I AM FIVE FOOT SEVEN INCHES AND WEIGHT 165 MY PROBLEM IS I HAVE THIN LEGS AND HIPS I AM TRYIN TO FIND A BLOUSE THAT WILL COVER MY TUMMY THAT HANGS A LITTLE OVER MY PANTS LOL ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED.

There are so many nice tops right now that do just that. The new jackets that are short I can't say much for though. The tops that look similar to a kimono are great, they have the empire waist, come in bright colors that help distract the eye too. JC Penney's has lots of tops right now at reasonable price that would fit the bill. The tunic tops in bright colors are pretty too and hide the big tummy thingy.

I think apples (as opposed to pears) look best with pants that have some volume, wider legged trousers instead of skinny jeans, and tops that have detail but not too much fabric, like a semi-fitted blouse that's short enough to wear untucked with just a little bit of shirring at the button placket or an interesting neckline. A patterned fabric can hide any lumps and bumps. :-) You want to take the attention away from the middle and draw it elsewhere ... upward to a great hair cut or pretty face, or down to a great trouser and shoe.

I agree with Floater! Go with an empire waist. Accentuate the positive! I also think a solid color helps.

Leanne, it was davinci, not me that gave Liz the advice - but we have the same picture with our names so an understandable mistake!!

Liz, I agree with devinci and Leanne. Those empire waistlines are very forgiving, and being built as you are (and I am) you should be wearing lighter colours on the bottom and darker colours on top. You can also look for a top that has some bling around the neckline, as it draws the eye there away from the middle. And show some skin up top too. If you are large thru the shoulder, avoid and capped sleeves as they just add bulk.

I have found that pants with the flat waist, no zippers, no buttons, really helps also, as it gives you a smooth line and you are less likely to hang over the top of your pants.

Davinci! GREAT ADVICE LOL

Floater- well, knowing how BRILLIANT you are, I was just anticipating your response LOL GMTA!!!

Okay, I have to ask. Has anyone tried that body shaper thing that's advertised every 4 minutes on t.v.? The one that claims you can look 20 pounds slimmer? I'm pretty svelte...except for two areas: bosom (dear lord help me) and my tummy. I'm thinking of trying this thing. I think it's called the Kimora Body Shaper, or something like that....the before/after pics they show are pretty dramatic...

I haven't tried that particular one, but I am a big SPANX fan!! Knocks me down a whole size! The bad news is I can't eat anything when I wear one LOL There's just no room! But they are great for special occasions!

Thanks ladies all you advice is great now to do some clothes shopping lol

Robin I have a couple of them. I agree, you only wear them on special occasions, they squish your middle pretty good and eating is not pleasant! Neither is sitting. But it does make you look smooth, no lumps and bulges and rolls!!

Floater: Really? That gives me hope. I always say to myself, don't buy the body shapers because then you don't have a reason to lost the extra 20 lbs you are carrying around. But sometimes...a special occasion...a party..you really want to look pretty and flatten your tummy. I think you have inspired me to buy one.

What I find so funny about these "new" body shapers is that they are nothing more than a good old fashioned girdle, re-worked. I am not too young to remember the days when every woman wore a girdle, plump or slim...it was a piece of your wardrobe. My grandmother had the kind with bones in them...oh my god, how did women put up with those things back then??? Then came the '60's and '70's and women burned bras and threw out these torture devices designed to give us the perfect shape.

It's so interesting...it seems like now, in the 2008, we've gone back in time. Girdle (aka body shapers) are back, bras are back, make-up is back. No wonder we women are confused...

I am a wimp in my old age!

I think the empire style tops make me look pregnant (after having twins I cringe at that! )

and the SPANX???? I think they were used on the prisoners at gitmo!!! OMG, no way!

I use the cheap girl's version of Spanx ... cut off pantyhose ! Some brands don't work well, the cut off legs roll up. I've found that Round the Clock non control top work great. I'm a pear, I need help with my butt and thighs. :-)

I think empire isn't so great if you are C cup or up, then you look pregnant even if your stomach is inches below the fabric ! There's something about that silhouette that isn't so flattering on the busty girls.

Yes, I have done that too Sandra... cut the feet out of my control top panyhouse! It works! And you're probably also right about the empire cut.. but my B's don't have any first hand knowledge!

RR, I just bought one that goes from my thighs up to the bottom of my breast area. It really does cut the lumps and I look much slimmer in a dress....I had one shaper that only went from the thighs to my waist and my tummy roll was a problem.....the old muffin top. I only use mine for special occasions...it sure does cut down on ones' eating cuz you're so squeezed in

CG

lol i think i would look pregnant too in those empire blouses. maybe just a over large t-shirt lol

But....that screams look and see what I am hiding under here !

I think you are mistaken about the busty girl in an empire waistline top. I am a D cup and I wear them, you just have to make sure the waistline part - which is high up around the ribs, just under the breasts - fits properly, not loose and hangy. And be careful not to get a shirt which is seriously gathered. My favourite tops have the waistband sewn in, and the fabric in the bottom part of the top lays flat. They are extremely flattering and not only hide the tummy area but give the illusion of an hourglass where there isn't one.