Tailored tops for full busts - YouLookFab Forum

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Tailored tops for full busts

Arya

(website)

I want to find some non-t-shirt tops (what I think of as "tailored": button up, but not officey). The challenge I face is that I have a small frame (size 4 or 6) but full bust (D cup). I recently learned about fashion tape, but there's only so much it can do.

Any suggestions for brands that have room for a full bust without becoming a tent?

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

rae

(website)

Veteran

I've read good things about this brand:
http://carissarose.com/

Unfortunately their size chart does not extend to my measurements, but it might work for a 4-6.

tarzy

Veteran

Cue Maya ...

(She's our resident advisor on all things full bust!)

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I know that Kari likes her Carissa Rose tops as well. I buy mine at Brooks Brothers; I am a 32DDD, and I wear size 8 in their shirts. They are a bit "office" but I like to wear them with jeans or whatever to dress them down.

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CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

As a 32DD I commiserate. One of the reasons I wear so many t-shirts and knit tops. I recently got a billow-y sheer silk top (cami worn underneath), and the oversized gauzey shirts fit. So with blouses I stick with a looser fit. And I have one vintage blouse which buttons in back; that works.

With fitted shirts, I just have to put up with some gapping/pulling or I wear a minimizer bra, whose wire placement is painful to me.

Maya

Veteran

Oh Tara, I appreciate your faith in my wisdom. Alas, I'm only an advisor on the bra part. What one should wear to cover the bra is something I have battled with since the beginning of time.

Carissa Rose works for some people, but it didn't work for me. Her smallest size runs very large and everything is just too long and too loose on me (I usually wear a size 2). Since you're a 4/6 it might work, but it may depend on the style.

I have had success with The Limited, though. The rest of my finds have just been pure luck--not a specific brand. I'm afraid my only advice is to try on as many shirts as you can and hope for the best. That's what I had to do.

neatnic

I'm small framed and very busty -- my go-to spot for button-down tops lately has been Express. A lot of their woven tops that have a bit of stretch in them work very well for me -- miraculously, they fit my shoulders, bust, and waist without gaping.

I have a couple of these and really like them:

http://www.express.com/essenti.....038;Mppg=0

These look like they'd work too (and are less office-y):

http://www.express.com/elite-s.....038;Mppg=0

http://www.express.com/smocked.....038;Mppg=0

Check out anything that appeals with stretch in their "shirts" category:

http://www.express.com/shirts-.....;viewall=0

Good luck!

Beth

Veteran

I've loved the Carissa Rose shirt I bought this fall (actually, I wore it today). I'm a 4 and the Emma style in Small fit perfectly although it is slightly long.

LeahJanes

I know a ridiculously busty woman who buys her shirts a size bigger and then takes them to the tailor to be taken in. She has broad shoulders though so YMMV.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I did look into getting a custom made shirt - but buying a size up and tailoring is probably cheaper!

Maya

Veteran

I really hate how Stacey and Clinton always assume that the only fit problem with sizing up is in the waist, which can "easily" be taken in. Going up a size and tailoring the waist doesn't solve the issue of a sloppy shoulder line and baggy sleeves.

If your shoulders and arms fill out the next size up, this is a reasonable solution, but if they don't--then what? I don't think there is a solution, to be perfectly blunt. Other than just trying things and seeing what works best. While I find clothes that "fit," my standards for what fits are different from most women. I just can't be that picky. It's hard enough just to find something that closes. If it has a few pull lines, oh well.

Arya

(website)

Wow, ladies, thanks for all the advice! I had never heard of Carissa Rose before, but I spent some time watching the videos on her website. What a great concept! I'm interested in trying at least two of the styles.

Thanks for the links to Express and The Limited, too. I must admit, I don't enjoy shopping so I hadn't even tried going to the mall in a long time. You have succeeded in helping me narrow down the store options, and for that I am *very* grateful!

I've thought about tailoring, but as a home seamstress, I'm more inclined to learn how to make my own tailored shirts than buy one a size up and then pay more to have someone fix it. Also, I know from experience that sometimes the item has to be completely taken apart and put back together again to really get it right and, again, I'd rather learn to do it myself (which I am, so stay tuned!).

