Anna had this summery plea:
Dressing can also be a challenge when the weather is warm and one is possessed of both a love of floaty dresses and a bountiful bosom. So many pretty sundresses out there in places such as Target or Old Navy, but so little support or apparent room for it, when those dresses have spaghetti straps or halters. I can’t be the only one wondering where “the girls” are supposed to spend the summer.
SO. My guess is that the truly strappy styles – like spaghetti-strap strappy – probably won’t work. I know they’re the most summery of all, but you can’t wear a supportive bra with them and the designs themselves offer little support. You might end up sliding below the designated boob area, or bouncing painfully around. (Maybe you busty gals knew that already, sorry if I’m pointing out the glaringly obvious.) Here are some dresses that I think would make wonderful, summery alternatives for a lady who is large-of-boob:
Wrap and surplice styles: Wrap dresses flatter many bigger busted, curvy women, and have room for boobular adjustment that many other styles lack.
Ann Taylor, $168
Banana Republic, $130
Athleta, $79V-necks with broad straps: V-necklines that aren’t SUPER plunging are fabulous on a large bust. When paired with a broad-strapped style, a properly fitting, supportive bra can be worn underneath.
J.Crew, $148
Land’s End, $59.50
Dresses with regular patterns: Pick a pretty print – and a dress with other flattering features, like a v-neck – and it should both minimize and distract. (If you care to do either, that is.)
The caveat here has to do with figure proportions. If your bust is much larger than the rest of your frame might dictate – you are petite, you have a tiny waist, your torso is fairly short, etc. – patterns might end up maximizing instead. So apply with caution.
Boden, $98
Title Nine, $69
Boden, $98Hopefully some of these suggestions will ring true to you large-busted ladies. Regardless, I’d love to hear more ideas! Which styles of sundress work for you gals with ample boobage? Any shops that consistently sell styles you adore? What’s your take on prints? Anyone think that spaghetti straps are totally do-able for the large-of-boob?
UPDATED: Do read through the comments, as many folks have offered other suggestions and alternatives. Loads of good input in there!
Top image via Anthropologie. Purdy, ain’t it?
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful picks Sal! Loving the prints!
My biggest problem with boobs+sundresses isn't always the straps (or lack thereof-just add a cardigan) but often the necklines- simply too much cleavage for day.
Of course, you can always stick a cami underneath, but it's impossible to find one that won't bunch/ride up under jersey dresses and such, contributing to some serious torso lumpage,
Anyone else with this problem?
No thoughts on sundresses for bigger gals, although what you are saying seems reasonable.
What about us gals with small boobs, narrow waists and bigger hips. I love the thought of sundresses, but I find the "fitted boob, then loose the rest of the way" tends to make me look about like a triangle. Any thoughts?
Hi Sal!
Thank you for posting these. Finding summer dresses that will work for my figure is a challenge every summer, and these are lovely.
Most of what you posted will work, but a couple of them will not work for the very large of boob. (They may still work for gals with a bust in the larger than average but not as large as gals built like me.) I wear a 36G bra on a size 16 figure, and that bra size comes from a professional fitting.
I find any style of dress (or blouse even) with a horizontal seam right under the boob area to be problematic. My girls never seem to fit in the designated boob area as defined by this horizontal seam, but as long as the areas above and below the seam are the same fabric, I can make it work. Alas, any of the styles with a contrasting fabric will look terrible on me, since what should be a high-waist or an underbust detail will still hit a significant enough part of my bust to look like the dress doesn't fit me at all.
I have been hunting high and low for wrap dresses that have no waist seam at all, but the seem to be thin on the ground these days.
I think a lot of those styles are unlikely to work for me–dresses with very high underbust seams usually end up underlining my nipples, unless I get such a large size the rest of the dress is a tent. (I love the prints, but the two Boden dresses look like they would be particularly disappointing, as would the Anthropologie, alas.)
