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Original poster

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

162 replies

polkadotpjs · 09/06/2021 07:45

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

OP posts:
SaintVal · 09/06/2021 10:27

Same problem and I have larger bust. I don't trust poppers so I put a tiny safety pin in at the level where I want it to not flash too much!

ohforarainyday · 09/06/2021 10:29

I wish people would drop the whole "if you don't like it just don't buy it" thing.

The point is women's clothes are rarely designed for women's bodies or with women's comfort and needs in mind. Men's clothes are designed with men's comfort and needs in mind. It's sheer patriarchy in action.

There's absolutely no reason women's clothes can be manufactured with proper pockets, and there's no reason wrap dresses can be made with a popper. The only reason they aren't is because of a culture of women being trained to accept that the world is not designed for them, even when it comes to products that are literally for women.

Cottonheadedninymuggins · 09/06/2021 10:32

@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.
Modesty panel 😊
AryaStarkWolf · 09/06/2021 10:33

I always add a stitch like others have said as well but you're right, why should we have to do that, why don't they make them properly?

AryaStarkWolf · 09/06/2021 10:35

@ohforarainyday

I wish people would drop the whole "if you don't like it just don't buy it" thing.

The point is women's clothes are rarely designed for women's bodies or with women's comfort and needs in mind. Men's clothes are designed with men's comfort and needs in mind. It's sheer patriarchy in action.

There's absolutely no reason women's clothes can be manufactured with proper pockets, and there's no reason wrap dresses can be made with a popper. The only reason they aren't is because of a culture of women being trained to accept that the world is not designed for them, even when it comes to products that are literally for women.

Yep totally agree with all of this. Currently I buy men's slippers, men's razors and men's PJ shorts, all better quality and more comfortable and fit for purpose (and usually cheaper too.....isn't that odd?)
IamThrough · 09/06/2021 10:38

I know what you mean - I'm actually wearing one today and I love it as the shape is flattering. However I am wearing it with a vest underneath - as without the vest it would be obscene! Grin Personally I don't see a problem with wearing a vest underneath and don't see it as frumpy.

I'm a size 10 and fairly small boobs but always with these dresses I get a gape.

PS @polkadotpjs my teens don't speak to me either LOL

coogee · 09/06/2021 10:39

I wish people would drop the whole "if you don't like it just don't buy it" thing.

Why? If people don't buy them, they will stop making them... or add a popper.

KatharinaRosalie · 09/06/2021 10:40

They make me look like "Here's my chest, the rest is coming!"

But the gaping and not enough coverage is down to cut. Try Bravissimo wrap dresses and tops - totally different experience, room for boobs and no need to stitch or pin. It is possible.

If you want to wear other brands, I also pin, but not the middle - pin the bottom wrap part to your bra cup, so it does not slide down too low.

Carycy · 09/06/2021 10:47

Yep I can’t get wrap dresses to work for me as a slim ape shape. Tend to wear skater dresses.

Carycy · 09/06/2021 10:47

*apple

JinglingHellsBells · 09/06/2021 10:49

What a fuss over nothing @polkadotpjs

Wrap dresses are not obligatory.
Use a press stud, sew the neckline to suit you, wear something under it, or buy dresses with a different neckline.

StripyHorse · 09/06/2021 10:52

YANBU. Today I am meeting my mum for lunch so I put on a dress my husband bought me last year (I wore once) - I spent about 1/2 hour sewing in a press-stud. It's only wrapped at the top ie the problem area. It's too nice a dress to wear a vest top under.

MrsKoala · 09/06/2021 10:53

There's absolutely no reason women's clothes can be manufactured with proper pockets, and there's no reason wrap dresses can be made with a popper.

There are reasons that wrap dresses can't be made with a popper, it ruins the line of the wrap shape and different shaped bodies would require poppers in different places. If you buy clothes off the peg some adjustment or alterations are going to be necessary. As a 5ft 10 woman with really broad shoulders and long arms and legs I accept many/most clothes aren't cut for my shape and dress accordingly. Do not put poppers in the one item of clothing that actually fits me well!

jay55 · 09/06/2021 11:02

I like wrap dresses and am usually fine with wearing a nice vest underneath, I don't care if it's frumpy when I'm at work.

