I look 'matronly' - bra or top problem?

[TracyK]

I depressed myself at the gym yesterday - looking in the mirror - my boobs looked like 2 large grapefruits - quite wide apart and 'globelike' iykwim.

I was wearing a thinish wool, round necked slouchy jumper - but I just looked massive!

Should I change my bra style? I'm a 36D or E or a 38 C depends really. So not huge.
Thinking maybe a kind of push together more - but not padded.

Or just avoid the jumpers??

What sort of round neck? Like a scoopy show a cheeky bit of cleavage or a round neck literally at the base of your neck?

I'm 32F and honestly, the neckline and material (and colour) is the difference between matronly and womanly.

V neck rather than round neck, classic black or bright colour which suits skin tone (and is fitted not tight) rather than light colour and you'll be amazed at the difference.

My teenage dd was always hoiking up my bra straps saying I needed a different sort of bra. She persuaded me to get a couple of balcony bras which seem to do the trick. Not sure how these would work at the gym though as I never go there.

i think if you've got any boobs at all you really need a v neck - it's taken me years of wearing round necks with my largeish boobs to realise they make me look like a dinner lady (no offence to any dinner ladies).

i've just bought this jumper from dorothy perkins in 3 colours, bought it one size bigger than normal so it's a bit slouchy, and i wear a plain black/white vest under, feels much more glam but without being OTT with jeans for every day...

www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=3579919&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208654&parent_categoryId=208600&pageSize=20&refinements=Colour{1}~[silver]^category~[212151|208654]&noOfRefinements=2

I think the push together bras are better.

It was a round neck to the base of my neck - a wee bit slouchy but no cleavage showing. It might have been the wool tbh - it kind of hangs/droops over the boobs.
I will try a balcony bra - they aren't usually padded are they?
Sorry - didn't mean to wear to the gym - just that I had to look at myself in the mirror for an hour looking at my boobs.

Rigby and peller bras are the way forward. I'm a 32E and they have transformed my shape.

I also second the 'v neck only' rule for the large of nork. Deep V necklines on tops and dresses are your friend.

Mrsravelstein - is the material of the silver jumper soft on the inside? I had a lurexey jumper and had to throw it out as it was kind of sore on my elbows. iykwim.

round necks near the base of your neck means there's a huge expanse of undifferentiated boob, that's what makes in matronly. same as high waisted trousers on the ample of backside

Drat - I really want to wear slouchy jumpers. I had a couple from Next and I swanned around in them - thinking I looked like the lithe dancers from Fame!
Don't think I did though!

You can have a slouchy jumper but you ned to be v careful

Must be v neck, scoop neck or deep cowl

Must be slimmish tunic type fit so it comes in under your boobs. If it hangs off them like a tent it will m ake you l,ook huge

Needs to be good fit on shoulders

Your bottom half must be very fitted eg slim or skinny trousres or above knee fitted skirt

And you need 2new bras, one for everyday and a sports bra for gym

I speak as a 30f gym user

Are you sure you are wearing the right size bra? What dress size are you?

Sorry - must have worded my OP badly. I do normally wear sports bra - but was doing kettlebells last night - so feet never left the ground so was just wearing normal bra. Had said jumper on at beginning and end - not during. iykwim.

I do use my shock absorber if I'm doing combat or the like. My everyday bras are kind of smooth but underwired ones. So books kind of look like smooth grapefruits - are they sposed to be so round?? I'd never really noticed them before!

boobs not books

Dress size 16. But am 5 10 ish and am quite big boned! big hands and feet etc. So I guess I'm on a hiding to nothing to try and be ladylike boob wise!

I am quite busty and those 'smooth' type bras look terrible on me I need a balcony seamed style. Per una lingerie is great for this really structured but pretty and much cheaper than rigby and peller and the like,

balcony seems the way to go - along with v/scoop necks. Ta girls.
Glas I ordered this last night www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Linea+Sleeveless+devore+top/159135308,default,pd.html

Tracy , when are you going to see Denise?

yes, the DP sparkly top is very soft on inside (and outside for that matter) and i am uber fussy about scratchiness - the sparkle is fairly subtle too

I have a few different style bra's, used to wear padded plunge type but boobs fall out of them post DS

I do find that bust can look 'matronly' depending on type of bra, wide apart definitely does it, as does shelf like, they need to be separate but quite close together. I am quite slim backed so the right bra can give a much 'younger' look, IYKWIM.

Will be in the New Year Gillybobs - she is away on hols in between Xmas and NYear. Was going to do it pre Xmas so I could get my mums clothes/scarfes etc in the right colours - but at £99 - won't be getting her anything else really. Am desperado to go myself tho.

Ha tracey, now i know where you live. Get yourself into bravissimo

I've been to Bravissimo Kristina - got quite a few bras from there - but the wires always dig in under my armpit. I think I must have fat in there!!
I'll try them again in the New Year though - can't bear the q's in town this month!