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 figure? Would you like to learn how to take in the waist of a garment easily, so you can highlight your curves?

I will help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I believe that clothing should feel like a second skin and thus be comfortable to wear. This is why I particularly enjoy bohemian fashion with its flowy and loose fits.

However, wearing comfortable clothes doesn't mean they should hide our curves or fail to enhance our figure!

Today, I'm sharing an easy sewing technique along with some super simple no-sew tips to tailor your clothes so they look fantastic on you.

To shape a tunic or dress with a sewing machine, wear it inside out to mark your waist with pins. Then, lay it flat and, using your machine and the measurements you've taken, 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 tighten it at the waist. This will create a more defined silhouette and elegantly highlight your curves!

Want to find out more? Keep reading to discover:

• Why cinching an outfit is a great idea,
• A very simple sewing tutorial to tighten a tunic at the waist,
• How to use a belt to enhance your silhouette,
• More information on a very practical accessory: the cardigan clip,
• Other tips and inspiring outfit examples featuring bohemian dresses and tunics.

Why Alter the Fit of a Garment?

Do you have a dress or a tunic that's a bit loose and you wish it would flatter your figure a bit more? This issue is quite common: most clothing is designed to fit a standard body type. Fortunately, we are all wonderfully unique!

Most of the time, it isn't too complicated to solve this problem: it usually just requires you to slim down your garment a bit at the waist.

This will give you a more feminine look by accentuating your curves, particularly your hips. Your silhouette will appear more slim, and the tunic or dress in question will truly highlight your figure!

How to Shape a Tunic? [Sewing Tutorial 🧵]

To start off, I’d like to introduce you to a technique that makes it easy to shape a garment using a simple sewing method. If you don’t know how to sew, don’t worry; no-sew methods will be covered later in this article.

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

👉 You can watch the complete tutorial in this clear video, which shows you exactly what to do to achieve your bending technique.

Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric and Work Area

Your fabric must be clean and, if it’s cotton or linen, perfectly ironed. Any creases in these materials could misalign your seams and cause the whole operation to go wrong!

Set up your sewing machine on a clean and tidy table. Also, gather a few tools and supplies you'll need for this DIY project, namely:

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

Step 2: Mark the Folds

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

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

Next, lay your garment down carefully to avoid getting pricked.

Step 3: Resize and Sew

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

Next, using your sewing machine, stitch along the line you created. You can then turn your garment right side out and try it on. And there you have it, all done!

👉 Don't forget to remove the pins!

How to Gather a Dress Without Sewing?

Not sure how to sew or don’t have a sewing machine, and you're looking for a simple and effective solution? No worries, I've put together a few no-sew techniques to help you customise your clothing. Check them out in the following sections!

The belt: your best ally for tightening an oversize garment

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

➡ Indeed, it is often recommended, when choosing an outfit, to aim for a proportion ratio of ⅓ for the top and ⅔ for the bottom, to achieve a balanced look. This effect can be achieved by placing a wide belt around your waist.

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

A miracle trick: discover the cardigan clip!

Are you looking for a discreet solution suitable for a slightly formal work outfit, perhaps? Let me introduce you to a tiny accessory with great potential: the cardigan clip. It's a small elastic or adjustable clip with a clasp at each end, which you can fasten at the back to pinch 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 Other Super Simple Tips to Cinch a Dress or Tunic

To wrap things up, I’d like to share three tips that require no special materials and will help you to temporarily adjust a garment quite easily. This is handy if you’re borrowing a dress that's a bit large, if you’re short on time, or if you want to wear that top you just bought right away! 😉

Why tucking your top into your waist is a good idea

No matter what your body shape is, if the garment you want to tailor isn't too long, you can subtly tuck it into the front of your shorts, trousers, or skirt.

There are two options available to you:

• You tuck your blouse completely into your trousers or shorts, as smoothly as possible, for a very professional and work-appropriate look,
• You tuck your top into your trousers, then allow it to blouse out slightly at your waist, giving a more relaxed appearance.

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

Improvise a Fake Belt!

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

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

Learn how to create the illusion of a fitted garment by playing with layering

If you’d prefer not to tighten your garment at the waist with a belt or any other accessory, but still want the outfit you’re wearing to elongate your silhouette without adding width, I have one last tip for you. By wearing a long cardigan or a kimono, you can redefine the shape of the tunic, dress, or blouse that you have on underneath, thanks to the weight of this garment.

👉 By playing with layering, 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!

Now you are familiar with plenty of simple tips to shape a dress, blouse, or tunic, whether you know how to sew or not!

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

discover our stylish bohemian dresses