Tops/dresses for the extremely large busted - YouLookFab Forum

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Tops/dresses for the extremely large busted

westmoon

Can anyone suggest styles of top and/or dress bodice types for spring and summer that would be both very modest and flattering for a woman with a very large bust (H or I cup)? In winter I do a lot of layering to cover up but summer is more difficult. The climate here is very temperate and wet, so it's not a "blazing sun" problem so much as a "warmer weather, stuffy buildings" sort of issue.

Nevertheless, I do wear short or 3/4 sleeves and I would prefer to be able to wear either one layer or a layer and a light cover up. My big concern is that I want to make sure I have full coverage at the bust -- no cleavage, nothing tight, nothing that's going to dip or pull over the bust and draw attention to it, nothing that has a risk of slipping (ask me about that wrap top I wore once. Or, actually, don't). Absolutely nothing sleeveless.

In the past in the summer I've often ended up wearing tent-like blouses and tunics in order to fit over my bust without pulling, but since my bust is at least four sizes larger than the rest of me, I've always end up with a really sloppy fit at the neck and waist. For age appropriateness, I'm 38. My workplace is sort of smart casual/business casual depending on what you're doing that day. Personally I tend to stick to a more business casual level of dress because I feel more comfortable knowing that if I am called into something unexpectedly I won't feel underdressed.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from 4babiesMe

rebekahphoto

Veteran

For my larger bust (E or F) I tend to find the most flattering fits with a modest V neck, square next and a boat/ballet neckline (sometimes with a slight drape cowl) to draw attention up (& keeps things from falling out/showing too much when I am leaning over students!)

a top with princess seams will help fit the bust but not be too sloppy at the waist. A great tailor also could help with take things in a bit at the waist for a custom fit!

for a cute casual top I love the slenderizing line of the boat neck to accentuate the neck & shoulders rather than the bust

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop.....e-boatneck

a tunic top like this one has a self belt to give shape at the waist:
http://www.eloquii.com/Angel-S.....ens-shirts

this surplus top has a nice high v neck & a wrap to define the waist
http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....lotId%3D14

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....otId%3D213

Adelfa

Veteran

Rebekah has given you really good suggestions. I second the idea of a surplice top or dress. I thought it would accentuate, but it ended up feeling covered and ladylike. I will add that I ended up using a Spanx garment that was like a tank top leotard (a bodysuit), which seemed to decrease my apparent size by a nice amount.

I also think it really works to wear a tank or tee that's fairly form fitting and high enough in the neckline to cover, with a lightweight button-up shirt over it. You can button it lower down where it *can* button (waist and solar plexus) and either tuck it or wear it semi tucked or out. It will spread open at the bust, but the sides and part of the front will be covered. You can wear similar/same colors of tee and button-up for less emphasis. You can roll up the sleeves to be comfortable and stylish.

Those are just a couple of ideas. Good luck--I feel your pain!

dizzys

I am a 34G-H and have great luck with the surplice cuts. I also use a cami/tank under 90% of my clothing in the summer....to prevent accidental peaks from v necks or wrap blouses etc. I try to wear tunics but usually need a top layer to feel unfrumpy.... Something to nip in the waste. There is always the belt or a semi tuck as well if you need to define your waste.

Boat necks or crew necks or high necks rarely work for me. Cowl necks, V necks and scoop work nicely. Button ups work too with a few buttons undone with a cami under. Wraps too.

Good luck!

westmoon

Thank you everyone for your ideas! I will definitely have to invest in more camis. The problem I have is that I am quite tall and I have always found camis to be annoyingly short on me. I will have to see if I can find a sewing pattern I think!

I'm always surprised when people with large busts like cowl necks -- I personally find it always ends up an unattractive pile of fabric perched on the 'shelf' of my bust, and I don't like the way it looks with a jacket or cardi, which I wear pretty much every day. Is there a length or style of cowl that works best do you think?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hi westmoon! You might find this post helpful too:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/05/.....full-bust/

westmoon

Thank you Angie! I had read that article but it was really the added requirement for something that not only visually reduces the size of my bust but also keeps everything absolutely 100% covered at all costs that was my concern.