I appreciate all of you taking the time to steer me in the right direction. I'm in dire need of tops, but until now have been so thwarted in my attempts to find what I'm looking for that I haven't replenished my wardrobe in a long time. Now I'm on a mission!

Kari

Veteran

Arya, I second (or third or fourth?) the recommendation for Carissa Rose. I have the Carissa style blouse in white and black, and the Olivia in the dark purple shade, and love how they fit perfectly without *any* need for tailoring. The Carissa style of blouse is currently on sale - I think the style is being discontinued.
I am a size 10 and 32G, and I wear a size MW on Carissa's charts.
The company is also very quick and helpful in response if you call or email customer service for suggestions.

I've also had good luck lately with Classiques Entier silk blouses, but since I got mine a few months ago from the Nordstrom Rack the styles that worked for me are no longer available online - otherwise I'd be happy to give you some specific links.

Dashrashi

Veteran

I thought I should also put in a plug for Benetton's button down shirts. They cut a lot of room for the bust and the hips while still tapering in at the waist.

Also, I've been seeing button-down shirts recently that have knit panels down the sides. This is great for the busty girls because not only does it emphasize the hourglass shape, it also provides a little stretch under the arms to make sure the front button placket doesn't pull. I have one from Anthropologie, but I saw this one on Bluefly today:
http://www.bluefly.com/linQ-to.....detail.fly

Kari

Veteran

Oh - and these also work reasonably well on me. They do gape a bit, but just due to the spacing of the buttons around the bust and not due to poor fit. I got some cheap snaps and sewed them inside the lining between the buttons, so they are totally invisible but help me stay closed. I still usually wear a camisole under it anyway, though, because I am perpetually cold.

mumtojessandluke

WOW! I watched the Carissa Brown video and nodded all the way- I think she is on to something! (well except the bow on the back of the dress was not to my liking! LOL)

I had to look up conversions from Aust sizing to US. I think I'm a 10 US. E cup.

I'll agree whole heartily that it isn't easy to find something that fits nicely. I've avoided all shirts because of this... I wonder if they will post to Australia? If only they were breastfeeding friendly too, I prefer to pull up than bear my chest iygwim. Defiantly something I'll look into after DS (22mths) weans. Nothing can beat a T-shirt for that. Maybe that is why so many mums wear T-shirts. Sorry to ramble.

Sorry I have so solutions for you, only empathy.

lemonade

I also have issues fitting into button down shirts and it's a look that I really like. The way I have dealt with this is to buy tops that have stretch in them and then I fit my shoulders, waist and hips. As long as the pulling on my bust is not too intense, I have a seamstress sew in snaps down the placket so that they can't be seen or in some cases, I have had a seamstress run a seam down the placket sewing the shirt "shut" up to the button that comes just above the bust line. I find that this works the best and I don't have to worry about any wardrobe malfunctions, however, it does meant that you have to put the shirt on over your head. Hope that this helps.

Maya

Veteran

To Lemonade's point, I have had snaps put in to a few dresses but mine don't require that I pull them over my head. They are just invisible snap buttons that are placed between the buttons wherever there is any gaping. They can be done and undone just as a regular button.

This helps keep things closed, but I'm not under the impression that I'm fooling anyone with it. As I said, my standards for what fits are pretty low. The fabric still looks quite strained, but it takes enough effort just to get things to stay closed that I can't be bothered quibbling over the details. Your bust is probably smaller than mine is though.

Arya

(website)

You all inspired me to go out and try on button-down tops. I found this one at EXPRESS, and am delighted with it. It buttons all the way without gapping, and has a pleasing neck line that shows my neck/collarbones a bit but not my cleavage (even when I lean over a table). I was able to get it in a size small (appropriate for my frame), and it still had room for my D-cup bust. Yay!

P.s. OMG I tucked!

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Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Oh, looks fantastic! Well done!

catgirl

Veteran

You look great! I can only sympathize. I never wear woven button-downs. I own two silk/chiffon buttondowns because they are drapey and therefore don't gape as much. Anything stiffer is just too much fussing for me, between buttons and collar and tucking and wrinkling. Looks like you found one shirt that works!