I am not a fan of wrap or surplice tops–even when they actually fit, I think they make me look bigger! I tend to wear dresses with straight straps, something just substantial enough to comfortably wear a bra under. High waists make me look even more out-of-proportion, so though I've given in to the trend once or twice, I look for regular waists. And I really like dresses with waist ties.
I do like busy distracting prints. And if I had a strapless bra I liked spaghetti straps would be fine… but that's a big bouncing "if"!
Unfortunately, just having wider straps often isn't enough for the large-of-boob. If the dress isn't cut with ample room in the chest area, it still isn't going to work. (I find J.Crew particularly problematic in that area. I'm pretty sure that neither of the J.Crew dresses here could contain my 32DDs.) I've not yet found any one style or brand that will consistently work; it remains entirely a matter of trying on every frikkin' thing. Not helpful, I know.
I can not stress enough that the sewing pattern companies have a veritable buffet of offerings for those who, as my daughter so aptly puts it, are blessed with "the rack of doom". I made her a great halter-neck dress that fit, flattered, gave her some support and she loved.
Hmm, I find this interesting and rather helpful. but I don't understand one thing. Why should I aim to conceal or minimize?
I have to say that as a large-chested woman, I find wrap dresses to be very tricky to wear. They often create far more cleavage than I feel comfortable with for work situations.
Thanks for all your input, gals. Large-of-boob encompasses a HUUUUUGE range of body shapes, so I'm not surprised to hear that some of these suggestions wouldn't work at all for many of you.
For those who feel wrap dresses are too revealing, would fashion tape help to keep the wrap more closed and less exposing? Or is it just a structural concern?
Annathea: As I said in the post, the decision to conceal or minimize is up to you. Note the parenthetical.
So true! It's taken me forever to find good sundresses, but now that I have I'm wearing them out! I've fallen in love with Evan Picone's faux halter dresses, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Evan-Picone-Sleeveless-Pleated-Dress/dp/B0021VZJJI
Very flattering for my hourglass-tending-towards-apple, and it actually covers the girls (for reference I'm a 14/16 with a 38D). No cleavage!
Also, for those complaining that wrap dresses show too much, you can sew the wrap shut! I do that with all of mine, and it works wonders.
Wrap dresses are a common "answer" I find for us larger breasted girls but time and time and time again do you know what happens with wrap dresses? Gapeage as the cross over rarely is able to sit flat against the chest/the space between the breasts or the wraps have a desire to only cover half your breast.
Second the problem with the horizontal seam which is meant to be below bust but if you want a dress that fits you elsewhere the seam comes just about straight across the nipple.
I'm a 12E which I guess is a 34E US.
The cami route is a fairly standard "solution" but in Summer especially when it is hot and humid, the last thing you want is another layer of fabric.
Hey Sal! I'm a gal with excessive boobage going on…here's the scoop on wrap dresses.
Yes, they can be flattering, especially when the wrap ties hit high on the waist. However, there usually isn't enough fabric to sufficiently cover the girls. If you get the wrap under the boobs where it is designed to sit, then the top spreads open into an enormous U-shape and you're left with a little more skin showing than can be deemed appropriate in public. If you wrap the dress so that the top of the girls are covered, then it hits you just about at nip level which looks absolutely ridiculous!
Bra-less is totally out of the question, so I've yet to find a sundress off the rack that fits properly.
Helen: Indeed – camis are not an ideal solution when it's hot and humid.
I've read about products from "Second Base" that are supposed to offer cooler solutions than camis like this guy http://www.shopsecondbase.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=2 But even then, it's a second layer over your bra …
@Courtney – Oh yes!! I always stitch the wrap shut!! I've also had good luck with stitching in a "modesty" panel to look like a cami.
Even as just a C cup on a size 16 frame, I struggle with having enough area at the chest of an empire waist dress or top. I'm able to shop in both missy and plus ranges and, when something's available in both cuts, I'll try on both and the plus will often have more space at the bust. The too-low-cut for daywear is something that I'll usually allow to rule out a summer dress for me too, just because I don't feel like adding a cami – in winter layers are ok but in summer I just don't feel like it. To the other poster searching for a good strapless bra, I don't know if you're in this size range, but I recently invested in the Lane Bryant 5 ways bra and it's changed a lot of my summer strap options – it's as comfy as a regular bra even with straps completely off!
