Help please

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I have realised that, despite loving clothes and despite living on S&B, I actually look horrible most of the time. I'm only short and have big norks, so even though I'm size 10-12, I tend to look like a Weeble. When I see photographs of me I just see boobs and belly. I pretty much live in black tops with respectable necklines, as I hate showing my chest off at all.

SO - I guess what I'm asking is what should I be wearing to try to minimise my top half without just looking like a frump?

Thank you to anybody who made it to the question and has some ideas!

Well, I always think you sound very well dressed from your descriptions!

How big is big? I think (sorry!) sometimes when you have big boobs, you just have to dress them, rather than hide them. Because you can't.

For me, who is by no means a fashion guru...
I find blouses (minus the gappy thing) are good if a hint of cleavage is revealed (rather than a Jessica Simpson cow girl look). Round neck tops can work ok on me if I have a jacket/fitted cardi over the top. Without said thing to narrow me in the middle, I develop the shelf like chest. For this reason I never wear turtle/polo neck tops. I prefer v neck tops on me.

I think for me, the fear of the cleavage meant I hid them completely for years. But my closest friends say I actually look better with a bit on show. A bit! Not all out, obv. But otherwise I look like I am just embarrassed and hiding them. Which I am. I have a very high paranoia for myself with regard to looking 'tarty' so suspect I am still a bit on the puritan side.

Thank you. I deffo 'over Puritan' myself, I think. I'm 5'2 / size 10-12 / 32E. I tend to wear v neck, scoop neck or cowl neck tops, usually with a biker jacket over.

How much is, 'a bit' btw and what sort of tops allow that? Links would be brilliant.

Nobody? :(

If anybody is around and wants to give me ideas, I'll even submit to sticking a photo up for a while so you can see what I mean!

Well I enjoy your posts and I refuse to believe you look horrible! Are you sure your boobs are that big? I'm a 28F which doesn't sound too different from you and I don't think of myself as large (though maybe I'm deluded ) Like the previous poster, I find that necklines make a massive difference. I look really frumpy in anything high necked so, while I understand wanting to feel comfortable, I wonder if it's worth experimenting a bit?

I also wondered whether wearing black is doing you any favours as, even if it suits you, it can be very harsh. Other dark colours would still minimise your top half but might give you a softer - or at any rate a different look.

I also think your outfits sound great - really stylish and well put together. There's no way you can look horrible.

I'm a bit taller than you, size 12, 32F. I wear darker colours on top, no frills, fuss, pattern. Different textures seem to work ok though. Simple necklines- v or boat neck work on me (prob because I have broad shoulders). Cowl ok too. Elbow length fitted sleeves more flattering than long or cap (again the broad shoulders). Having said that I really like Boden's ravello tops although they shouldn't work with boobs but they do. Also whistles seam back t-shirts.

Then pattern/colour/more stuff going on lower down, as it were. I'm an apple but I think from your previous posts you are hourglass so drawing attention to your waist obviously a Good Thing.

Best jackets for me are really simple edge to edge ones, ending at hip so skim appley areas.

Thank you both so much. I think I'm an hourglass - I always used to be, but now I'm a bit 'fatter' maybe I'm not?

Have put one v recent but v small pic and one from last year on profile. Ignore mad hair in both!

Oh dear - scared everybody away!

I can't see a thing in the photo - am peering away but still can't see what you look like [blind]

I can't see either

I took them away again! Hang on...

Any use?

looking at your picture the first things I noticed were your great legs
no weeble issues whatsoever.

agree BTW the Boden ravello tops would be lovely on big boobs. I have a flat chest, and when I tried the ravello in various sizes you could see how much better it would hang with boobs in.

Not sure why you don't think you look good? How about getting some shirts that you can unbutton a little, so you get a change in neckline if you want to still cover up? The unbuttoning creates a vertical "line", I think.

Aww thank you. :)

The Boden tops are not my style at all, sadly. Maybe if they did them in black or grey!

I think because my legs are quite slim, with v skinny ankles, I just look stupidly top heavy all the time. I rarely wear shirts because stiff fabric looks awful on me, and it's getting harder and harder to find affordable silk. Any recs?

I just bought a silk shirt from Banana Republic,in the sale. Uniqlo do them, too, for £40, H&M for £30 or £40 (can't remember) and Zara for £40. Most of them are thin, so vest up. eBay?

No BR here, sadly, or Uniqlo. Will have a look in H&M and Zara.

uniqlo do good silk blouses
black here

x posted.

Found a black one on Zara, but tbh have loads of black ones already!

I always think you sound so well put together!
I'm 30f or ff but more of a pear, I wear most necklines but I'm not keen on high crew necks. My stripey tops have a slightly scoop neck and loosely fitted. I think wearing a jacket/blazer gives the illusion of a v neck/split neckline? At least I hope they do. I have one of those over priced polyester Whistles shell tops, a bit high necked on its own, perfectly fine with a biker or blazer.
Trying to think where I got my last t-shirts, prob H&M.

Thank you. :)

I'm actually okay with t-shirts: it's other tops I struggle with.
These are cheap and good, though I do tend to think I'm showing a bit too much bust in them. I have several of these too.

I wonder if the problem is less the bust and more the fact that I'm really, really short waisted?

Ooh just found this lovely top in Jigsaw.