I'm a university lecturer in a field where 95%+ of my students are young men between the ages of 18-21. They are, to be honest, revolting, insofar as they don't even pretend not to reduce me and the few other women around them to body parts. I was mortified when I first started out to discover I was known as "the lecturer with the huge tits" even I KNOW for certain that I dress appropriately and am well-covered even when I move around vigorously when lecturing and working in computer labs with students. I can deal with a certain number of such comments because I have no choice. I can't fully hide the size and shape of my bust, and nothing I do will stop teenage boys in groups from being revolting. (Though in the latter case I do try, if nothing else so as to be a role model to the very few young women in my classes.) I see no reason to give them extra ammunition, though.

In winter I feel like I've been able to reach a happy mean between modesty and form flattery. This year though, I am teaching a summer session for the first time and I am dreading the combination of stuffy classrooms and lightweight tops.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ohh!! (((HUGS)))).

Have you tried a minimizer when you had a professional bra fitting? Also, our form member Day Vies, an extremely stylish lass, might be of great outfit inspiration to you.

westmoon

Minimizers sound good in theory, but for me personally they didn't really improve matters. I found them generally painful most of the time and absolutely unbearably painful at certain times of the month. Also, even if they didn't hurt, there's a limit to the power of elastic! It squashes you IN, so your bust looks less prominent, but all that means in my case is that all the breast tissue gets mashed sideways, so from the front I have just a single giant ledge of boob. And they only give you a couple of cup sizes of reduction at the best of times, so I go from an H/I to a mis-shapen and painful F/G, which is no real improvement in the grand scheme of things. My most comfortable bra solution so far has been a totally full cup max control bra and if I really need to minimize and my top isn't see through, a compression sports bra over top. Luckily I am not in the least invested in having my breasts clothed in fancy bras, or I'd have even more to be sad about.

dizzys

Bisou Bisou(R) Seamless Cami ( JCPenny)are great, they go low on the bottom and high enough on top to cover. These have been my favorite. Plus they help a bit with my tummy giving a light girdle effect withough the cost of spanx.

Minimizers suck BTW......they squish everything to the side. I don't like them at all.

ETA: I should say squish instead of suck.

dizzys

Bisou Bisou(R) Seamless Cami

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cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Westmoon, a friend of mine owns a lingerie shop and is also an IT professional so the store website is quite good. She is also tallish and wears a G or H cup. You might find her blog useful as she has reviewed clothing items from suppliers that specialize in fitting the larger busted sizes.

http://sophisticatedpair.com/blog/

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Definitely look at Day Vies outfit posts for inspiration and maybe even PM her. She dresses brilliantly.

adorkable

Veteran

I feel your pain - both in the bust, and in the job that requires you to deal with man-children who don't understand appropriate behavior.

The unfortunate thing about minimizers is that all that fatty tissue has to go somewhere, so you generally end up looking chubby elsewhere, and that's not necessarily so awesome for your self-image.

The thing is ... I find that if I want to look covered I actually want to expose as much of my neckline as possible ABOVE my cleavage - think modest forms of scoop neck or v neck. Because high necks, um, will do this terrible Michelin man thing in which my chest will look like a monster truck tire on top of a body of normal tires. It actually makes them look bigger - and the same goes for most of those shapeless sack kinds of outfits. (My favorite work shirts are Banana Republic V neck t-shirts, but they do noeed to be replaced on the regular to keep looking fresh.)

The other thing is to actively try to draw attention elsewhere. Especially if you're small on the bottom, fuller skirts that will make your hips look a little wider can really help - it will make you look curvier overall, but it'll also make your chest seem more proportional to the rest of you. Similarly, wearing neutrals on top and bolder stuff on the bottom will at least get their eyes off your chest!

westmoon

Thank you all, again! I've been lurking here a couple of weeks before I worked up the courage to post and it's lovely to encounter such a supportive community.

Adorkable, I definitely agree with your description of the power of skin above the bust line and the Michelin man problem! For me it's been a real struggle to find a balance between wearing clothes in which I feel I look my best, and dealing with this issue where I want my young male students to make eye contact with my face, not my boobs. In winter, I do wear high necks, but only with a V shaped sweater over the top, or under a jacket with pronounced vertical lines in the fabric or shape. I'm totally covered, but there's some visual cheating going on to try to reduce my general bustiness. In my non-work life, and even on days when I know my student contact will be limited, I wear scoops and Vs.

