Check out our tips for cinching a tunic or dress.

Do you have a dress or tunic in your wardrobe that you love, but it’s too big for your shape? Would you like to learn how to take in the waist of a garment easily, so you can accentuate your curves?

I'm here to help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I firmly believe that our clothes should feel like a second skin and therefore be comfortable to wear. That's why I particularly enjoy bohemian fashion with its flowing and relaxed silhouettes.

However, wearing comfortable clothes doesn’t mean they should hide our shapes or not enhance our figure!

Today, I'm sharing an easy sewing technique along with a few ultra-simple no-sew tips to tailor your clothes so they fit you perfectly.

To shape a tunic or dress with a sewing machine, turn it inside out and pin it to mark your waist. Then, lay it flat and, using your machine and the measurements you took, sew a new, narrower seam at the waist in a curved shape. If you prefer not to sew your garment, you can use a belt or a cardigan clip to cinch it at the waist. This will help to accentuate your silhouette and elegantly highlight your curves!

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

• Why tailoring a garment is a great idea,
• A very easy sewing tutorial for cinching a tunic at the waist,
• How to use a belt to enhance your silhouette,
• More information about a very handy accessory: the cardigan clip,
• Other tips and inspiring outfit examples featuring bohemian dresses and tunics.

Why Tailor a Garment?

Do you have a dress or a tunic that is a bit loose and you'd like it to flatter your figure a bit more? This is a common issue: most clothing is designed to fit a standard body shape. However, thankfully, we are all unique!

Most of the time, it’s not too complicated to solve this issue: usually, you just need to slightly tighten your clothing around your waist.

This will give you a more feminine look by highlighting your curves, especially your hips. Your silhouette will be enhanced, and the tunic or dress in question will truly show off your best features!

How to Cinch a Tunic? [Sewing Tutorial 🧵]

To start, I’d like to share a technique that makes it easy to reshape a garment using a simple sewing technique. If you don’t know how to sew, don’t worry; we’ll also cover no-sew methods later in this article.

For those who have a bit of sewing knowledge, this is completely within your reach. It's a simple and quick tip that should only take you about quarter of an hour if you have a sewing machine.

👉 You can watch the entire tutorial in this clear video, which helps you visualise the steps needed to complete your bending technique.

Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric and Work Surface

Your fabric needs to be clean and, if it's cotton or linen, perfectly ironed. Any creases in these materials could misalign your seams and ruin the whole process!

Plug your sewing machine onto a clean, tidy table. Also, gather a few tools and supplies you’ll need for this DIY, including:

• Some thread,
• Some pins,
• A pair of scissors,
• A marker.

Step 2: Mark the Folds

Put your top or dress inside out, then, making sure your garment is straight, pin your waist at the point where you want it to be tighter. Make sure to do this symmetrically on both sides.

👉 If you can, ask a friend or family member to help ensure your blouse is straight while you pin it down.

Then, lay out your clothing, being careful not to prick yourself.

Step 3: Resize and Sew

On the reverse side, trace the size where you’re going to sew using a fabric pen or marker. Make sure to create a curve (or triangle, as shown in the video) so that the cut appears natural.

Then, using your machine, sew along the line you drew. You can then turn your garment right side out and give it a try. And there you have it, done!

👉 Don’t forget to take out the pins!

How to Shape a Dress Without Sewing?

Don't know how to sew or don't have a sewing machine, but you're after a simple and effective solution? No worries! I've put together a selection of no-sew techniques to help shape your garment. Check them out in the following lines!

The Belt: Your Best Ally for Tightening Oversized Clothing

Stylish and practical, a belt is a versatile accessory that can be worn with both pants and a tunic or dress. In the latter case, it serves to cinch and define the waist, while redefining the proportions of your silhouette.

➡ In fact, it’s often recommended that when selecting an outfit, you aim to achieve a proportion ratio of ⅓ for the top and ⅔ for the bottom, to create a balanced look. You can achieve this by wearing a wide belt around your waist.

For a bohemian chic style, opt for a wide natural brown leather belt with a lovely buckle. Make sure to adjust your clothing after putting on the belt so that it doesn’t get caught in it.

A miracle tip: check out the cardigan clip!

Are you looking for a discreet solution suitable for workwear that’s a bit formal? Let me introduce you to a tiny accessory with huge potential: the cardigan clip. It consists of a small elastic or adjustable-length clip with a clasp at each end, which you can attach at the back to secure your garment at the waist.

👉 You can order this accessory on Etsy or Amazon by searching for “Cardigan Clip”. There are many varieties and colours available!

3 super easy tips to tighten a dress or tunic

To wrap up, here are three tips that require no special equipment and will allow you to temporarily adjust a garment with ease. This is handy if you borrow a dress that’s a bit too big, if you're short on time, or if you want to wear that top you just bought straight away! 😉

Why Tucking in Your Top at the Waist is a Great Idea

Whatever your shape, if the garment you want to tuck is not too long, you can gently tuck it into shorts, pants, or a skirt at the front.

Two options are available to you:

• You tuck your shirt completely into your trousers or shorts, as flat as possible, for a very professional look suitable for work,
• You tuck your top into your trousers, then let it blouse out slightly at your waist, for a more relaxed appearance.

Whichever option you choose, it will help define your waist, creating the illusion of a fitted and tailored top.

Make a Fake Belt!

If you don’t have a belt on hand, you can also use something else to make one, for example:

• A long-sleeved garment that you can tie around your waist,
• A thin scarf,
• A piece of string,
• A headscarf,
• A bit of wide fabric…

Learn to Create the Illusion of a Fitted Garment by Playing with Layers

If you prefer not to cinch your outfit at the waist with a belt or any other accessory, but still want to create a longer silhouette without adding bulk, I have one last tip for you. By wearing a long cardigan or a kimono, you'll redefine the shape of the tunic, dress, or top you're wearing underneath, thanks to the weight of this outer layer.

👉 By playing with layers, you can also choose to wear your dress or shirt with a corset! In this case, there's no need to cinch it in; this accessory will instantly give you a slim and elegant waist!

You now know plenty of simple tricks to tailor a dress, blouse, or tunic, whether you're a sewing pro or a complete novice!

In the meantime, I invite you to check out our collection of bohemian clothing, where you'll find beautifully tailored dresses and tops that are perfectly fitted to enhance your figure, no matter your body shape! 😉

discover our chic bohemian dresses