I did once get some higher cut ones from Ralph Lauren (Bicester outlet) and they were amazing, nothing slipped, no need for a vest so great on hot days.
Wish I'd bought their entire stock as I never found anything similar again.

Branleuse · 09/06/2021 11:03

They are hard to wear sometimes! My boobs are 32GG and I can only wear them with certain bras. They go ok with a black molke as that gives cleavage but any of it showing just looks like a vest top.
Also flexifit crop top style bra from marks and spencers are really good with wrap dresses

Shortbreadbrokemytooth · 09/06/2021 11:04

@Carycy - I’m a less slim ape shape who likes skater dresses Grin

NotImpossible · 09/06/2021 11:04

@AutistGoth

Interesting how women with small breasts/flat chest say that they don't work on them and women with a generous bust say that they don't work either. I am in between, neither flat nor voluptuous - though I'm more towards small - and they gape on me, too.

My opinion for what it's worth: standard cut, off the peg garments aren't really consistent with the variations of the female body. Especially taking into account fluctuations of hormonal changes and such. I've heard it said that men's clothes are expected to fit men (though bear in mind, men tend to have simpler figures and an easier time maintaining a consistent weight - individuals vary, of course). Whereas, women are expected to make their bodies fit the clothes.

I'm in the middle too - average bust (32 FF) and they gape. I think they're a bit 'meh' anyway so never been tempted to bother with faffing.

I've seen them look really good on larger busted women with an actual cleavage but this thread shows they don't suit all large boobs either!

SimonedeBeauvoirscat · 09/06/2021 11:06

Slim ape shape 😂

PussGirl · 09/06/2021 11:13

I'm slim with a small bust & have a lovely wrap dress from Seasalt that is fine as long as I keep my shoulders back and don't sit down.

As soon as I sit down, the front bunches forward & my blink and you miss them boobs come out

I usually have a loosely fitted scarf draped about which helps, and sometimes wear a vest underneath.

I have brooches but struggle to pin the dress in the right position to let the fabric drape well.

HandleTheJandal · 09/06/2021 11:14

Yes. Wrap dresses do force you into an ensemble. Most dresses are stand-alone garments and that's a wonderful thing about most dresses.

To ask why all wrap dresses are designed to flash chest?
Northernlass99 · 09/06/2021 11:15

Its the design though. Its only going to not be like that if it wraps around under your arm pit and ties around the middle of your back.

I wear a little soft white crop top bra type thing underneath (over my normal bra). Or I wear a plain white full length slip which also helps with the flapping open over the legs. Although I haven't worn a wrap dress since the '00s for this reason!

newnortherner111 · 09/06/2021 11:17

@ohforarainyday better put than I could have done. Women's clothing especially so-called high street fashion is a disgrace in this country.

Original poster
polkadotpjs · 09/06/2021 11:19

See I think a vest or modesty panel ruins the line and also vests and peri menopausal me would not work. I know I've got a belly and that a well fitting one would likely be ok and even flattering, but I do not wish to flash to the navel or have to alter / add brooches and buttons. I'm just angry today but happy that it isn't just me raging about it. I feel like I've got an actual hangover today with blurry eyes and I'm all emotional about dresses. Pathetic! And my teen is really polite to other parents. So I must just be unapproachable to him in the main!

OP posts:
MrsKoala · 09/06/2021 11:19

that is fine as long as I keep my shoulders back and don't sit down.

Judging by this thread I suspect shoulder width/angles are also a large factor. I think the dresses probably need coathanger shoulders to hang down from.

Iamnotavicar · 09/06/2021 11:20

I am large of nork and they do nothing for my chest except reveal too much and draw attention to it. I think the wrap ties also emphasise my spare tyres, in a way which is unappealing, by providing more opportunities to separate the tyres into further layers. Think strangled sausage, it's a no from me