YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Tight under the arms, but not in the bust

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Tight under the arms, but not in the bust https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:11:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php anne on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-823062 Sat, 19 Jan 2013 07:21:37 +0000 anne 823062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Umm, I have done odd set of something similar (where you kneel on a pad that goes up as you pull down. cinnamon fern on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-821437 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:03:33 +0000 cinnamon fern 821437@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Have you been doing pullups, Anne? anne on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-821262 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:19:29 +0000 anne 821262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I forgot to say... I haven't been trying on items in shops - these are things I already own. I wonder if I just ignored the tightness when I originally bought them or if I have got bigger in that area! Thistle on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819185 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:55:00 +0000 Thistle 819185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ With my bust, I usually have the opposite issue. Still, I am not sure sizing up will help unless you sized up and had it tailored. Beth on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819169 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:30:51 +0000 Beth 819169@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've encountered this more and more often over the last several years, and I have skinny arms. Sizing up rarely seems to help. Diana on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819115 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:29:35 +0000 Diana 819115@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As an aside, sometimes I wonder if Michelle O. has this problem too (although she probably just has her jackets tailored...) ETA: Personally I would kill for Mrs. O's biceps. But my mom thinks it's "not ladylike." So I wonder if some designers also still have a similar bias for skinny arms. cinnamon fern on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819045 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:49:25 +0000 cinnamon fern 819045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I often get this too - tightness right under the arm, towards the back. I agree it's not a bust issue. I blame it on a big ribcage and chinups. Size up, but if the item is then too big through the waist (I get this with dresses and buttondowns sometimes), then I think you just need to try something else. anne on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819043 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:49:17 +0000 anne 819043@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for chiming in ladies! I had to google "armscye" - but now I know what you are talking about!! Diana, I think it sometimes is an arm issue. I have never had skinny arms and I think they might be a larger size than the rest of me. Diana on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819005 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:56:22 +0000 Diana 819005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I get this a lot too, Anne. I actually have sloping shoulders and a narrow back so I don't think it's shoulder/back width in my case. Rather, I think it's a combo of three things: --actually having biceps. This is the case when the item is actually too tight in the arm rather than the armhole. --bad posture - I have a swayback which causes my shoulders to be a bit rounded and hunched especially when I slouch. --armscye being cut too low. Pick up the shoulder and pinch off a little fabric, and see if that improves the fit. It seems counterintuitive, but sometimes if the armhole is too BIG, the sleeve starts too low on your arm and restricts movement. Vildy on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819002 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:52:57 +0000 Vildy 819002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If it is not just a too small circumference around the actual armscye, then it is likely a too small width across the upper back, even with the back of the set in sleeve.. Suz on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-819000 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:51:25 +0000 Suz 819000@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have this sometimes, too, Anne. Wider shoulders is the reason I think. Sometimes I size up. Anonymous on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-818929 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:33:52 +0000 Anonymous 818929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have that problem a lot, and I think it is just wider shoulders/arms/pecs. anne on "Tight under the arms, but not in the bust" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tight-under-the-arms-but-not-in-the-bust#post-818917 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:19:51 +0000 anne 818917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is something I am encountering a bit recently. I mean clothes feeling tight near my armhole. Is this a function of bench presses or just part and parcel of having wider shoulders? It is certainly nothing to do with my tiny bust which is a lot lower.