What Courtney Kat, and other said about the Ubiquitous Seam Under (But In Our Case Not Really under) The Boobs. This drives me out of my mind with rage. I'm only a 36DD (which is getting to be a pretty average size)and those lovely Boden dresses look like complete non-starters for me. I mostly wear skirts and T-shirts all summer–it makes easier laundry, anyway.
Yes, wrap dresses might be the most overrated clothing item aimed at the well-endowed. They almost always require a cami which creates unflattering lines through the jersey of the dress. Best left to Diane von Furstenberg. Surplice tops are great since they can be easily sewn closed by a tailor.
Anything with an empire seam is also a no-no for me. Can you say preggers? Any dress has to define my waist else I look like my whole upper body is one big boob.
Spaghetti straps and halters are completely out of the question, but what are your thoughts on strapless? With the proper boning and support I think they can be flattering.
This discussion brings up a related topic in my mind: cute dresses with sleeves – rarer than hen's teeth, if you ask me, especially in the summer. I would wager that many of us average-sized, curvy gals with a large chest also have some upper arm flabbage that we'd like to conceal. Sal, maybe you can do a future post with some sleeved options?
SarahN: I'm on it. I am forever hunting for sleeved dresses myself.
Also stealing "rarer than hen's teeth" from you.
Oooh! I love that BR dress. I am middle-of-boob but I think that dress will work for me anyways.
I love the first dress! The material around the waste just makes the outfit. beautiful summer dresses!
In my experience of dressing ladies with fuller bust lines, empire cuts and wraps don’t work that well. Empire cuts tend to be cut too short and cut across the bust line instead of lying underneath the bust. Wraps lack coverage. Also, it’s best to stay away from waist gathering as it widens the body with it's excess poufing.
Best bets are mock wraps in knits with side rushing. Dresses with centre front rushing can also work. Depending on the rest of the body type, a low scooped sheath with stretch is ideal. Halter necks with front V-necklines are another great option if you can get the bra to co-operate with the look. Keep the pattern monochromatic on the torso too. The dress with the red bow is not only too only short in the waist for a full bust, but the bright red bow will actually widen and shorten the waistline even more because of the contrast.
These types of silhouettes have been tried and tested on my clients with a full bust. They also have enough coverage under the arm to keep the bust secure. Hope this helps! :
o http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3092110/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6010558?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6010558&P=1
o http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3108638?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=tahari&origin=searchresults
o http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3078035/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6010558?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6010558&P=1
o http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3100927/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6010558?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6010558&P=2
o http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3021308/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6010558?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6010558&P=1
I find wearing a tank top underneath, or even a tee works just fine. As long as the tank or tee fits properly as a layering piece I don't have many problems with bunching. I've found dresses that can accommodate my DDD's at places like KMart, Target, and Old Navy. \
or
The low neclines on some of these are problamatic as well because my bra would show. It would be nice if these dresses were sold with an optional modesty panel (just a triangle of fabric!)
Sal: great links! (I'm going to give those JCrew simple dresses a lash.)
I find I'm always on the hunt for a dress that has the right kind of shoulders: if the straps are too narrow, they make the girls look huge, and if the armholes run in a straight line from the underarm, it makes the whole uppercarriage look larger and rectangular.
And don't even get me started on halter-top swimsuits (Athleta catalog is driving me crazy this season!) — carrying some DDDs by hanging them off the back of your neck? Geddouddahere.
Great theme! Thanks. I've just started posting on my blog about what we busty knitters can knit to wear for summer. I'll have to check out my lightweight cardis over the JCrew dresses when they come!
Thanks for all the great posts. Keep 'em coming!
