Fashion Fridays, Kuel Life Thought Leader: Tracy Gold
If you want to know how to hide a menopausal belly, it starts with avoiding these five styling mistakes that secretly add inches where you least want them.
Girlfriend, you can wear whatever you want — but if you don’t want your menopausal belly to pooch more, there are a few things you’ll want to stop doing right now.
After styling women for more than 20 years (and going through perimenopause myself), I’ve learned that the wrong clothes can magnify the bloat, while the right ones make it disappear.
Five Big Style Mistakes That Make Your Menopausal Belly Look Bigger (and what to do instead.)
1. Big, Baggy, and Long Everything
When the bloat hits, many of us reach for loose, oversized pieces to “hide” it. The problem? Oversized outfits don’t hide — they add volume.
The fix: choose clothing with shape, not tightness. A fitted top or wrap skirt with adjustable ties gives you flexibility and structure without clinging. If your body fluctuates from one day to the next (and whose doesn’t?), adjustable styles let you customize your fit. Bonus points for one-shoulder tops or asymmetry that draw the eye up and away from your midsection.
And please, retire the all-black everything. Black isn’t the only “slimming” color; navy and jewel tones are far kinder to your complexion.
2. Squeezing Into Clothes That No Longer Fit
Trying to force your new body into your old clothes is a fast track to frustration. I know; I’ve tried.
Even going up a size doesn’t always help if the shape no longer suits your changing body. Instead of punishing yourself with tight zippers and restrictive fabrics, embrace styles that celebrate your shape today.
Trade those old leather pants for high-waisted, wide-leg trousers that cinch at the waist and flare at the hem. You’ll look balanced, elongated, and fabulous, and you might even start liking your reflection again.
3. The Pencil-Skirt Trap
Not everyone can (or should) wear a pencil skirt. That narrow-at-the-hem cut makes everything above it look wider by comparison.
The alternative? Fit-and-flare dresses and skirts. When the widest point is at the bottom hem, your waist and hips instantly appear slimmer. It’s optical illusion magic — and no Spanx required.
4. Clingy Solid Fabrics
This one’s a game changer. Solid colors in clingy fabrics show every line, lump, and seam. Prints, however, disguise them. The proof is undeniable: same body, same underwear, two dresses — one solid, one printed — and the printed one wins every time.
If you prefer solids, pick thicker fabrics with structure (not stretch) and cuts that glide instead of grab. Or try color-blocking, strategic panels that draw the eye down the body and away from the midsection. It’s one of my favorite designer tricks.
5. Denim Patch-Pocket Disaster
Those trendy patch pockets on the front of jeans? They’re cute – until they sit right on top of your belly. On bloated days, they add instant bulk.
Opt for a dark-wash, flat-front jean instead. A clean waistband and subtle stretch create a smoother silhouette. Wide-leg or flare styles elongate your legs and shift attention downward for a longer, leaner look.
How To Hide A Menopausal Belly With Confidence
As women in perimenopause and menopause, our bodies change constantly, sometimes daily. The trick isn’t to fight those changes but to dress with them.
Stop covering up. Start creating shape. Play with prints. And when in doubt, choose fabrics and fits that move with you instead of against you. You deserve to walk out the door looking and feeling like yourself again — confident, stylish, and 100 percent fabulous.
If you’d love more personalized help, I offer one-on-one styling sessions both in person here in New York City and online anywhere in the world. I’d love to help you rediscover your shape, your confidence, and your style. For details, checkout my bio below.
Watch the full video below to see these tips in action.
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About the Author:
Tracy is a Menopause Style Expert, Fashion Designer, and Show Host. With two decades of experience in styling women of different body shapes and sizes, along with her personal journey through perimenopause, she founded Tracy Gold New York. Recognizing the profound effect clothing can have on a woman’s body image at midlife, she developed this brand, which offers a fun and customizable collection designed to adapt to a woman’s body changes with style. Need some help discovering what works for your body now https://tracygoldfashiontips.com/
