Just where, exactly, are my boobs supposed to be?

[PrettyCandles]

Went shopping yesterday. Fitting rooms were heaving in many shops, so I bought loads of stuff without trying it on and will return what I don't want tomorrow.

So I've been trying on my haul. From each shop, all the tops are the same size (20 or 22).

In two of the tops the neckline is set so low that my bra shows.

Another top fits perfectly, except it strains across my hardly disproportionate bust.

Another has the pin-tucks so high that they come over my boobs and there's an empty puff of fabric above my boobs.

Another two fit perfectly, except that the buttons on the bit of my chest above my bust strain, and there's a loose puff of fabric below my bust.

One fits well everywhere - including my bust.

So where, exactly, are my boobs supposed to be? Higher? Lower? Flatter? Fatter?

Doh!

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

hmmm have you had a proper bra fitting recently

and I don't mean M and S

[PrettyCandles]

Yup, yesterday, John Lewis, and I am wearing the new bra.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

okay

am stumped

that weas helpful wasn't it

[cyb]

J'agree

get a proper bra

decide on what type of top DOES suit you

buy it in loads of different colours

ALSO this is not just a problem for those of us bigger than a size 14. Its badly made cheap tops.
Buy better, buy less

[cyb]

oh dear, I'll get my caot too

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

pffffffffft

at cyb

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

The trick is to not buy anything with any detailing anywhere near your bust.

No buttons, tucks, frills etc.

I am an 18/20 and have huge boobs, and I like empire line, but cheap things are just cut really really badly and never fit - high street in general is pretty much a disaster. I buy Wrap, Fatface, Boden, Lands End (sometimes).

[PrettyCandles]

Ah...is this one of those problems that go away if you throw money at it?

[cyb]

pretty I hate to say it but probably yes.. Bigger size tops need to be cut well...supermarket stuff wont cut the mustard (not that thats what i think you bought)

Even bigger sizes in places like Dotty p's can be weird. Spend a bit more if you can

[HurleySatOnMe]

Are you wearing underwire? My mum had terrible problems as she refused to wear underwires, giving her monoboob and tops that looked awful. Last summer I took her shopping for clothes for her new job and htey all looked terrible. She was a size 20 iirc. I convinced her to get a bra fitted, problem solved. I would love to be a personal shopper, the first thing I'd do to each and every woman is get them a bra that actually fits, if it doesn't then nothing will look right over it.

[PrettyCandles]

Hurley - I wear well-fitted, underwired bras. TBH, I think Cyb's probably right, because I've come across this more and more often as I've increased in size.

[MsDav]

I get this and I'm a size 16 with a 36/38DD bust. Recently bought a Monsoon dress that was very odd across the chest, it flattened my boobs out like pancakes at the top but had enough room for them at the bottom IYSWIM. A very curious effect that remained despite trying every bra I own on. I tried it on in a size bigger and it was mahoosive and gaping across the chest. Truly odd.

(I loved the dress and its not so noticeable with a cardigan on)

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

PrettyCandles - yes it is unfortunately. Wrap and Land's End both do good multi-buy discounts on their more basic tops/t-shirts etc so you can get 2 or 3 of the same thing in different colours at a good price so it doesn't completely break the bank.

[ant3nna]

I've found this too - I'm an 18 and a D cup so hardly disproportionate. I have a job interview next week and for the life of me can't find a shirt that looks right over my boobs in an 18 and if I try a 20 I look like a sack of spuds. Why don't shops think that larger ladies have bigger busts? It makes it so hard to find flattering clothes when I can't find tops that fit over my best asset.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

ant I gave up on shirts years ago, they either strain or gape or bunch up in strange folds.

Shirts are for skinny people, unless you spend a lot of money - more than I'm prepared to spend on one item!