Here in the UK we have Bravissimo which has dresses for those of us blessed with larger assets. They go in for some wrap dresses, but also some more traditional shift shapes, just cut with extra material. They have their own sizing system so you need to know your measurements, and they do ship overseas.
Dresses here: http://www.bravissimo.com/products/clothing/dresses-and-skirts
Annathea, I can think of several reasons to conceal or minimize. First of all, modesty and appropriateness in the workplace. No one wants to see straps hanging out all over the place, either. Also, for balance. Part of looking our best is having a balanced top and bottom. If you are large on top, minimizing the girls is one way to get balance.
As a fairly large-busted lady (32DD) I too have trouble finding dresses that work. Large busted women are always being told you just CAN'T wear strapless or spaghetti straps, and for a long time, I just accepted this. Recently, I discovered that they DO make strapless bras in larger sizes. For instance, I have a strapless bra (that converts into a halter or crisscross back) from Fantasie and it is SUPER supportive, so much so that I can wear strapless dresses and tops without fear of spillage, sagging, or bounce. And I'm pretty sure the fantasie bra goes to somewhere in the vicinity of an H cup in sizes. Sometimes I find that the sundresses that have the dreaded "designated boobage area" are actually the dresses that have straps– whether thick or spaghetti. I think large-busted women should be liberated from the feeling that they have to dress to conform to their bra-style… shouldn't it be the other way around?
Not so sure about the boden dresses shown, but I'll tell you my 38DD/size 12-14 bod works well in Boden dresses overall. The jersey is thick enough, and the finishing is very good. Their wrap dresses are great, especially if you go with the long versions, because I like at the knee/just below the knee lengths.There are no waist seams on them which is helpful, as some have mentioned. Also, they have a great maxi dress (applique maxi) which fits very very well with proper summer coverage and looks great. (Not for work, mind you, but still!)
And now I'm going check out those nordies links.
You couldn't recommend better, Sal. I endorse all of that.
Second Base's half-camisoles are a great solution to the occasional slightly-too-deep dip at the V that you can get in a wrap/surplice or knot-front dress. They don't add a whole hot layer. They just cover your bra straps and deal with the cleave.
You can wear spaghetti straps with a t-shirt underneath, but not when it's mega hot. It works for warmish days though.
I tend to go for wrap dresses or shop at Bravissimo if I want a nice dress that I'll wear a lot, as they make well-fitted dresses for those of us with bigger boobs.
Great resource for my more lovely and endowed friends.
For me, however, I am pretty long in the torso, so fitted boob dresses without adjustable straps can be a challenge. Even with a good bra, I tend to hang like a 1/2 inch lower than most standard ready to wear sizes, (if i size up I swim on the top) so loose, unstructured, unshaped bodices are my go to.
(p.s.: It's not cool here, but it's too cold in the mornings for me, and the dang subway is A/C'd. I shivered the whole commute.)
From someone in the add-a-size padded bra category this is an eye-opener. Those wrap dresses don't work for me – nothing to hold them in place!
I often layer a tank underneath summer tops to compensate for loose fits through the chest (I also take tucks in the side seams) I find that cotton tanks tucked into my slip are best for not rolling up underneath.
On hot DC days the cotton tank keeps the slip from being itchy at the waist and helps keep the dresses freshier.
From my flat-chested view it seems like jjill brand tops are cut really full through the chest. Does anybody who has a big chest thing that?
I found an awesome website from another blog for those who want to wear a camisole without having to worry about the bunching around the waist and tummy. Go to secondbase.com, they make a camisole in several different styles and colors that are basically like a sports bra so you dont have that full extra layer of clothing in the hot weather an no worries about bunching! I bought one (they are a bit pricy for me) and I really love them.
As a busty girl we all gotta help eachother out
OH and I must add to those who have mentioned this already, I HATE styles with that horizontal seam across the bust, just HATE them, 90% of those styles would not fit properly over a C cup and it looks rediculous crossing right over the nips =( makes me sad because when they do fit right it's actually really flattering.
Large of Boob! Ha! I love it!
