Tops for large bust

I am in my forties with a medium build but a large bust. I can never find tops to fit me when I go shopping and I always come home empty handed. Any suggestions as to what style top I should go for? Thank you for your help, Maura.

Hi Maura,

I work with a lot of women who have the same problem; the first thing I will say to you is are you wearing the correct size bra? We tend to forget about underwear but it’s the most important part of our clothes as the wrong size bra can add inches to your bust. Go and get remeasured - you might be pleasantly surprised!

When you go shopping avoid ribbed polo necks or any polo neck as they will make you look bigger then you are and also avoid thick heavy knit wear. Go for a wrap style cardigan - these are great as you can wear a little top underneath and tie the belt as tight or loose as you want.

A deep v-neck is a good choice also and they are big for winter; remember to keep the neckline wide open as this will help to give the allusion of a smaller bust. Good luck.

UPDATE

THE BATTLE OF THE NECK LINE AND TAKING THE PLUNGE!

I have a lot of responses on my blog on a question I did in my column a while ago regarding tops for large busts. I suggested to one reader that a v-neck is a good choice for a person with a larger bust and also to make sure they are wearing the correct bra which can be a major problem for a lot of women with a large bust. I work with women who are all shapes and sizes and I come across this a lot. I don’t  suggest that all women are but believe me a lot of us do! So get professionally measured and take it from there you will be more than surprised with the results.

When I suggest a V-neck is a flattering style for the larger bust I mean to wear a V-neck with a suitable vest top or cami-top underneath; not a revealing V-neck on its own which I am aware would only draw more attention to your rather large breasts which is something you are probably wanting to avoid.

Also some women have also suggested that a scoop neck, a sweetheart line or a square neck line - I would say whatever works best for you try it on and see how it feels. Opt for a cotton and lycra mix which will have enough structure to  really smooth out any potential bumps and an open neck line such as a v-neck, scoop neck or sweetheart neckline will open the neckline and draw the eye away from the bust area.

When I speak about women with large busts who continue to wear such items as polo necks and create  a Uniboob: these are the women I suggest to go for an open neck line such as the a V- neck which will reveal a lovely neck, two breasts and a smooth flow over the hips and draw the eye upwards and take the emphasise off your bust. Also the good old wrap top is a winner as it is body flattering and can be adjusted to fit you perfectly.

Here are a few tips you might find useful!

DO WEAR

• A well fitted bra that lifts and separates-check the straps and make sure it gives you LIFT!
• V-necks and wraps tops with a camisole underneath to minimise cleavage.
• Single-breasted jackets with a narrow lapel.
• Boot-cut trousers and flared skirts to stop you looking top- heavy.
• Scoop neck line and sweetheart line is worth trying also.

DONT WEAR

• Anything double-breasted or boxy.
• Polo necks - they will make you look like you are carrying a tea tray.
• Drainpipe trousers - you will look like you are going to topple over.

TOP TIP WHEN BUYING A NEW JACKET FOR SPRING SUMMER!

• Bomber jackets look great if you have no waist.
• Tailored jackets flatter curvy waists.
• Jackets ending at the top of the hip flatter most shapes.
• Mid-length jackets look great on slime thighs
• Long jackets cover large bottoms.
• Jacket details and design can draw the eye upwards towards a beautiful décolleté for example.

Comments

OK - I'm guessing Martina doesn't have a large bust. Why? Because if she did, she wouldn't automatically assume that those of us that do, wouldn't be smart enought to figure out the importance of a well fitting bra. Also, that whole notion of a deep V neck or a surplice top are about the two worst things to wear if you're trying to draw attention away from your large bust. Sweetheart and square necks much better serve that purpose. Scoop necks work well too. Stay away from V necks. All they do is point to the already obvious cleavage, and accentuate the size of the breasts.

[caffeine]

I don't understand why Martina would automatically assume that she's wearing the wrong sized bra. From personal experience, a bigger cup bra would just be too loose, and a smaller cup bra would add inches to your TORSO and NOT your BUST.

The problem with women who are slim but have a big bust is that most tops are not cut correctly to fit over a big bust -- darts and princess-style seams are often the wrong size and curvature, and the side seams are pulled towards the front because the back is narrow and the bust is big in proportion.

And many tops that are big enough to go over your bust are just too loose about the waist.

Women like us often have to resort to wearing boring stretchy knit tops as a result.

[Amy-Jayne]

I agree with the first comment, i am only 16 and i have an E cup bust (wearing the right sized bra), if i was to wear a V neckline, i would look a million times bigger than what i already am. i hate it when by the time you find something that fits over your bust your waistline gets hidden... I also cant wear sweet heart neclines due to cleavage problems, even so, square necklines are the way to go... People who dont have our large bust problem just dont understand how difficult it is...

