We’ve all gone through it at one point or another — you look down at your tummy and realize it’s betrayed you. It’s sticking out in places it shouldn’t, and it’s making all of your clothes look like you bought them for a 3 year old.

It’s the worst feeling to put on clothes and hate the way you look in them, but there is hope! It’s a matter of using the right clothes and accessories to create the best silhouette for you. When it comes to hiding your belly fat (whether temporary or more permanent), it’s all about using clothing to fool the eye. Here are three easy tricks to do just that:

1. Use color blocking to reset your shape.

Color blocking has been around for a long time, but Michelle Obama’s election dress in 2008 sparked a more recent uptick in color block dresses. These dresses are perfect for dinners and special occasions because they hug the body without being body conscious. The best blocking for hiding a tummy is to get a dress that has black panels on the side, and a print in the center. The black panels create an hourglass shape while the print hides the tummy. The picture above is a Ralph Lauren dress that I own and use for this specific purpose. Ralph Lauren jersey dresses are one of the best options for this, and you can find a great selection of them at Macy’s.

2. Use long cardigans to create a long and lean look.

Cardigans can help or hurt, depending on how you wear them. When you are trying to hide belly fat, the best cardigan to use is a longer one that at least stops at the thigh. Cardigans naturally create a curvier shape and the illusion of a smaller waist; when you add the length to it it makes your torso look longer which also fools the eye into thinking the tummy is flat. Most designers make a long knit cardigan of some sort, but my favorite go to for them is Ann Taylor Loft.

 

3. Draping is your best friend.

When used strategically, draping can hide a multitude of sins. Ideally, you want tops and dresses that drape diagonally and come together at the hip. That creates a feminine shape and hides bulges. Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap sweaters are great for this. But you can also go with something more loosely draped, like this top from Nicole Richie’s collection at QVC. This seems to work best in rich colors such as eggplant, royal blue, chocolate brown and of course black.

Bonus tip: Spanx and other undergarments do actually help tuck your belly in. I find that the one that works best is the Shape My Day Bodysuit from Spanx. It holds in your stomach, slims your hips and lifts your bust. You can walk around feeling much more confident with that kind of support!