Too low in the neckline

anne

If a top or dress fits my shoulders it is very frequently lower than I'd like in the neckline. Is this because my tiny bust isn't filling them out or do I just prefer higher necklines?

As in this outfit

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....osition-13

8 years ago

Body Type

34 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

rachylou

Veteran

I think it's that you prefer higher necklines...you look really cute in that top. It's not low at all. IMO.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

I guess I found the tops like this move around and can easily reveal my bra. The same with my strappy sack dresses that I live in in hot weather (and when I say reveal my bra I don't just mean the straps!)

Plus a lot of tops are kind of loose around the neckline - not just sitting flat against my chest. But you can't see that in that picture, I'll admit.

8 years ago

Kari

Veteran

I think you prefer or perhaps are just used to high necklines. The one you linked to is not especially low and looks very pretty on you. It's not exposing lots of skin.

8 years ago

BrieN

Veteran

I can't tell from your photo if this is the case for you, but I have recently decided that for me, the space between my bust and my shoulders is really short. Which is a pain, because I really like a v-neck silouette. A V-neck on someone else with the same bust measurement might look modest for them but not at all for me. I am learning to be more careful with this in the dressing room as I have taken many tops home cut off the tags and realized after a 1/2 hour of wearing them that I'm looking like Dolly without the beautiful voice. I'm wearing a knit top right now that I like but that I spend a lot of the day pulling up for this exact reason.

8 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Well, it may be both plus a high bustline. If you're broad- shouldered, you may not be looking at teeny tops, so then if you're slim, they may not have the right proportions elsewhere.
I have SORT OF the same problem- don't have broad shoulders but they are square, AND I like my tops not too tight, so I may find the neckline too low regardless or maybe it's just right in the S but not in the M I like better for fit.
It's only the rarest of V necks I can wear( im unless with tank under, of course) and no scoops.
When I was in WHBM last week, the SA as usual " pulled some extra things I might like" and of course they all had scoops or V's that would be down to my navel.
Interesting post today by April about best ways to describe figure types and not using " fat" and in these cases when the SA exclaims, now this is a cute top! and holds out a giant scooped wide necked top, I just demur , but I almost feel like saying, for Pete's sake, can't you tell I'm too f___ to wear THAT !

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

BrieN I know exactly what you mean but... the funny thing is I feel as if I actually have a big distance between bust and shoulders. I have a long torso in just about every way - long rise, long waist and long bust/shoulder!

UF - thanks for the empathy. I don't really have broad shoulders either - like you they are square. But I'm by no means an IT and when my sister (who is an IT and a similar size, but like me, not very busty) tried on some of my clothes she seemed to fill them out much better! However sometimes tops that fit the bust are a bit tight under the arms - actually it is more that than the shoulders per se.

I wanted to link to a dress which is annoying me in its bra revealing, but can't load pictures right now.

8 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I have this problem sometimes too. Sometimes I get tanks tailored to make the straps shorter. It's an easy alteration on a sleeveless top. Another trick is to use fashion tape to stick the top to my bra straps. It takes a couple extra minutes when being dressed, but then I don't have to worry about my straps showing.

8 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think it is a mix of both - partly if your shoulders are broad you have to buy tops that fit them, and they may have space in the bust and chest area.

And partly I think people with a smaller bust suit a higher neckline, whereas on a larger bust a lower more open neckline is more flattering. Most crew necklines look awful on me - I can wear them if all other factors are correct in the top, whereas a vee or low scoop tends to look much nicer. although sometimes there can be cleavage if it is too low.

8 years ago

Anonymous

I have this problem. I think the scoop neck is cut too big, aka, the opening is too close to the shoulder seam. Yes, I guess this might be due to a small bust.
I try to find scoop necks that come down low, but that cut close to my neck. See the find. This one works well on me.

Also see this link:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/91901648622862598/

ETA: I've not been able to find a non-bodycon t-shirt with a scoop neck that does not spread out past my bra straps.

Nordstrom

'Z 6' Ruched Tee

$32.00

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8 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks Smittie - I see both those would provide good strap coverage. I think the tank V would still be too low for my comfort though. Perhaps scoop necks are just not my style - Sally maybe I should go for crew necks!

8 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Smittie, I have the shirt in your find as part of my activewear capsule, and o agree that the cut is nice. It stays out and is a flattering open neck without being too wide of an opening.

