a tum.

I wear clothes that cover and hide the area, but I think some younger women no longer feel the need to do this.

Same.

Younger people just wear whatever is fashionable and don’t make any attempt to hide anything. So that is the “trendy” thing to do. But at 43 and a size 18 I feel ridiculous doing that so I wear stuff that skims over my problem bits. There’s no way I’d be wearing a cropped top and jeans with a belt for example. I wouldn’t feel comfortable or confident. I tend to wear a lot of wide legged trousers and boxy shaped t shirts as they seem to still look ok but hide my stomach.

I've got a decent rack and good legs and a big wobbly belly. I Just play up the good features and hope the wobbly tum is less noticeable!

I try to wear tops that skim over the area. But I prefer natural fibres.

I am definitely starting to agree with you about this. I've been wearing tent like things for years since 4 C sections, but they make me look bigger than I am. I am trying these days to be braver and go with option C. My favourite and most flattering dresses though are those that are fitted or clingy on top, and flare out over the wobbly protruding bits! I'll wear something tight though sometimes, with a looser thing on top.

I know someone like this. She has long slim legs and big boobs, but holds weight around her middle section. She wears skimpy, clingy things un-self-consciously , and just looks incredible. I wish I had her confidence.

I love maxi dresses, you can dress them up or down with trainers, sandals, heels even boots when it gets cooler weather.

Option 3, I'm going to wear what I like.

If I don't wear what I want I am still the size I am, and am miserable because I'm wearing something I don't like.

If someone else's biggest problem is my stomach then good luck to 'em, I've got other stuff to worry about.

Sorry if this appears ageist, but speaking personally, aged 60, as pp said, I think the younger you are, the more you can get away with.

I wore a stripey over-sized cotton shirt to an event recently and I was horrified by the photos as it made me look huge!

Nor can I do skin tight ribbed t-shirts any more as they show all of my lumps and bumps.

So I compromise on more slim fitted, more classic, cotton tunics (not too long but not boxy and short) with darts, which go in and out, in a very fine cotton that moulds with the body and doesn’t stick out stiffly in a tent-like way, with a sort of Moroccan neckline with a deep ish V. Also, fine jersey cotton tops with three quarter sleeves that hopefully draw eye away to a slim area (i.e. a wrist) on which you wear a bright or interesting bangle. It’s best if tops fit well on the shoulder and skim over tummy and have darts cut in to fabric and a bit of stretch usually helps!

The thickness and type of material is inportant, as is the fit. Sometimes a sewn in shoulder pad helps to balance proportions.

And if you buy a slightly longer top in t-shirt material, it helps conceal the tummy if you stretch it out and then concertina it up a bit horizontally around tummy area so it’s not apparent which is a roll of tum and which is a fabric fold. 😀

I absolutely skim the area.
I feel awful in anything fitted or belted round the middle.
I resent stylists who say you should "nip in" to give yourself some shape.

@bananaramaterry