As a tall full busted woman to REALLY hate shirts?

[WeBuiltThisCity]

I’m 5’11, otherwise slim but with a disproportionate chest. Being peri it’s also not a perky disproportionate chest…

I hate shirts. The bust button is always in the wrong place, far too high. If the chest fits I have a small tent on my back, to the point in bunches up when I slouch and can ride up. The only solution tends to be layers underneath in case of gaping, which is hot in summer. Or a more restrictive bra to manage the position of my boobs, or just generally looking stupid in a ill-fitting top. If I don’t get it big the buttons at the front gape as soon as I join in any movement as basic as lifting my arms.

Ive been a scout leader for some time, but I’m at the point of giving up just because of shirts. I’ve managed it by looking like a frumpy lollipop shape for ages in an over-sized shirt but it’s worn out and the new cuts are even more stupid. The womens in fairly flat chested and way to short. In my bust size I have a shark fin on my back of material, it pushes up the already too-short shirt and risks exposing my belly. The mens is long enough, but the collar is horrible and I look so stupid in it. Like a lollipop shape, I have long sticky legs. Other women are shorter and more shaper and look normal, not stunning, just normal.
I’m usually a pretty active sporty person, it’s solely button up front shirts I avoid.

I’m so fed up with layering up in warm whether, or risking exposing flesh or generally trying to take part in very active sessions in ill-fitting clothing. I’ll happily run, climb ropes etc usually but in a shirt I feel embarrassed. I also look rather stupid. It’s scouts, not a fashion show. I’m fine in joggers, and old t-shirt and no make-up… just not in comedy ill fitting clothing like a scarecrow.

I know loads of people will say ‘oh it fits me fine’, but imagine it really didn’t. You were taller than average, had the bosom of a woman twice what you’d expect for your back and it had aged too.

The gsl has dug his heels in over correct uniform, I’m tempted to leave over the new uniform cut and lack of allowance in it. He had a pretty public go about it before Easter, there’s no allowing t-shirts. I like scouts, but it’s more a giving back thing than something I enjoy. I’m not cutting off my own nose to spite my face, I have other things to do.

aibu to think many women hate shirts? I rarely see adult women wearing them through choice.

Totally feel you. I'm 5'10 and a jj cup. I hate anything with a uniform. I'm also not too fond of clothes shopping.

I’ve recently discovered Fairlie Curved - it’s great for bigger busts

Also hate shirts, I'm seriously considering a breast reduction in the next few years, not sure whether to go for it before peri hits or after, I've read some women's bust expands during this time which would just be my luck.

The perky thing is down to your bra.
I always found the Scout uniform sizeist and hated to take part because of this.
I'm short and have HH cups and have been avoiding shirts since I was 12.
One thing is that there is a special buttoning trick I saw on tiktok for busty and shirts, you could also wear a boob tube over your bra to cover your breasts or wear a sports bra type of thing, of course you could try altering them with a tailor.

I'm with you. I'm 6 feet and 36g. Loathe shirts and collars.

I’ve sewn and pinned them shut before now, which only works if you can put it over your head. That only helps with the gaping, not the fit.

When my DD had a similar challenge with school uniform -5ft 10 and 30g in y11 - I paid a dressmaker to alter the shirts so that they were more fitted below the bust. Wasn’t cheap but was worth it for the difference it made. Could you do this.

I’m similar proportions to DD and never wear a shirt for the reasons you’ve described!

I’m not as big as some of you but I sew invisible press studs between the buttons in the bust area and size up if needed

Dressmaking for ready-to-wear in general is dreadful for anyone who isn't a b cup because when they scale up from the default size (maybe a 10?) they don't consider that someone size 18 might not be a b cup.
(Not that every size 10 woman is but it might correlate somewhat).

Dd has shirts with Jersey panels down the side seams.
Or cotton with a highish % of lycra can help a bit.
I tend to sew mine so they fit me. I have a relatively long body and that also seems to not fit with ready-to-wear.