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have this problem, too, Anne. Well, you knew I would, right? Actually, I think the top looks very nice on you but I also understand what you are saying about the shifting around (this happens for me, also). And I think it is perhaps also a problem of proportion. For me, if there is too much neck/ chest area showing it looks disproportionate (on my body) to my shorter calves. I don't know if this is part of what you are also feeling. If I lengthen the leg line with a bit of heel it can help, or if I wear a column of colour (as you are pretty much doing here) it also helps. But it doesn't completely eliminate the problem. For me, a higher neckline "closes the gap" the way Angie talks about ankle strap shoes "closing the gap" with cropped trousers and jeans!! And this on my body is more flattering.

8 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

That doesn't look too low at all to me. Maybe you just prefer higher necklines. It's very flattering on you, actually.

Sometimes with a looser top, an even moderately low v-neckline can gape like crazy when you bend over. That's a deal-breaker for some women. But that top is more fitted and I don't think gape would be an issue.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

This top is actually quite loose though I know it doesn't look it in that pic so here's another...
And one how I prefer to wear the tee, semi tucked which doesn't work with the class.
And a dress that has bra reveal issues

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8 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I think that looks like a very nice neckline, personally, so I think you just prefer higher necklines. You do seem to have a fairly high-set bust line as well. Re: the bra issues, have you considered wearing a lower cut bra? I like plunge or demi styles for precisely this reason. I have a short torso so my shoulder to bust distance is already on the short side, and I always feel like I'm wearing armor that comes up super high in a full-coverage bra!

8 years ago

Liz

Veteran

It just looks like the neckline is cut more wide and more open than you prefer. I'm the same way -- many t-shirts have wide and deep necklines these days, and I have had to learn to bypass that kind of cut and not even try it on.

8 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

This doesn't look too low - but I do hate that feeling of exposure and just a little bit makes a difference to me mentally. I find a U-neck often feels too low for me. I prefer a higher V but those are hard to find. All the j. crew tees are either high crews or cleavage-baring Vs, and Banana Republic as well. It's hard to find that middle ground for some reason.

8 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh, I see, it slips sideways a little. I have a lot of tops that do that. That's why I almost always wear black bras -- I don't mind a black (or coloured) strap poking out, but I'm not a fan of visible nude straps. However, you can't really wear a black bra with that white top!

I still maintain that the tops looks lovely on you, but it seems like you have a lower tolerance for exposed collarbone than I do. (I love the feeling loose wide neck openings, but you do have to take care not to bend way over!).

8 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

My tops and necklaces all skew sideways because my shoulders are slightly off, one higher than the other. So I need things to fit well enough that slippage either doesn't occur or doesn't matter!

8 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I prefer them higher too because when I lean over people can see down my top all the way to my belly button!

8 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

Most T's are cut too wide for my taste also. I don't like my bra strap showing and feeling like I'm constantly having to mess with my shirt. I prefer a U or V neck to a crew neck but it's really hard to find ones that work for me. Buying a petite can help. Recently I purchased a V neck at Lands End that was not cut too wide. I did buy it in a petite. I have tried the U necks yet.

Lands' End

Women's Relaxed Slub Jersey V-neck T-shirt

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Lands' End

Women's Relaxed Supima V-neck T-shirt

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8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ah. I think that's a width thing ... and I also hate that. Makes me look uptight, all my closed collars, but I don't care. It's very irritating!!

8 years ago

Laura

Active Member

I agree with Rachy, it is preobably the fact you prefer higher necklines. You can always add on a fun scarf to cover up your neckline a bit

8 years ago

Anonymous

From what I see, I think you prefer higher necklines. Nothing wrong with that, though!

8 years ago

Anonymous

I don't understand how the dress has bra reveal issues. You mean when you bend over? I love that dress and you look great in it, by the way.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

Laura - unfortunately scarfs are too hot in our Australian summers (I do love them in other seasons)

Smittie - I love that dress too, and another coral coloured one I have in the same shape. I know you can't see my (strapless) bra in that picture, but I do find that the dress moves around a lot and does show it.

Beth Ann suggested I buy a teen bralette and wear it over my normal bra, which I do sometimes (it is too hot to wear camis) but I don't like the Y shape back they have.

Anyway - on to different styles next summer! (and the 2 sort of tees I bought in November are high necked, so they are alright)

8 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I often have this problem and I have attributed it to my frame being relatively narrow and small. I use fashion tape. I tend to carry some in my purse just in case I have an unexpected problem.

8 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks Stasfit - I always forget about that option!

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie always talks about the neck-shoulder point. You need a narrower opening as in AvaMariah's second version. I look for narrower openings OR higher necklines. So I can wear a wide envelope neck or boatneck (because my shoulders are square) OR I can wear a narrow V. But a wide U or very wide V (esp. in a loose tee) is too sloppy for me.

In terms of proportion, I think this looks lovely on you in fact. I like the scale of the print on you as well.

8 years ago

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