[susie]

I agree with the not going for a v neck as half the time it can look obscene. I am a size 14 and an f cup. The problem I get is that for the top to fit over my breats i have to go a size bigger and then the straps are too big and again the waist hangs unflattering. i have found dorothy perkins tops to be too tight around the breats if it is a fitted top. If there are so many of us why is it so hard to find tops that are stylish fit well and dont let our breats become the centre of attention.

[Zoe]

Where can we buy tops to fit??????
There must be a place that has this product.

Oh my gosh, FINALLY I found people that understand my problem!! I'm a size 2 yet have a 34DD bust line. Nothing fits me. Everyone tells me to get empire waisted shirts (because they suppossedly look good on a large bust) but HOW can I when they are all cut for a size A cup?? I'm so frusterated. I'm SO sick of stretchy cotton v-neck shirts. But what else is out there? The only clothing line I've found that caters to our body types is Shoshanna, but for one dress alone you are looking at $350! I'm sorry but I can't spend that amount of money on one piece. Someone please help us!!

Oh yeah, and I forgot to add, I DO wear the correct size bra too.
ladies, you may want to go to Norstrom and check out the Le Mysteire bras, they are a MIRACLE. The style I like is called 'Tisha', but the style I wore when I was a little larger is called 'Rennasaince'. It's the same bra they had on Oprah. They are around $60 each, but worth every penny.

[Dee Dee]

Hi, I am at my wits end trying to find a top that fits and looks good. I am 5'4" and wear a 38 D, at least thats what fits. I go to the store to buy tops, and end up walking around wandering aimlessly. When I find a top that I like, after one washing, it looks like a crop top. The shirts always end up shrinking up, even though I always HANG my clothes to dry. Knit tops are famous for this, and for me to buy a button down shirt, It never fails, it fits good in the shoulders but the buttons always gap. I am very frustrated, and don't know where to go and look anymore for the proper nice looking type shirts. WHY aren't the clothing designers taking this into consideration when they design fashion??? It is almost to the point that I am wanting to have a breast reduction due to this, and really I dont feel that I am that busty. I am not fond of wearing a Kimono with the butterfly sleeves either. So whats a girl to do????

[Claire]

Okay ladies, I stumbled on this post because I am considering a reduction and I'm torn between going ahead with the reduction or finding a way to make my own clothes. All of the clothes out there are made for A cup ladies to enhance their bust. Designers design on A cup models because it is a standard simple size and they can focus on the clothes that way instead of different size women underneath. I'm a D cup so I feel like I'm a borderline case. I'm thinking about hiring a fashion design student to make some clothes for me. I've saved all of the clothes that have ever looked good on me. I've noticed a trend. These clothes are usually deep v-neck sleeveless shirts, scoop neck shirts and simple halter tops under which I wear a silk camisole. The fabrics that work best for tops are crisp cottons and chiffon. I always wear a sports bra. The moment I passed a C cup, I stopped wearing regular bras, it was just too demoralizing, jiggly, bigger looking to wear a regular bra. I'm thinking about starting a company that sells clothes for us! If the experiment with making my own clothes goes well, I'm going to reproduce those clothes in larger quantities for others. I'm annoyed. We shouldn't have to go through surgery to find clothes that make us look nice. Stay tuned!

[Alli]

I've just stumbled across this blog as well, while trying to find shirts or tops that are tailored to the larger busted lady. It kind of saddens me to hear that DeeDee is thinking of having a reduction because you are a D cup. I'm a 32DD and I'm considered reasonably small boobed compared to a lot of women (in the UK).
Not that I'm trying to push our blog (really I'm not), but if you want to check out some of our articles on larger cups, have a look, it may give you the confidence to start wearing bras again.
Miss Mandalay are great fitting bras and, unless you go for a plunge bra, will not give you a massive cleavage. The way they are made, the bridge lies flat on the chest (as it should) and the underwire comes up around the breast tissue to support the bust properly.
http://www.missmandalay.com/Collections.aspx

The problem with clothes for larger busted women is that they often have to go for larger sizes to compensate for their bust. There are companies out there that cater for this, and are sized according to bust size; in addition there are companies that will tailor a shirt or top according to bust size. Try this one..
www.cast-woman.com - the lady who started her business had the same 'problem' and decided to design her own shirts. So many people have the same problem and if any of you can sew, why not start up a business?!

It is worth noting that different shops have different bra sizing methods, and we come across women all the time who have been incorrectly sized. This can make women so miserable as their bras are uncomfortable and just don't fit properly.
It isn't always necessary to lay out a lot of money for a bra, there are always bargains to be had - it's just a matter of searching! However it is worth buying a good, well-fitting bra (even if means spending a little more than you are used to) as it makes all the difference to posture and confidence.

I have rambled on a bit - sorry!
Oh, and I'm really glad I did stumble across this blog!