I am one of those….with small waist, short legs…cutie pie post…as are all of your posts.
I SO enjoy your blog!
Thanks for this post, Sal!
Spaghetti straps – doable, but not worth it. Strapless bras require more effort (while dressing and while wearing because you're constantly conscious of them) which goes against the whole appeal of easy-breezy sundresses.
Mo – I've found the solution! Google for "bralette" or "cami too" – they're great little inventions that give the look of camisoles but stop right under your boobs so no bunching! Or wear a slip or chemise under your sundress as a cami.
P.S. I did order a sundress from AJ Rumina made specifically for busty gals. You order by your cup size. I haven't received it yet but I'm really looking forward to getting it! They don't quite have my cup size available, but when I ordered a button-up last fall from them I just chose the biggest cup size they had available. The fit isn't perfect but it is WORLDS better than anything else off-the-rack.
http://www.mycurvyclothes.com/
That green j.crew floaty dress is DIVINE. I'll take one in every color, please!
I'm a busty gal myself (38DD) and HATE wrap dresses and surplice top shirts & dresses. They always gap and pull in the wrong areas and leave wayyyy too much cleave for my comfort-level. My cleavage starts so high that I honestly hate wearing even v-neck t-shirts. I have sewn shirts/dresses to fix the surplice gap, or to make sure buttons don't pull (as wonderful as Hollywood Fashion Tape is, it is not reliable for keeping those buttons from popping open). The real bummer is that most of the bras for ladies large of boob also have wide (and usually kinda ugly) straps & you don't want them peeking out of your dress. (It's like that scene in Bridget Jones' Diary, where you look better in clothes in the ugly/cinching undies, but better naked in the less supportive & more sexy ones.) I look for wide straps, the ultra-rare but so flattering cap sleeve, shift dresses that also tie at the waist, or go the top/skirt route. I have from time to time made my own cleavage "dickies" (if you will) where I have just safety-pinned a piece of fabric to my bra straps, covering up the extra cleave. Not pretty underneath, but does the trick in a pinch (works great when I buy vinatge & don't want to invest $ on a great bargain). OH!!! And Lane Bryant has a "back smoothing" bra right now… it is the best thing I have ever owned.
I'm in the busty camp and I love wrap dresses – I simply add a snap at the join of the v neck and all is well. Of course, that works better if you are narrow and busty – otherwise it can strain/pop.
I think the discussion of dress shape is really good but I'd like to add my 2 cents on fabric. If you need more garment structure (as large breasted women often do), it's key to keep the fabric as lightweight as possible. Light, very stretchy rayon jersey has great drape and stays cool. That's the stretchy fabric that many wrap dresses are made from.
A bit of stretch goes a long way with breasts/bras when the weather is sweltering.
I'm not large-of-boob, but I am short, so necklines often fall lower on me than they're designed to and I totally get the showing-too-much-cleavage-for-day dilemma. I don't always like wearing a cami under a dress (sundresses are supposed to be for warm weather, so why should I have to add a layer, right?) While Wikipedia-ing 1860's dress details recently, the article on chemisettes included a line on "modern chemisettes" that had to have been cleverly placed by the company making the product therein described – Chemisettes by Anne. I Googled it, and ended up buying several for me and my mom – they are semi-cicles of fabric that button around your bra straps, providing coverage without the bulk of another shirt. The sew-minded among you could probably make your own, but their prices were reasonable, and the sale ones probably cost less than buying the materials would.
Sheath dresses and shifts can sometimes work well. High enough neckline with no gaping – no need for a second layer; no strap-showing problems either. I think shirtdresses give a nice silhouette (and have sleeves!) as well.
Biggest problem: it can be problematic to find a dress that fits in the bust without swimming everywhere else.
With necklines that are quite high, I find that judicious application of necklaces and scarves take the emphasis off the bust and add interest.
Totally agree about wrap dresses not working with my large bust! I'm not sure why these are touted for busty gals, but they've never worked for me. I kept trying with them thinking I was doing something wrong. I eventually learned my lesson and donated them all.