The scout uniform isn’t something with the choice of going to a special clothing places. It’s just size 10,12,14….

Im a 10 across the back and shoulders, I’d estimate a max b cup would fit that. I’m a H. It’s just not something that works. It’s a very stiff shirt too.

I don’t want to layer up particularly, and even if I get it to close the stiff material looks bizarre in a fin on my back. Even if I ignore the stomach. Add in the fact it’s just too short, I can’t even bend in a woman’s short before a belly flash happens, let around reach up.

I am five Foot four with JJ boobs and I never wear shirts. The dreaded gape. How dare they not supply alternatives.

I don’t think adjusting is viable, partly due to length, also where the dart are. Plus I just feel fed up with trying to fit the things and looking stupid.

They make polo shirts and t-shirts, I’d have no issue with them. It’s just shorts. But the gsl wont back down on shirts

What do you mean they won't backdown on shirts? They say you have to wear their shirts or could you not custom make a shirt in the same colour?
Do you want them to cancel the shirts?

If she’s these proportions at approaching 50 she’ll have the further complications of breast spread/ drop. Mine l, being taller just aren’t in the right place. I have perfectly comfortable well fitting bras that don’t give me back ache. I’m not hoiking them up

Scouts make t-shirts, polo shirts. I’m at the point of saying if they want women leaders than can be flexible on clothing. They don’t need to cancel it. But they can chose frankly, the help or the shirt.

I bet you can guess what girl guide leaders wear

what will they do if you refuse to wear shirts?
it’s not like they can fire you!

tell the gsl that when he has large breasts then he’s qualified to make a decision about the fit of women’s clothes. Til then, you’re wearing a polo or leaving

You are a volunteer here, you need to maybe write a letter to gsl or go to district leader to state how uncomfortable you feel and you need to be able to wear a polo shirt. Maybe on parades or something you could wear a shirt but not needed every week surely. Such a shame. Only other option I could see is get a men's one altered by dressmaker

I see. What an idiotic rule that doesn't make allowance for anatomical variations.

Sounds absolutely infuriating and really unfair.

Please don’t quit. I would try and find a local dressmaker who can advise you on what shirts to buy so she can alter. Failing that, I’d find a tailor who can make you a shirt.

Also I would start a formal and loud process with the scouts because it is sexist and sizest (it impacts on women with bigger breasts) - and is discouraging women and girls from being active.

I love a fitted shirt, because I am a c cup, but I am also plus size with swimmers shoulders so I am infuriated at the outsized and puff sleeved bonanza that is currently all you can get.

They make polo shirts and t-shirts, I’d have no issue with them. It’s just shorts. But the gsl wont back down on shirts

So uniform polo shirts are available, but some jumped up little Hitler decides to insist on something that makes volunteers feel uncomfortable? Twat.
I'd be resigning, and letting the central organisation know exactly why.

You would not be unreasonable to quit.
I was a guide when the uniform changed from shirts to T-shirts and polos and it was such a relief.
Left venture scouts over the unforgiving uniform and that was over 25 years ago, can't believe they're still trying to make women fit into men's army style from ww2.

If the mens shirt is long enough, it might be possible to alter it by adding darts etc, and redoing the collar but it's a heck of a lot of work and therefore cost.
You could argue that they're discriminating against you as a female by refusing to provide a uniform that's fit for purpose, or allow you to wear something else in the same colour. It's a total lack of thought - is that indirect discrimination? Newsflash - women have breasts. If they won't supply you a garment that fits, you should at the very least be allowed to wear something else. You can't risk flashing the kids you're volunteering with.

Yep I'm with you. I'm a shirt big busted women and I hate them too. I've only found one that was good with had "hooks and eyes" instead of buttons. For it to fit, it needs to have a very specific tailored shape

I'm not a fan of shirts in general (can never get why they are so lauded as classic must-haves in women's wardrobes), I hate collars!! But I also have a similar issue with gaping/not fitting/riding up over boobs and needing to be pulled down. I'm a 32E.

So I feel your pain, but I just don't wear anything that buttons down the front.