Can I wear normal clothes, and will the stoma bag show?
For almost everyone the answer is yes to normal clothes and no, the bag does not really show. You do not need special clothing over a stoma, and most modern pouches are flat enough to be hard to see under everyday outfits. Most people go back to the same wardrobe they wore before surgery. If a waistband sits right on the stoma, small tweaks help: higher-waisted trousers, soft fabrics, or a slightly looser cut take the pressure off. Snug underwear, a vest top, or wrap-style support underwear can flatten the pouch and add a sense of security, and there are pouch covers if you want them. It often takes a few weeks to find what feels comfortable, and your stoma nurse can suggest support wear that suits your body and your clothes.
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This is one of the first worries after surgery, and for almost everyone the reassuring answer is yes to your normal clothes, and no, the bag does not really show. The American Cancer Society is clear that you will not need to wear special clothes over a stoma, and that many pouches are fairly flat and hard to see under most clothing (American Cancer Society). Memorial Sloan Kettering puts it simply: you will probably be able to wear most of the same clothes you wore before your surgery (MSKCC).
If a waistband sits on the stoma
The one thing worth checking is where your waistband falls. If a belt or seam presses right on the stoma, small changes take the pressure off: higher-waisted trousers, softer fabrics, or a slightly looser cut around the middle. The stoma sits in different places for different people, so it is normal to spend a few weeks finding what feels right.
Extra security and concealment
If you would like the pouch to feel flatter and more secure, the American Cancer Society notes that snug undergarments such as cotton stretch underpants, t-shirts or camisoles can give extra support and help conceal the pouch (American Cancer Society). Wrap-style support underwear and high-waisted styles do the same job, and pouch covers are there if you want them. You do not need dark or patterned clothes to hide anything, most people find a plain top is more than enough.
A stoma care nurse can point you to support wear and waistband styles that suit your body shape and the clothes you actually wear.