To ask why all wrap dresses are designed to flash chest?

[polkadotpjs]

Every one I've tried or ever bought without fail seems to be cut to the navel almost , necessitating a vest and therefore rendering it frumpy. Why? Why?
Yet I'm constantly told a wrap dress will suit me (kind way of saying I need help to find a waist o fear or that my belly needs hiding)
Sadly they do suit me but I cannot find one with a high enough neckline.
Rant over. I'm post migraine and angry and upset all at the same time. And my teen never talks to me. Sigh

@Gertie75

You can buy panels of material that clip to your bra stap, I'm not sure what they are called, they're usually plain with a clip on each top corner which fill the v shaped gap at the front of the dress, you can clip it as high or low as you like.

I get these too, they're called modesty panels. Hate the name, I'm no prude, just like to keep my boobs behind cloth!!

All women of my grandmothers generation used to wear a wrapover pinny when they were doing their housework. It's designed to go over a normal dress to protect it. Of course, if it's worn on its own you get cleavage.
That is the origin of the wrapover dress.

@Gertie75

You can buy panels of material that clip to your bra stap, I'm not sure what they are called, they're usually plain with a clip on each top corner which fill the v shaped gap at the front of the dress, you can clip it as high or low as you like.

What a super idea.

I love a nice soft jersy wrap dress.
Comfortable AND smart.

I bought a beautiful one from joules. It has a little hook and eye to keep it together at the boobage area.

Another one who wears a soft crop top rather than a bra and adds a couple of carefully placed stitches. I love a wrap dress :)

I wear a simple black vest underneath. Is that frumpy? Maybe you just need a vest with a simpler neckline. M&S?

I always wear vest top with them

It does seem to be a bit weird to buy something knowing it's not really fit for purpose - so you already know you've got to adapt it with a safety pin or stitch or wear something underneath. I've given up with anything with that sort of design because inevitably it'll look obscene on its own. I find that adding either safety pins or stitches at the 'holding point' ends up picking a hole or pull in the fabric of the dress. It's just not worth it.

I just wear a simple vest underneath, I find a lot of dresses are too low cut for me, it’s annoying when it’s hot though.
My personal irritation with wrap dresses is their tendency to blow open in the slightest breath of wind! I quite like a faux wrap, but avoid proper wraps completely now.

An assistsant at DV once told me their wrap dresses were designed for women who didn’t fit into their normal dresses (think busty / big waist etc) & I do think that logic applies in most shops which is why they rarely fit slim-curvy or pear shaped women. Even H&M and Spanish Zara’s wrap dresses have this problem

@miltonj

They're for women with larger chests. Who are excluded from wearing a lot of other designs of dress. There's nowt wrong with showing a bit of boob!

I don't object to showing a bit of boob - I just don't understand how I avoid showing off my bra in the process?!

Wrap dresses are the work of the Devil. I don't own one. As well as the annoying gaping on the cleavage, the skirts fly apart in the wind and show your thighs ... or even worse.

My Great Aunt gave me a little square of lace with tiny pins on each corner , from the 1920s . She called it a “modesty vest” . I am amazed they still exist

I've got a couple from the 30s that don't need pinning on. They have a complete piece to go all around the neck, and fasten at the back with a press-stud. Sweet little things, and so pretty - one is crochet with a bow on the front, and the other is pin-tucked silk.

why can’t we have clothes that actually fit without these modifications?!

Exactly! I don't want to be pinning a hankerchief inside the bosom of my gown like it's 1865. Just make dresses that work without pins.

I often think it's because they are designed for people with longer bodies than me? I'm quite short, and I often find that dresses in general have a bit too much material in the torso. with wrap dresses, it just means that the spare material opens at the front rather than bunches in the small of my back. i always feel like i need a couple of inches under my shoulders to hold it in the right place.

fwiw, for those saying it's because their boobs are too small, i've got decent boobs (30E) and i still have the problem...

I took mine to an alterations place and had them stitch it into a more subtle V shape.

I hate them, they flash boob and leg that I don't need to! And they aren't flattering either they're very middle aged

I can’t wear them. The shape suits me but they’re all cut too low for me - think flashing bra band not just cleavage!

I've got big boobs and can't wear them because my norks fight their way out like two piglets in an open sack. Ah well.

I’m breastfeeding at the moment and need easy access so wrap tops are my friend. I find that if I size up and tie them tight they cross across my body more therefore covering more, and then I loosen to feed. I’m quite big chested though even when not feeding

I just wear a wee brooch or decorative pin to prevent my norks escaping

I agree, op. I stopped buying them. I don’t think they’re very flattering, anyway.

I’m wearing one now 😂. Average/small sized boobs but still had to sew a button in to keep it together at the chest without having to wear a vest.

I LOVE my wrap dresses, I have at least four, but there is a subtle art in making them work for your body shape.
My shape is average, as in not flat chested but not particularly busty either, size 10, so maybe that's why they work for me.

I do however need to pin the centre of the bust to a sports bra (crop top shape) to prevent too much reveal, or wear a body contour vest underneath which doesn't show too much above the dress, only a few CM, so you don't get that frumpy look but you are still contained.

I find with wrap dresses it isn’t just the gaping that’s a problem, it’s also the extra fabric or gathering in the area that I don’t want. I look far better with a simple scoop or v neck top or dress that skims across my bust rather than clings to it. I’ve tried on many wrap dresses but I’ve never bought one.

@polkadotpjs YANBU

@TheYearOfSmallThings

why can’t we have clothes that actually fit without these modifications?!

Exactly! I don't want to be pinning a hankerchief inside the bosom of my gown like it's 1865. Just make dresses that work without pins.

But they do work without pins for lots of people. Not all dresses suit all figures. The dresses are perfect for me and my body shape.