That being said, I am in love with some of these dresses, particularly the Anthropologie and gray J. Crew dresses.
Something else I wanted to put out there… I used to keep "the ladies" more covered up than I do now. I am in my 30s, but I'm just now beginning to feel more comfortable showing a little more cleavage. I used to get unwelcome attention and occasional catty comments that made me feel self-conscious. Now that I'm a bit older, I've told myself, "This is the body you were born with. Love it! It's their problem, not yours!"
I wonder if you ladies have struggled with this as well?
As someone with an E cup, I have found that wrap dresses are the best, and have found a couple of ways to minimise the gape. One is to close it partly with a brooch of choice. In the hot South Australian summers tanks are too hot and bunchy, but AVON here makes a 'fooler' in a range of colours which is a pretty triangle of material (mine are in satin or cotton) which buttons or clips to your bra straps either side. They have worked for me. Oh and i too curse the stupidly placed horizontal seam – no bisected boobs for me, thanks.
36C here — and I totally relate to comments Tina Fey has made about her own hourglass figure:*
"I don't have a WASP body. Preppy doesn't work on me at all. There's something about the Greek thing where there's only, like, two speeds. If you put me in something conservative, it looks matronly. And if you cut it down to here"—she gestures to her navel—"it looks slutty."
AND
"Not good on me? Spaghetti straps. It looks like when you tie up a roast before you put it in the oven."
*From the March 2010 Vogue. I know, I know, but at least I didn't buy it — I took it out of my wonderful local library.
I just wear spaghetti straps, and damn the torpedoes. If people don't want to see my bra, they can darn well look somewhere else. I hate being too warm.
Great post! I'm a 36G and I can never find anything that fits and flatters. I love a good v-neck but I'm with Mo – I find that I have so much boob that the overwhelming amount of cleavage isn't safe for anyone. I usually end up in a skirt and shirt, though I love dresses.
Hehehe, great title. I'm definitely not large-of-boob, but I can be a large boob. Love the blue/white Boden even for my average boobs.
Back again … (I posted my earlier comment, with the Tibna Fey quotes, as Sarah because I couldn't log into my Gmail account. But anyway …)
I'll have to check out the Cami Too and Second Base options.
I've also been meaning to look into the "cami bra," which is a regular bra with a bit of cloth to cover the cleavage. A Google search turned up this blog post, with photos of several different brands: http://www.the-lingerie-post.com/2010/02/camisolebra-combination-pieces/
Great ideas! Summer is short in my part of the world, and I don't want to spend any more of it than I have to worrying about my underwear!
virago – hey! I wrote that! Glad it helped somebody
I'm a fan of sheath and shift dresses during the summer. They're easy to awear a bra with and super comfortable.
I've had good luck with finding Ann Taylor Loft sun dresses that have wide straps that can accormodate a regular bra. I wore one of my favorites from that store yesterday due to this crazy heat wave were getting in the TC.
as a tall girl who is also large-of-boob, i think the only dress that might fit me would be the green j.crew.
i curse the dreaded "under boob" seam that is on so many dresses and tops lately! that seam just rides right over the middle of the boobs, and even if it manages to sit below the boobs, you move around a bit and it pops right up! and if the dress should have a proper waist, usually that is up around my ribcage. oh how i wish stores actually carried tall sizes and not just online or in catalogs!
sorry for the long rant, i adore your blog, sally!
what about sleeveless shirtdresses like these?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3083669?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_pla=dresses:women:dress&cm_ite=suzi_chin_maggy_boutique_sleeveless_ruffle_front_shirtdress:290646&cm_ven=Froogle&mr:trackingCode=B0645B26-4F46-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA
I have a question on… bra strap etiquette? Something, anyway : )
Why is it so hard to wear a decent bra under a sundress? I was under the impression that not letting your bra straps show was one of those rules only enforced by worried mothers of middle school girls. I understand that for a lot of occasions letting them show isn't very tidy or ladylike, but most of the days I spend in sundresses are days of running around the city or hanging out with friends, and the very nature of sundresses seems to imply casualness and comfort. I can't see the problem of some plain black bra straps beside the pink (or whatever) ones of the dress. Opinions?
