Ask Angie (and others): tees that pull across the chest. - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie (and others): tees that pull across the chest.

sarah

Veteran

I am struggling to find tees and tanks that don't ripple across the bust, even when I size up, and the tops seem to fit well overall. It seems that some sorts of knits do this more than others (e.g., finely ribbed knits). The latest culprit is the GAP favorite tee, but most of the closer fitting tees that I have do this, as well as some Eileen Fisher tanks.

Do you just give into the "bust buckling", and chalk it up to something you live with if you're well-endowed? Or do you see it as a sign of bad fit, and hold out for better?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Shopping

35 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sarah, I get this all.the.time! So I sympathize. I've always chalked it up to having a narrow back but a significant chest. I think certain fabrications, especially in thinner fabric, are more likely to do this. Sometimes I just make peace with it, if its not too pronounced. I find V necks are way less likely to do this than crewnecks, too, and prints tend to hide the issue better than solids, but sometimes you just want a simple solid tee, right?

I will be following to see if anyone has some words of wisdom.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I don't know if you wear petites or not, but have you tried some Eddie Bauer tees? I appreciated their medium petites last year, because I swim in regular lengths often but do need some room in the bust, and don't always like the sizing up option. Like Janet I have a narrow back, too.

sarah

Veteran

Janet, it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I know that in theory I should wear v-necks (I'm short-necked and large-busted), but for some reason I don't always think they look very good on me.

Columbine, yes I actually do wear petites, almost exclusively, and the GAP one I bought is sized up to PM. I'll take a look at Eddie Bauer. Thanks for the suggestion.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Sigh. My D's salute you (as long as I'm wearing the right bra).

Yes, I know this issue well. I find that looking for a fabric that has a nice balance of soft stretch and structure is my best bet. The semi tuck also seems to help keeping soft knits from shifting as much, so this helps a bit.

I found a great bateau neckline 3/4 length sleeve tee at Target of all places, by Merona. It's got a tailored fit in the the shoulders and arms and a longer, more fluid fit in the body. It's fairly generous, but I didn't size down, although I might have been able to.

In general, V-necks pull less, although they can be unintentionally daring on anyone with the barest hint of a bustline.

The irony? I didn't have a chest until getting pregnant for the first time at 38. I still sometimes forget they're there.

sarah

Veteran

"...unintentionally daring on anyone with the barest hint of a bustline..."

LOVE that, Beth Ann. My sentiments exactly. And my D's are saluting you right back.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

This issue is why I rarely wear t-shirts anymore. Loose, flowing blouses or structured button downs look better on me.

Jules

Veteran

So glad I'm not the only one! I wouldn't even call myself busty, at 38 D I feel proportionate to my 5'6/155 lbs.
The best possible bra can help matters, but generally no, I can't live with this. My eye is always drawn to that area in the mirror and I end up not wearing that tee.
I do find tees that work, but it's more work!

MsMaven

Veteran

Thanks, this post and resulting information explains a lot. (32G.)

catgirl

Veteran

I have this issue all the time, and when the bust fits the shoulders or neckline are too big. And I'm an IT! The Alternative Apparel shirts are slouchy and work really well for me.

kellygirl

Veteran

idk what you guys are talking about (almost A.)

sarah

Veteran

Thanks for the therapy, ladies. I guess when a shirt is essentially a tube, it's hard to avoid this issue. But it's nice to know I'm not alone.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Do you mean tees you own or are you trying to buy some? If you have some that you own I'd wash them & while they are wet put your arms inside the tee, at the side seams at bust level, & gently widen your arms to stretch. This works really well on linen tees

Day Vies

Veteran

I agree with Janet's assessment it the small back significant chest thing. I don't get this with most of my tees (surprisingly). I think I have only experienced this with stiffer tees that don't stretch in all directions. With my tees that stretch in all directions this rarely happens. I wish I could offer you more such as what brands and types of tees I have but I haven't worn my tees in quite some time (pregnant - they don't fit). The only example that readily comes to mind are my Old Navy "perfect" tanks and tees because they stretch in all directions and the material is very soft. I wear a size medium in these tanks and tees. In woven tops I am a size 16/18 - XL petite -- so just know that if you choose Old Navy you will need to size down.

