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 loose for your frame? Would you like to learn how to take in the waist of a garment easily, to enhance your curves?

I will help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I believe that clothing should feel like a second skin, and therefore must be comfortable to wear. This is why I particularly love bohemian fashion with its fluid and loose cuts.

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

Today, I’m sharing an easy sewing technique along with some super simple no-sew tips to tailor your clothes so that they flatter your figure.

To shape a tunic or dress using a sewing machine, wear it inside out and pin the fabric at your waist to mark the size. Then, lay it flat and, using your machine and the measurements you've taken, sew a new, narrower seam at the waist in a gentle curve. If you'd rather not sew, you can use a belt or a cardigan clip to cinch it at the waist. This will help define your silhouette and elegantly highlight your curves!

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

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

Why Should You Tailor Your Clothes?

Do you have a dress or tunic that’s a bit too loose, and you wish it would flatter your figure a little more? This is quite a common issue: most clothes are designed to fit a standard body shape. However, the great thing is that we are all wonderfully different!

Most of the time, it's not very complicated to solve this issue: you just need to tighten your garment slightly at the waist.

This will give you a more feminine appearance by highlighting your curves, especially your hips. As a result, your silhouette will look slimmer, and the top or dress in question will finally show off your figure perfectly!

How to Fit a Tunic? [Sewing Tutorial 🧵]

To kick things off, I’d like to introduce a technique that makes it easy to shape a piece of clothing using a simple sewing technique. If you don't know how to sew, no worries! We will cover some no-sew methods later in this article.

For those who know a bit about sewing, this is definitely within your reach. It's a simple and quick trick that should take you only about fifteen minutes, if you have a sewing machine.

👉 You can watch the full tutorial in this clear video, which helps you visualize the steps needed to achieve your bending.

Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric and Work Area

Your fabric needs to be clean and, if it's made of cotton or linen, properly ironed. Any wrinkles on these materials could misalign your seams and ruin the whole project!

Set up your sewing machine on a clean and tidy table. Also, gather some tools and supplies you’ll need for this DIY project, such as:

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

Step 2: Mark the Folds

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

👉 If possible, get help from a friend or family member to make sure your blouse is straight when you pin it down.

Next, lay down your clothing carefully to avoid pricking yourself.

Step 3: Resize and Sew It

On the inside, trace the shape where you plan to sew using a pen or special fabric marker. Make sure to create a curved line (or triangle, as shown in the video) so that the cut looks natural.

Now, using your sewing machine, sew along the line you drew. After that, you can turn your garment inside out and try it on. And there you have it, all done!

👉 Don’t forget to remove the pins!

How to Shape a Dress Without Sewing?

Not sure how to sew or don't have a sewing machine? Looking for a simple and effective solution? Don’t worry, I've prepared a quick selection of no-sew techniques to tailor your garment. Check them out in the following lines!

The Belt: Your Best Ally for Tightly Fitting Loose Clothing

Both stylish and practical, the belt is a versatile accessory that can be worn with trousers, a tunic, or a dress. In the latter case, it helps cinch and define the waist, while redefining the proportions of your silhouette.

➡ Indeed, it is often recommended that when selecting an outfit, you try to achieve a proportion of ⅓ for the top and ⅔ for the bottom, to create a balanced look. You can achieve this effect by wearing a wide belt around your waist.

For a chic bohemian look, opt for a rather wide natural brown leather belt with a nice buckle. Make sure to adjust your clothes properly after putting on the belt to ensure they don't get stuck in it.

A miracle tip: check out the cardigan clip!

Are you looking for a discreet solution to wear under a more formal work outfit? Let me introduce you to a small accessory with great potential: the cardigan clip. It consists of a small elastic or adjustable clip with a clasp at each end, which you can attach to your back to pin your clothing at the waist.

👉 You can order this accessory on Etsy or Amazon by searching for "cardigan clip". There are plenty of varieties and colours available!

3 More Super Simple Tips to Tighten a Dress or Tunic

To wrap things up, here are three tips that require no special equipment and will help you temporarily alter an outfit with ease. This is really handy if you're borrowing 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 right away! 😉

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

No matter your body shape, if the garment you want to cinch isn't too long, you can slightly tuck it into the front of your shorts, pants, or skirt.

You have two options:

• You tuck your blouse completely into your pants or shorts, as flat as possible, for a very business-like and work-appropriate look.
• You tuck your top into your pants and then let it blouse out a bit, meaning it should lightly puff out at your waist, for a more relaxed appearance.

No matter which option you choose, it will help to accentuate your waist, creating the illusion of a fitted and tailored top.

Make a Fake Belt!

If you don't have a belt handy, you can use something else to make one, for example:

• A long-sleeved garment that you can tie around your waist,
• A light scarf,
• A cord,
• A shawl,
• A piece of slightly wide fabric…

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

If you prefer not to cinch your outfit at the waist with a belt or any other accessory, yet still want the clothing you're wearing to elongate your silhouette without making it look wider, I've got one last tip for you. By wearing a long cardigan or a kimono, you can redefine the shape of the tunic, dress, or blouse underneath, thanks to the weight of the outer garment.

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

Now you know plenty of simple tips to tailor a dress, blouse, or tunic, whether you can sew or not!

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

check out our chic bohemian dresses