Whilst we’re all for embracing Chinese New Year’s (CNY) traditional food blowouts, the aftermath isn’t so joyous. Heading back to the daily grind with some extra weight and feeling completely sluggish is not ideal, but unavoidable if your long weekend was all about feasting and merrymaking.
If you took one too many cookies and are semi-regretting it now, no worries. What can help you feel better and deliver instant ease is some forgiving attires. Namely, loose dresses that do not cinch in at the waist but instead hide your current pot-belly situation.
Here’s our favourite picks of post-CNY friendly dresses, all for under $100. And who said the shopping has to end before CNY?
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This sweet little navy dress has a low back which draws the eye towards the back, not the front, and an overall heart pattern which helps hide the bloat. Designed to be worn loose fitted, it’s perfect for the days you want to dress comfortably.
Low back mini sundress in heart broderie, $60.34 from ASOS.
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You may think about steering clear of bold block colours to avoid attention but actually, they work pretty well and covering the ol’ tum. Particularly if they’re loose fitted like this canary yellow number from Zara. The top knots and calf hemline draws the eye-line above and below your waist, helping to hide the bulge.
Long dress with knots details, $89.90 from Zara.
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What’s not to love about this dress? It’s long sleeves and flowy fabric make it ideal for the office, or wherever you’re off to in the days following the festive period. It can be dressed up or down and more importantly, it’s under $30. Absolute bargain.
Sleeve knotted sweater, $29.90 from Mango.
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If in doubt, print it out. Prints are great, particularly larger ones, to draw the eye of the beholder away from the areas you wish to hide for a wee while. We love this black floral print, but there are other prints to choose from in this dress style. With the long sleeves and shift style design, it is a great buy to ensure you’re comfortable 9 to 5.
Short dress, $34.95 from H&M.
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This asymmetrical hem dress is a minimalist approach to hiding the bloated belly. The thin spaghetti straps at the top combined with the ruffles at the bottom draws all eyes away from your middle section.
Knee-length dress, US$74,00 from YOOX.
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This dress is a winner for the weeks at work where you’re not quite over CNY and want to feel comfortable sitting at your desk. The baggy t-shirt style is super to hiding any extra weight you have, and if you team with some mules or sneakers it gives you that ‘effortlessly stylish’ air.
Denet curved hi-lo hem dress, $34.00 from Pomelo.
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Whilst it may not be suitable for your white collar job, this Puma athleisure hoodie dress is a fab find for those seeking comfort and style in one piece. The upper details combined with the relaxed fit means it’s going to suit you not only for bloated days, but for relax days, brunch days, shopping days and more.
Puma logo hoodie dress, $90 from Farfetch.
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What we adore about this dress, aside from the pretty pastel shades it comes in, is that you can wear it more than one way. For your really bloated days wear completely loose and the pleats and shift design will completely hide your tum. For when you’re feeling back in shape…it comes with a detachable sash belt, to cinch your waist in.
Bethann pleated sash midi dress, $47.90 from Love Bonito.
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We don’t really need to point out how this particular dress helps hide the bloat! The t-shirt style wide cut is perfect for your ‘off’ days and combined with these bright bold colours, no-one will ever know that you really overindulged during CNY. It’s a strong look to be sure and you’re probably wanting to hide away in head to toe black at the moment, but we swear if you give the bold a go, you won’t look back.
Three-tone dress with polo collar details, $59.90 from Zara.
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