I am edging towards wearing more skirts in winter to increase my hip width (I'm an inverted triangle). In the summer I'm not as keen on skirts though because of the bare leg vs. tights conundrum.

Day Vies

Veteran

Westmoon -- Hi there, I'll be 38 next month, I am a 34K, and work in environments that run more business than casual. I am a 16/18 on top and a 10/12 on the bottom so I understand what you mean as far as warm weather blues.

I understand your tenting issue and to get around it you have to do something scary, you must define your waist.

My best neck line is a high V shape, deep V, and high scoops (they look like crew-necks but show your collar bone). The focus of all of my outfits is always perfect fit. If you are self-conscious wear a fitted short-sleeve top (any neck line). The top should fit over your chest but it won't be tight (stick to your tummy) and you probably will not want to wear the top alone. Over this fitted top you will add a well-fitting jacket with 3/4 sleeves( the jacket should be neither boxy nor over-sized). Make sure the jacket has a waistline cut in to it so that you're covered to your level of comfort but the shape of the jacket is doing the work of defining your waistline.

You could also add a belt at your natural waist. Be careful that it is not too thick because you don't want to shorten your torso. Make sure that the color combo you wear for your top and bottom are low contrast (for example: silver gray blouse and charcoal gray skirt).

For a more casual look I have done printed tunic tops (loose around the waist) under cardigans. Again the cardigan cannot be boxy or over-sized it must fit, the structure of the tunic underneath will keep it from clinging and the print will take the focus off your curves. I have also done button down shirts as a variation on the cardigan/tunic theme. Again the structure of the woven shirt does all the work to keep a sweater that on its own would possibly cling.

These are links to some of my posts that illustrate some of the suggestions I provided:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-and-gold
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....fit-repeat
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....llow-cardi
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....and-orange
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....r-take-two
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....feeling--d
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ed-delight
Here is a post where I commented on a specific problem I have:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-34k-bust

I hope this helps give you ideas on how you can take the emphasis off the girls let you and your personality shine through.

Day Vies

Veteran

Oh one more thing -- now that I have had time to read the entire post and responses of others, make sure your find the right bra shape that makes your comfortable. I have not worn a minimizer in 10 years -- they just don't come in my size and a lace bra has the same effect.

One of my favorite bras lifts them high (Panache Tango) and the other points them forward but doesn't lift as high (Bravissimo Alana) the benefit is it you see more separation between your arms and torso with the Alana bra. (You'll be able to say I have a shape!) Also on most days I wear a shapewear cami. It doesn't compress as much as it smooths everything out. (Back fat is a thing of the past -- for the most part). Also if you can't find camis that work for you tank tops seem to be extra long these day and they work well as camis when you don't want the lace and need a cotton underpinning to keep satin tops and woven button-downs from sliding around.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

oh westmoon I feel your pain! I work with lots of young men also, and there is really nothing worse than a kid half my age staring at my chest.....

if only they knew how offensive their overbearing "cologne" is!

westmoon

I could only wish for the smell of cologne! At my last job one of the computer labs was in an airless basement. In winter the room was always far too hot, and the rank smell of hordes of unwashed teenaged boys by the middle of the term was nauseating. I swear some of them didn't shower or do laundry for weeks at a time. And it was always the ones with the rankest BO who needed the most assistance that meant standing right next to them while they worked. I have never been so glad to have a head cold as when I taught in that class room -- blessed relief from the smell! One of the girls stayed after class once and enquired if the stench was normal. Poor kid, she had class with them every day.

4babiesMe

I'm getting more great ideas from this thread! I have the same problem as you, in that I have a very large (34k) bust and have trouble finding tops that are modest. When your cleavage comes up to your collarbone, like mine, it's hard. I get by with lots of camisoles under v-necks. I've found that I even have to shorten the straps often to get the neckline high enough to cover the cleavage. It makes for some frustrating shopping, that's for sure. I've seen a lot of light-weight, short sleeved cardigans this season, so planning to go that route with a belted tunic underneath. Good luck. It really can be frustrating, but I'm sure you'll find something that works for you.