Midsummer heat has my stomach puffing up like a pool float. If the rising temps are cranking up your bloat too, you’re probably asking the same question I am: What can I wear that’s cool, comfy, and still looks pulled‑together—without a ton of effort? Scroll on for easy, bloat‑friendly outfit formulas to breeze through the rest of summer.

1. Trade tight waistbands for floaty middles.

• Think breezy A‑line or tiered dresses that skim, not cling.

• Wrap or empire cuts draw the eye up to the ribcage (often the narrowest point) and let the lower belly breathe.

2. Go “relaxed rise” on the bottom.

• Linen pull‑on shorts, wide‑leg trousers with hidden elastic, or your ginger + dandelion jeans with their forgiving waistband all expand as the day (and heat) progresses.

• Skip belts—swap for a light scarf tie or let the waistband sit on its own.

3. Choose fabrics with natural airflow.

• Linen, cotton, gauze, hemp blends, TENCEL™, lightweight chambray.

• The looser weave lets heat escape, which can reduce summer‑swelling and that “my stomach just ballooned” feeling.

4. Play the “almost crop + roomy” proportion game.

• Pair a slightly cropped box tee with mid/high‑rise, relaxed‑waistband bottoms. Your shirt skimming your waistband above the bloat zone balances your frame without hugging it.

• Not into crops? A front‑tucked, drapey tank (muscle‑tee style) gives the same waist definition minus cling.

5. Print & color placement is your friend.

• Vertical stripes, center‑seam details, or a darker shade at the belly can visually lengthen.

• Ombre tops that fade darker to lighter upward pull the eye toward your face.

6. Build a “third‑layer lite.”

• A gauzy button‑down left open, mesh cardigan, or silky kimono creates vertical lines and camouflages any midday bloat—without adding true warmth.

• Keep it fingertip length or shorter so legs still look breezy.

7. Shoes & accessories that de‑puff.

• Slides or low‑platform sandals (vs. ankle‑straps) keep circulation flowing.

• A wide‑brim hat or statement earrings shift focus upward, away from a self‑conscious midsection.

Quick Checklist for Your Closet Edit

• ✔ Stretchy, breathable waistband bottoms (linen shorts, cotton wide-leg pants, g+d relaxed jeans)

• ✔ Two “air conditioner” dresses (tiered cotton mini & breezy midi)

• ✔ Light third layer for over‑AC restaurants

• ✔ Neutral & vertical‑print tanks/tees for mix‑and‑match ease

Stay cool, keep the belly happy, and enjoy summer without the squeeze!