What to wear when bloated? Ever thought this? You’re not alone.

I’ve always said that in my next life, I’m going to be a writer and journalist who focuses on something far sexier than a massive bloated belly and what number on the Bristol Stool Chart we should all strive to be at. Ha. 

But this isn’t the next life, and I am still here – day-in, day-out, trying to share every single last tip for the Gutsy women with a bloated tummy.

This is YOU.

And honestly?

There could be a fashion element to this. Okay, let’s be real. This is not a fashion-tip post because Lord knows I don’t have any true fashion hacks because I have zero sense of fashion.

But I do know A LOT about what makes a great option for those IBS flare-ups and what to wear with a bloated stomach.

What to Wear When Bloated

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Something I hear all the time from women in the Gutsy community is…..nothing I wear feels good; my body confidence has gone down the tank.

But guess what? I believe that WHEN YOU HEAL YOUR GUT and get rid of all the gas, bloating, and stomach distention you WILL get comfortable in your OWN SKIN. 

You CAN restore energy, rock your desired wardrobe, and eat with confidence.

Okay, so if you want my blueprint for how to get from where you’re at today to there, join Gut Healing: ELEVATED.

In the meantime, let’s just make sure the clothes you are wearing are the best things for this point on your journey….mmmmmkay?

Because it does matter.

Tight Clothing Matters

Above all else, do not wear tight clothing when you are bloated and miserable. It’s never a good idea.

I don’t care if you’re 115 pounds or 315 pounds, please skip the skinny jeans and anything that would be tight in the tummy area.

This is NOT about vanity; it’s simply facts.

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation states,

Tight, restrictive clothing can add to the pain, and can also lead to feelings of self-consciousness.  This creates stress, which we know can make symptoms worse. There is also the matter of needing practical clothing if you urgently need to use the bathroom.

But honestly?

This article is less about “science” and more about my personal experiences because, remember, I was once bloated and absolutely miserable 90% of my days.

For the record: in the two bloated images shown here, I am NOT wearing the right clothes. And YES, yes that was making me more miserable, but at the time I simply did not know.

This post is your sign to choose better clothing.

Leggings Snug on My Stomach Area

I used to live in tight leggings because I thought they were helping to keep the bloat all sucked in.

Never a good option.

But I could not figure it out, so I’d wear leggings yet another day with an oversized sweatshirt to attempt achieving a flat stomach.

And every single day, the leggings would only cause more pain, which led to stress and anxiety, and ultimately by the end of the day I would have near panic attacks.

Again, I never connected the dots, so let me give you some option that could become your new best friend.

Elastic Waistband Fashion is Life!

​First, let’s talk about pants.

Here are some things to look for when choosing a pair of pants:

1. Ensure the waist seams are flexible. In other words, they should easily expand to a large waistline at any given point.
2. Loose, drawstring pants
3. If you want a legging of sorts, make sure it’s loose in the stomach region, baggier fit, to allow for any bloat bulge
4. Choose jeans if you want, but choose them at bigger sizes than you truly are (REMEMBER: BLOAT IS NOT FAT. NO SHAME.)

Besides pants, here are some options for great lower body coverings:

1. Mom jeans (AS LONG as they aren’t tight on your waist)
2. Line skirts
3. Wrap skirts
4. A pair of drawstring shorts

And, what about tops?

Again, nothing tight on the stomach.

Here are some options to choose:

1. Peplum tops
2. Tunic tops
3. Oversized blazers; for casual and even for a great work outfit
4. Flowy tops
5. An oversized shirt
6. Any loose shirt
7. An oversized sweater or slouchy cardigan
8. Various, fun t-shirt styles that maybe have a slightly oversized fit

Other Clothing Pieces

Besides top and bottom clothing items, here are some other things to consider:

1. Choose dark colors and/or solid colors. I know, I know, some people hate navy and black (not me, but I’m sure some of you do!), but if you’re bloated and feel self-conscious when out in public, this is a simple fashion hack for instant bloating confidence.
2. Think about getting a cute wrap dress.
3. Vertical stripes might make you feel less bloated than horizontal ones. I’m sure this is just a mind game, but it always worked for me.
4. Coats and jackets that have a roomy fit.
5. If you like dresses, other ones to consider: unstructured dressed and t-shirt dresses.
6. Ditch the underwire bra. When you sit down, the wire can push on your upper stomach, leaving you feeling more miserable.
7. You don’t need a belt to “hold it all in.” The belt will make you feel even more constricted.

How to Dress for Your Body Type?

One thing you’ll always hear fashion influencers talk about is dressing for your body type.

I’m here to tell you that you do not need to listen to any of that advice right now.

Why?

Well, just look at this article that talks about how to dress for your body type and even gives the body shape reference.

Seriously, go look at the body shapes they present.

Which one are you?

Okay, great.

But now, add the pop of the belly in front, making the drawing more of a 3D effect.

So, then, how would that work?

• Round/Apple + bloat = ?
• Pear/Triangle + bloat = ?
• Inverted Triangle + bloat = ?
• Rectangular/Athletic + bloat = ?
• Hourglass + bloat = ?

Do you see where I’m going with this?

For example, here is the recommendation for an Hourglass body shape:

With this body shape, you still want to accentuate your waist, because that is the slimmest part of your body. 

With an hourglass shape, you want to avoid shapeless or baggy clothes that will overwhelm your frame and can even look lumpy. 

So you do that – you avoid shapeless or baggy clothes and instead opt to accentuate your waist. Where does that leave YOU when you’re bloated in miserable?

Your best bet is to simply focus on the right clothes for your current circumstances.

REMEMBER: You WILL heal, and once you do, any outfit options will be fully on the table again.

The Looks

Okay, so while I’m clearly not a fashion enthusiast, I can still give you some options that you can purchase today if you want.

Comfortable Outfits: Stay Here

Alright, wrapping this up for today.

The overall goal here is comfort because comfort means that even when you’re bloated and miserable what you choose to wear will not stand in your way.

Believe me when I tell you that the best outfits for your hardest days are those that you can still move and breathe in.

You’re not trying to impress anyone with the latest in tightly-fitting high rise jeans. You’re doing this for you.

Because you deserve to feel great no matter what the circumstances might be.

But also…..heal your gut so you no longer have to unbutton those pants.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. Why I Wear Big Sweatshirts
2. FREE Masterclass: How to reduce your bloat today
3. All About Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Xox,
SKH