Apologies if someone's already brought this up, but I'm headed to bed and don't have enough open-eye time left to read through all the comments.
As one who is booblicious, I find that many empire styles in a stretch fabric work well. Maxi dresses can be great. I've also got into those with a shirred bodice, as long as it's long enough to cover the whole breast area.
I find that I need to wear camisoles under most wrape and other deep V neck styles, otherwise it's just too much cleavage on show, that smaller breasts don't show.
I love that "Floaty" green J Crew dress!!!
Kelly — You're welcome, and I much appreciate The Lingerie Post as a resource! I'm going to delve into the archives to see if there are any other products/hacks that might help me in my quest to present "the girls" in an attractive yet modest fashion.
I'm rackalicious, with a narrow but short waist, so if I don't elevate my boobs, my entire upper body winds up looking huge. I can't wear anything that drapes. My duds have to be fitted to flatter (I heart princess seams).
I live in New England, so I think that I'll go over to my local Lady Grace store (a small regional chain) this weekend and see if I can have a bra fitting. I don't think that measuring myself works too well …
One thing I didn't see mentioned – for the moderately well endowed like myself (36D), there IS such a thing as a good strapless bra. I found one by accident at Marshall's, it's a Calvin Klein and it is comfy and stays up. Prior to this discovery I had NEVER found a decent strapless bra that stayed up, wasn't some uncomfortable corset like contraption, etc. I was so excited to find this one and would probably pay full price to get another one in a different color.
The most on-target topic yet for me! Agree with everyone here on their woes. I'm petite and not overly well-endowed (after surgery), but even a 34C is way too much cleavage for most wrap dresses and the underboob seam issue. I have found a couple of dresses from Modcloth with stretch in the back that squeeze enough to give support. Also, I tend to look best in something with spaghetti straps and a neckline that goes straight across my chest. This style worked really well for me: http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Dress+About+Town+in+Dinner+Date
And just to add a suggestion regarding irritating camisole bunching… think about just hacking off the bottom part of a cheap cami to a length that suits you. Coverage up top, no wrinkly/sweaty belly syndrome…
Wow, that's funny, because I always find myself lamenting the fact that there are no good summer dresses for the SMALL of boob. Wrap styles look terrible, spaghetti straps just slip down because there's nothing keeping them taught, and empire cuts make us look disproportionally large on the bottom. Maybe I should be glad that it's in the 50's and raining like hell here. :-/
Now I'm worried that I'm walking about dressed inappropriately. I keep seeing this phrase "too low-cut for day," or variations thereof. And I keep thinking of The Perfect Sundress hanging in my closet, that has spaghetti straps and a low neckline. It shows a LOT more skin than I'm usually comfortable showing during day OR night. But it's so comfortable, and so flattering, and I end up wearing it about twice a week because I live in Georgia (where it's already an 80+ degrees and humid summer), and frankly am more worried about heat stroke than overexposure.
So here's my question: How much chest is too much chest for day, for night, and why are these rules different?
sundresses for bigger gals are harder to find and they dont look as cute.
I agree with some of the comments here. These dresses would not work for me at all but rather would emphasize the fact that I am very large breasted. As far as how much cleavage is acceptable, that depends on your age, build and where you are wearing it. I am very modest, but my rule is to ask my 18 year old son. One disgusted look from him and I know it’s too much! Or if I would not wear it to a family function that included my parents without embarrassment, I don’t get it. Any v neck that exposes cleavage I would not wear. It is tough because I am only 5’2 and I was always a very petite and small chested woman until my 30′s! Now I wear a size 10 and have a 38DD set of “girls” (no surgery) that I do not want! I like to wear rounded necklines and wide straps because there is no way I could go without a support bra. Also, a crocheted short jacket is a lifesaver if there is too much exposure without it.