BTW like others have suggested I generally wear v-necks and scoop necks.

carter

Veteran

I get this much less with rayon or viscose tees with 5% or so of spandex. Tahari and Anne Klein make some that work really well for me. I can usually find them at TJ Maxx. As much as I love cotton everything, they just don't give enough when you have a large chest. Sorry to be late to this thread...playing catch up

sarah

Veteran

Thanks for these suggestions, ladies. I'll definitely be checking into them!

lyn67

Veteran

As Kelly girl said, i just dk what "bust buckling" is? What if I have it too, and so doing a fashion faux pas without knowing about::-((
So, could you pls educate me:-).

April

Veteran

I hate this. It shouldn't be true that when a tee fits perfectly everywhere else, it pulls across the front. Sometimes this happens when the bust area isn't even tight -- the fabric just sits in those annoying lines.

Una, will you say more about which Alternative Apparel tees you've had success with? They seem to have a zillion styles.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I also often have this problem, and HATE it! I did recently notice that a shirt did it more in one bra than the other... the annoying thing about this was that it was the old, I should really throw you away bra that was preferable. Not the new super comfy soft yay I finally found something that fits well bra. Hmm. ;(.

But I have found that it's brand depandant - it's certainly not consistent. So if it happens, I walk away and keep looking. And then stock up when I find success.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I have this problem too...DDD here. I have learned to live with it as long as the tee doesn't cling anywhere else. Stretch helps a bit, and I have been known to manually stretch out the front of the tee.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Bravissimo has some Ts you can buy by bra size - they are seamed. I haven't tried these, as I'm afraid the largest size would be just too small, but I have been mightily tempted. There is an American company that also does shirts by bust size, but I don't remember their name and I'm also not sure if it's just woven/button ups.

http://www.bravissimo.com/pepp.....ucts/tops/

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well, ladies. We are talking about t-shirts so I don't think that we should have high expectations. Remember that tees are actually nothing more than an undergarment (or pjs).

Sarah, sizing up has got to help a little, especially after they shrink. No?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Argh. YES. I know exactly what you mean. I'm a 32D, so not even that big -- but lines across the boobs is a common occurrence with fitted, stretchy tops on me. I will tolerate a little pulling on very dark tops that fit well everywhere else, because it's less noticeable with dark colours. It also seems to be worse with certain fabrics.

If s non-stretchy tee does this, I don't buy it.

Angie, I have quite a few tops that aren't exactly tee shirts, but they are simple tops made of jersey fabric that are very flattering. I would never wear these tops as an under layer.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You would never layer a jacket over those tops, Elisabeth? That's what I mean by under layer. I should have been clearer by saying layering piece instead of making tees sound like undies.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

The tee's I'm talking about are ones that I would wear alone. Weekend/evening errands, soccer games, walks with friends, etc. And if they are new, sometimes to work, as we get fairly casual in the summer. I rarely wear a jacket in the summer, at least not during the day. If they are purchased as layering pieces, I don't care.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh! OK. Now I see what you mean, Angie. Yes, I wear them under cardigans and jackets. (In case you don't see this, I'm going to start a quick Ask Angie thread with a pic).

Jules

Veteran

Even if I am layering, my eye is drawn to those lines under my jacket/blazer.
Sizing up does not always help....shoulders might be too big, and sometimes the problem is not solved anyway.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about your bras? Are you wearing the best bra?

Truly. I don't seem to have this problem with my clients. Everyone wears roomier tees - large bust or not. Perhaps you're referring to shrunken tees? I would love to see photos of what you're talking about - just to make sure we are talking about the same thing.

Jules

Veteran

It is definitely better with a better/best bra, but rarely is it a 100% fix... if I see an inkling of the issue while shopping I would rather just move on to another tee. But yes, wearing my best bra does make some existing poor purchases more wearable.
I don't wear my tees very tight, in fact a tight, stretchy tee might not have this issue when a larger-all-over garment does. Or so I seem to remember, tight stretchy tees are definitely a thing of the past for me It does seem to be some combo of fit and fabrication that causes this.

sarah

Veteran

Sorry to get back to this thread to late - work has been insane. But, in case anyone is still reading this, I get this problem MAINLY when I wear my best bras, that are a bit "perkier" and even with some very high-end, non form-fitting nice tops, like my Eileen Fisher tanks. In those, I sized up, so that the arm holes are a bit looser than I'd wish, to try to get rid of this problem, but I still have the pulling. I'll try to post a pic when life settles down.

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