Why don't tank/sleeveless tops fit me??

Wendi1984

I stopped by Nordstrom Rack the other day, and they had a whole bunch of new sleeveless tops. I tried on about ten of them. None of them fit me. All were too big/low around the armpit. What am I doing wrong? Do I need a smaller size? I usually wear large in tees because I'm a little busty, and I don't like things to be too tight there. But I wonder if I need to try a medium in sleeveless/tank style tops? It's so hot here, and I'd love to have some.

Does anyone else have this problem?

12 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Peri

Veteran

Constantly. Angie has even written about it. Things are just cut too big in the armholes. Sometimes I feel like things fit better if I get them taken up at the shoulders...but most of the time I don't think it's worth it.

If it is a problem on tanks, try sleeveless shirts that aren't really tanks. Things that are cut wider at the shoulders, like a regular top just without sleeves, seem to work better for me.

But it isn't you...it's the style or the way things are made lately.

12 years ago

Debora

Veteran

I have this same problem, too. It's not you, Wendi. I wear a regular but will occasionally buy sleeveless in petite for the smaller armholes. The problem with this, though, is that the top ends up being shorter.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Same here, Wendi. I sometimes do what Debora does. And what Peri does. I've pretty much stopped wearing tanks as stand-alone tops. (I will sometimes use them as layering pieces.)

12 years ago

Mia

Veteran

I find this to be the case a lot. I have never figured it out to my satisfaction.
Sometime I get the opposite problem with a sleeved garment where the item is cutting into my shoulder and armpit when it fits everywhere else. Argh, it can be frustrating.

If petite is available that sometimes does the trick.

12 years ago

Wendi1984

Active Member

I'm glad to know it's not just me. I did luck out and find a cute sleeveless blouse at TJ Maxx recently, but I'd like to get a few more. I couldn't believe none of them fit!

12 years ago

donnat

Veteran

You know both me and my teenage daughter have the opposite problem. The armpits are often pulling across the front, actually digging in to our pits. I am a little overweight, but my daughter is tall and skinny. I think it is we have wider backs we are (she is) more inverted T. (me being the chubby apple now) haha. It's interesting how we are all so different.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I have this problem and have to have most things altered. Try petite large or XLs to see if they work better. I say to try XL because some times pieces are smaller all over, not just shorter. My sister is 5'6" but needs petites in many tops, so your height doesn't matter. You may be short in the upper torso.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh - I have the opposite problem sometimes, too. Go figure!! But on the whole it is the first problem and I am short waisted -- so I think Joy is right.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I have this problem all the time too because I am short waisted. Luckily, it's very easy to alter the armhole length on sleeveless tops. Just sew up some of the excess fabric at the shoulder and voila! (Of course a tailor could do it too.) Petites sometimes work but sometimes they are too short overall then.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

When I went shopping with CocoLion she was so pleased to find a tank that fit her around the arm.

I don't usually have this problem, but a week or two ago I tried on a top that I got last year and a few pounds ago, and you could see right in. AAAH! And I have two of them in different colors, too. They have little cap sleeves so it's not a simple alteration.

12 years ago

Anonymous

It seems that some of the sleeveless A-line tunics out there are cut very deep in the arm-hole. Apparently the young girls are wearing a bandeau over their bras to mitigate this (kind of like a cami to cover cleavage, they're meant to be seen). I'll just wait to find sleeveless tops that actually fit me, thankyouverymuch.

12 years ago

Anonymous

It's the same in all the UK shops too. Very annoying.

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I have the same problem. Drives me bonkers.

12 years ago

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