How to wear a wrap dress without flashing (short woman problems)

[famousforwrongreason]

How do you wear a wrap dress when you're short ?

I don't tend to buy new so petite specific clothes don't really work for me as they're hard to come by second hand in styles I like.
If something is strappy/ sleeveless it's very easy to alter but I can't find a nice easy way to adjust a wrap dress without making it frumpy, extra bulky or just prone to popping open.
I'm quite busty but wrap style dresses really suit my shape but without any extra help they're prone to gape and far too low cut.
I don't want to be a complete breasticle in the daytime, maybe for nights out I don't mind so much but my kids are at the age where they want me covered up to the neck so I want to find a way that's decent for work and daytime.

I have tried:

1 brooches and press studs (see 'popping open')

2 cami tops (adds more bulk and immediate
frumpery, plus extra lines where the top ends)

3 any kind of slip / shape wear (again adds more bulk, ruins the waistline and ii don't need extra inches)

4 sewing in / on extra fabric such as lace (just looks like an add on, is time consuming and extra expense, plus grump factor, but is best option so far)
I've watched aand read various online how to posts but they all look like something I've already tried or are just horrible 'hacks'

And are you sure you are buying the right size? If you go up a size or two usually you shouldn't have the flashing problem, given that there should be quite a bit of material to "wrap" you.

But one thing is you have to ensure the belt is located on your waist, not below. If it sits below there would be a higher chance of gaping open

I am 32DD and 5 3, but don't have this problem with most wrap dresses

Sew a little hook and eye on the wrap part just above the limit of "cleavage comfort" for you?

Or wear a bandeau style bra

Nothing to do with height, most wrap dresses just aren’t functional!

I’m tall but booby and I always have this problem.
I’ve got some tiny safety pins that came with something else, which I use if I can hide them. Either that or a vest/cami underneath.

@Dozer

Nothing to do with height, most wrap dresses just aren’t functional!

I always assume its because I'm short! 5 feet, everything is always too low cut, straps are always too long etc.

@AnaViaSalamanca

And are you sure you are buying the right size? If you go up a size or two usually you shouldn't have the flashing problem, given that there should be quite a bit of material to "wrap" you.

But one thing is you have to ensure the belt is located on your waist, not below. If it sits below there would be a higher chance of gaping open

I am 32DD and 5 3, but don't have this problem with most wrap dresses

Definitely the right size, because they fiit everywhere else. I'm a few inches smaller than you. those extra few inches really do matter. If I go too big I just look like I'm wearing my mum's clothes! Thanks tho.

I’m 5 4 and never found a wrap dress that doesn’t show my bra. I’ve given up because as soon as you add that little triangle at the front (with cami, or bandeau whatever) I seem to age myself by about 15 years.

@QuentinWinters

Sew a little hook and eye on the wrap part just above the limit of "cleavage comfort" for you?

Hook and eye! Perfect! Had forgotten about them, brilliant, not tried them yet

@ThursdayLastWeek

I’m 5 4 and never found a wrap dress that doesn’t show my bra. I’ve given up because as soon as you add that little triangle at the front (with cami, or bandeau whatever) I seem to age myself by about 15 years.

Yup, exactly! It's so weird what that tiny bit of extra material can make such a big difference.

I think wrap dresses must be designed for relatively flat chested women. I'm 5'7, average chested but the V comes down too low. I tend to use a brooch but not wholly satisfactory.

@QuentinWinters

Or wear a bandeau style bra

Hmmm... I have quite big boobs, bandeau doesn't do much door them, have tried it but it also seems to add some drum too. Unless you have a specific model to suggest, they tend to just make my boobs sling low!

I like the hook and eye idea.

@Walkingtheplank

I think wrap dresses must be designed for relatively flat chested women. I'm 5'7, average chested but the V comes down too low. I tend to use a brooch but not wholly satisfactory.

Yeah same. Most recently the brooch popped open and the back disappeared whilst out on our walk. I had really glammed up as lockdown wfh meant I'd been pyjamahed for months and just wanted to feel pretty I certainly got attention

@Walkingtheplank

I like the hook and eye idea.

Yeah me too. Have done safety pins, the dainty ones bend and pop open and the bigger ones seem to impact the hem around the neckline. Maybe I'm just too fussy. Although you wouldn't think it if you saw me 🤣 Off to order some old school hooks and eyes 👀

I have this one and am impressed (comes with straps), but I'm worried people will think I'm an amazon bot

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QM6XGCL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iDWdFbWE9MMPE?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Tit tape.

I'm shorter than you op (4ft 11), curvy with a tiny waist but large hips and chest.
I've found wrap dresses to be pointless, yes they look good but as soon as I move they loosen and I flash everyone. I've found fit and flare dresses are much more flattering and practical. They skim any lumps and bumps while fitting at the waist plus they don't tend to be too revealing

Take them up an inch at the shoulder.
Sew them closed.
I use a large hair clip- floral or geometric- clipped to the dress or at the centre of my bra. It keeps everything in place, and fills the gap. The ones with a crocodile jaw grip are best. I'll find a photo.

This jewelled type look gorgeous, as do the flower type if you pic the colour an style carefully. This pic shows the clasp on the back. Alligator jaws.

I went with tit/fashion tape which did the trick for dresses where a cami would look weird. I tend to buy from bravissimo now so wrap part is designed to fit big boobs & not flash. .

I saw somewhere a little thing a bit like a plastic lollipop stick that you clipped/sewed onto the neckline, then popped into your bra, to stop it gaping forward.

Never tried it, can't find it now, but it did look like a good idea.

I wear vest tops under everything. I am 5 foot 1 and pretty flat chested, but I still don't want to flash the little that I do have. I find everything to be cut very low, and the arm holes on sleeveless tops or dresses also to be cut low. Flabby arms means that those days have gone though!

I put a few stitches about halfway down the crossover bit. Wrap dresses are tough.

I think they just aren't great for busty Women unless you're happy to flash half your boobs.