Today, I'm going to show you all my best tips and tricks how to hide that tummy even when you're not holding it.

Hack number one:

Do not wear stretchy, clingy fabrics. I know what you're thinking, and I did exactly what you're doing. Stretchy fabrics were my go-to because if you have a tummy, this is the most comfortable around your stomach. But here's the thing: if they are stretchy and if they're thin, they're going to be clinging to your stomach, and that is the last thing you ever want to do. Every bit of that tummy is going to be showing. That doesn't mean that your fabrics should have no stretch at all; they don't have to be stiff, but they do need to have enough weight so that they're thick enough and they're skimming your body instead of clinging to your body.

Hack number two:

Create three columns of colors. Ah, my favorite layering hack! And this is how you do it: First of all, your under layer—you need to wear the same color top and bottom. Doesn't have to be black; it can be any darker colors as long as they are close enough. Column of colors from top to bottom. Second step, this is where the magic happens: Now you top it over with a light color outer layer. It could be a blazer, could be a cardigan, anything you like, as long as your outer layer is a light color. You have three columns of colors in the front, dissect your front, and this is going to trick the eye into believing your stomach is now much smaller.

Hack number three:

Avoid skinny belts. If you have a tummy, any kind of belt can be tricky for you because you're adding something to your tummy which is already big. A belt can make your stomach look even more protruding. Now here's the thing about skinny belts: They're not flattering on most people. There are exceptions; however, if you have a tummy, when you wear a skinny belt, because they're so tiny, they can look out of proportion and therefore make your tummy look even bigger. The worst is when you wear a skinny belt that has a very sharp contrasting color with what you're wearing. This is going to draw all the attention to your tummy, so avoid skinny belts unless you want your tummy to look more obvious.

Hack number four:

Avoid bodycon silhouette. If your top is tight, you don't want to wear it with a tight bottom. The bodycon silhouette—it's a mistake I made in my 20s and even early 30s. Bodycon was my go-to. I thought I'm skinny, so why not? 

So what other people see is this:

"Hi Linda! I haven't seen you for a while."

"Oh my god, she..."

"What's new?"

"Congratulations!"

Whenever you do it, it highlights every lump and bump in your body. So if you have a tummy, it's going to make it much more obvious. It doesn't mean that everything you wear should be loosely fitted. Actually, you don't want to do that because it's only going to make you look heavier. My next tip is going to show you how to wear a tighter skirt.

Hack number five:

Yes, wear a peplum. This is one of my favorite hacks. When you wear a peplum, even though your top is fitted and your skirt is tight, the ruffles are covering up your stomach so nothing is showing, and it looks like your tummy has disappeared. But here's an important part: Not all peplums are created equal. You want to make sure you are looking for the ruffles that are long enough to cover up the widest part of your tummy. And this works not just with peplum tops; it also works with peplum dresses. Because the ruffles flare out, it also forms a contrast with your waist, and this is going to create the illusion that you have a waistline even though you don't.

Hack number six:

Wear asymmetrical hems. If you have a tummy, asymmetrical hems are very flattering for you. Most of the time, we're wearing tops with a horizontal hem because it goes straight across our tummy. Horizontal expands us and also makes our tummy more obvious. When you wear an asymmetrical hem, they're no longer going straight across; instead, they're at an angle. That's why they look more slimming and they can make your tummy look less obvious.

Hack number seven:

If you have a tummy, you always want to minimize your stomach area and you never want to add anything to it. And that's exactly what paperbag pants do. These are very cute and they're very much on trend, but because they've got the extra fabric, these are only going to make your stomach area look even bigger than it actually is. And this is only going to draw more attention to your stomach area. The worst part is paperbag pants that also come with a belt, and most of them do. Avoid paperbag pants if you have a stomach.

Hack number eight: 

Pleated pants can look good if you have a tummy. Here's how it works: Because of the pleats, this creates space so this is going to make sure the fabrics your pants are not clinging to your stomach. Therefore, they can disguise your tummy. I have tried different types of pleated pants; some work better than others. If the pleats are too big, they can create too much space, and that actually can make your stomach look even bigger. So you need to find a fine balance to create space but they're not too exaggerated.

Hack number nine:

If you have a tummy, avoid low-rise jeans. If this sounds obvious to you, it wasn't to me. I learned it the hard way 15 years ago. Low-rise jeans were the trend, so I was wearing low-rise jeans and you could imagine if you have a tummy, when you wear low-rise jeans and it barely covers your stomach, what it looks like. And it gets worse when you're trying to sit down; it's almost like a catastrophe because all that tummy has nowhere to go but to pop out. I mentioned this in other articles as well, but I think it's important to say it again because I am seeing low-rise jeans coming back in a big way, and more and more stores are carrying low-rise jeans, and more and more women are going for low-rise jeans this season. But remember, if you do have a stomach, low-rise jeans are a no-go.