Whether embracing your curves or trying to minimize them, knowing how your fashion choices affect your silhouette is key. From the fit of your jeans to the patterns you choose, every detail can impact how your bum looks. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, you can dress to highlight or downplay your assets. Here are 15 ways your fashion choices could make your bum look bigger, whether that’s the intention or not.
1. Tight Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans might seem flattering in theory, but in reality, they cling to every curve, so if you’ve got a booty, they’re going to show it off. The snug fit of skinny jeans highlights your hips and bum, making them look more prominent. Meanwhile, straight-leg jeans or anything baggy or more slouchy will balance out your silhouette in a more flattering way.
2. Light Colored or Sheer Pants
Light colors draw attention to the areas they cover. So, if you’re rocking white, beige, or pastel-colored pants, your bum is going to stand out more compared to when you wear darker shades. Light colors also reflect more light, making your bum appear larger and more noticeable. If this is the goal, then incorporate these into your wardrobe; however, if you’re trying to minimize your bum, opt for darker hues.
3. High-Waisted Pants
High-waisted pants and skirts cinch at your natural waistline, which makes your hips and bum look fuller. This style not only highlights your curves but also gives your bum a bit of a lift. By emphasizing the smallest part of your waist, high-waisted bottoms create an hourglass effect that makes your bum appear bigger. If you naturally have a large bum or rounder hips, this may not be the most flattering look.
4. Stretchy Fabrics
Just like skinny jeans, stretchy fabrics like spandex and lycra cling to your body, enhancing every curve. While these materials are super comfortable, they also accentuate your bum by molding to its shape. For a more flattering look, opt for a looser look like yoga pants. And if you’re trying to make a fashion statement, leave gym pants for the gym.
4. Peplum Tops
Peplum tops flare out at the waist, which can make your hips and bum look bigger in comparison. A tricky style to pull off, peplum creates the illusion of a fuller bottom half, even if you’re naturally slimmer in that area. This silhouette also purposefully draws attention to your waist and lower half, so if you’re trying to appear slimmer, avoid wearing a peplum.
5. Pants with Big Back Pockets
Back pockets can either work in your favor or against you, depending on their size and placement. Larger and lower pockets on pants can make your bum look bigger by adding bulk. It’s also an optical illusion: Oversized pockets will naturally make your bum look bigger, while small or high-set pockets do the opposite. Pockets that sit lower or are larger in size can add visual weight to your bum, making it appear bigger than it is.
6. Pants with Bold, Busy Patterns
Bold patterns like stripes, florals, or geometric designs are fun, but they can also make your bum look more prominent. Like peplums, the eye is naturally drawn to patterns, which can emphasize the area they cover. Loud patterns attract attention and can create the illusion of a larger bum. If you naturally have a bigger bum, it can warp and distort the fabric, which draws even more unwanted attention to that area of your body. Stick to neutrals if you’re after a slimmer appearance.
7. Bodycon Dresses
Bodycon dresses are designed to hug every curve, but this also means your bum is going to be front and center. These dresses are all about showing off your shape, so if you’ve got a booty, it’s going to be noticeable. If this is what you’re aiming for, then fantastic. However, if you’re trying to avoid drawing attention to your bum, try to opt for a looser silhouette.
8. Flared Pants
Boot-cut and flared pants are fitted at the top and flare out at the bottom, which can create a balanced silhouette. However, for those with a bigger bum, these pants will only make your booty look bigger by comparison to the wider leg opening. The wider leg at the bottom draws the eye upward, emphasizing the curve of your bum. If you feel your bum looks oversized in these pants, try swapping them for a slimming straight-leg cut.
9. Layering Long Tops and Jackets
Layering with long cardigans or jackets that hit at or below the hip can make your bum look bigger. The fabric tends to drape over your hips, adding unnecessary bulk and emphasizing your lower half. This isn’t flattering on anyone. Ditch the long kits and opt for a cropped cardigan that sits above the hip to show off your natural look.
10. Waist-Cinching Belts
A belt cinched at the waist draws attention to the contrast between your waist and hips, which can look great on some people, or it could make your bum look more prominent. This is especially true if the belt is wide or a contrasting color. By highlighting the waist, belts make the hips and bum appear fuller, creating an hourglass shape.
11. Mini and A-Line Skirts
A-line skirts flare out from the waist, creating a fuller silhouette around the hips and bum. This style can give the appearance of a bigger bum, even if you’re naturally smaller in that area. If you naturally have a bigger bum, you might want to avoid this silhouette, as it can accentuate your booty and make it look unbalanced.
12. Pleated Skirts
Just like a loud print, pleated skirts can add too much volume and movement around your hips and bum, which can make them look bigger. The extra fabric from the pleats creates a fuller silhouette, which can look flattering on certain body shapes, but for those of us who are already loaded in that area, you might want to opt for a different style skirt for a more flattering appearance.
13. Striped Skirts
Horizontal stripes are notorious for making things look wider than what they really are. When worn on your lower half, they can make your bum appear larger by adding width to the area. Horizontal stripes also draw the eye across the body, creating the illusion of a wider and, therefore, bigger bum. Ditch the unflattering stripes for a neutral color that can reduce the visible look of your bum.
14. Not Wearing Shapewear
Skipping shapewear is a big no-no is you’re trying to streamline your shape. A great bodysuit can cinch the body in all the right places and can instantly give a lifted, toned, and slimming effect to your bum. It’ll also give you a sexy, streamlined figure across your hips, waist, and bust. Whether you’re opting for a pair of jeans, a skirt, or a dress, be sure to slip into some shapewear underneath to give your figure a bit of oomph.