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'

I am short, big boobies and love wrap dresses!

I just wear a very tight longline black vest from H+M underneath. Corners cleavage and goes down to mid thigh!

I have sewn the neckline, I’ve used hook and eye on the neckline but it gaped below. I agree with the pp who said fit and flare, you can buy them in wrap style without the gap.

OK. I have a sort of solution. I am 5 foot 5 with 34D boobs. What I did was to sew a small amount of elastic IN THE hemmed SEAM of each wrap piece as it sits over each boob. Hard to imagine but if you make a little slit in the hemmed edge that would sit over the boob, just under the boob and above the boob, thread in some elastic (attach to littler saftey pin to thread in channel) and pull a little. Stitch in place either end and what happens is the fabric gathers slightly then sits OVER the roundness of your boob ( and doesnt gape). Basically sits next to the skin in the cleavage. Do both sides but do not over tighten. I sew and work with fashion and this was one thing that drove me insane! You need enough fabric to fit OVER the boob in the first place - will not work if the dress has been cut too small in that area. Works like a charm! Hate brooch and pin solution - looks awful. This is great as it moves with you and doesnt ever gape!

@olderandwisernot

OK. I have a sort of solution. I am 5 foot 5 with 34D boobs. What I did was to sew a small amount of elastic IN THE hemmed SEAM of each wrap piece as it sits over each boob. Hard to imagine but if you make a little slit in the hemmed edge that would sit over the boob, just under the boob and above the boob, thread in some elastic (attach to littler saftey pin to thread in channel) and pull a little. Stitch in place either end and what happens is the fabric gathers slightly then sits OVER the roundness of your boob ( and doesnt gape). Basically sits next to the skin in the cleavage. Do both sides but do not over tighten. I sew and work with fashion and this was one thing that drove me insane! You need enough fabric to fit OVER the boob in the first place - will not work if the dress has been cut too small in that area. Works like a charm! Hate brooch and pin solution - looks awful. This is great as it moves with you and doesnt ever gape!

Wow! I'm trying to picture it, I think I have the gist. Sounds like a fab idea! Might take a little practice, genius! I have a physical deformity of which I'm very conscious and 'fit and flare' type styles really seem to highlight this for me. I'm aware I can't hide it all together as strangers and so called friends have pointed it out numerous times but I feel 'safer' in a wrap style dress so really want to make it work for me.

@fatgirlslimmer

I have sewn the neckline, I’ve used hook and eye on the neckline but it gaped below. I agree with the pp who said fit and flare, you can buy them in wrap style without the gap.

I have actually sewn myself into dresses before not so bad in dresses but not great with playsuit / jumpsuit if you need a wee out and about!

@olderandwisernot

OK. I have a sort of solution. I am 5 foot 5 with 34D boobs. What I did was to sew a small amount of elastic IN THE hemmed SEAM of each wrap piece as it sits over each boob. Hard to imagine but if you make a little slit in the hemmed edge that would sit over the boob, just under the boob and above the boob, thread in some elastic (attach to littler saftey pin to thread in channel) and pull a little. Stitch in place either end and what happens is the fabric gathers slightly then sits OVER the roundness of your boob ( and doesnt gape). Basically sits next to the skin in the cleavage. Do both sides but do not over tighten. I sew and work with fashion and this was one thing that drove me insane! You need enough fabric to fit OVER the boob in the first place - will not work if the dress has been cut too small in that area. Works like a charm! Hate brooch and pin solution - looks awful. This is great as it moves with you and doesnt ever gape!

Would you be able to share a pic at some point please? Of the underside with the elastic?

I’m tall and have always found the same, except with alterations (SIL sews!). It’s just poor design.

I buy a stretchy vest in a suitable colour from primark or similar, and then cut it so it's a crop top that finishes at the bottom of my bra. No extra bulk or lines because it's just a smoothing thin layer over my bra.

Yes of course! I will look for pics and give it a go with diagrams if I can

Here you go @famousforwrongreason. Hopefully the pictures should explain. It is honestly not difficult to do, I suggest you thread the elastic through first on both sides, try it on and adjust the elastic until it sits right across your boobs. Then pin, take off and stitch firmly in place on the end (attach one end first of course, otherwise you will just pull the elastic out!). Works really well

Oh forgot to say! Remember you are threading the elastic THROUGH the hem that should already be there! If it has been overlocked and top stiched instead, I suggest use fine shirring elastic threaded through a large embroidery (chenille) needle and just go through the loops of the sticthing in the same area and pull. Make sure you use black for dark fabric etc....

@olderandwisernot

Here you go *@famousforwrongreason*. Hopefully the pictures should explain. It is honestly not difficult to do, I suggest you thread the elastic through first on both sides, try it on and adjust the elastic until it sits right across your boobs. Then pin, take off and stitch firmly in place on the end (attach one end first of course, otherwise you will just pull the elastic out!). Works really well

Oh wow! I have to try this. Wrap dresses are indecent on me normally.

I have a wrap around style top. I wear scrappy vests with lace in the v, luckily I have two that match the colours in the top

Strappy not scrappy.

Nothing to do with height, most wrap dresses just aren’t functional! Agree with this. The bust, waist, hip ratio doesn't seem to work in any brand.

@olderandwisernot

Here you go *@famousforwrongreason*. Hopefully the pictures should explain. It is honestly not difficult to do, I suggest you thread the elastic through first on both sides, try it on and adjust the elastic until it sits right across your boobs. Then pin, take off and stitch firmly in place on the end (attach one end first of course, otherwise you will just pull the elastic out!). Works really well

Great! Amazing drawings! It's kind of how I pictured it from your description. Thanks so much, I'd never thought of anything like that! Very excited about giving it a try, looks like it's quite flattering too. When are you going to start an alterations blog???

@olderandwisernot

Oh forgot to say! Remember you are threading the elastic THROUGH the hem that should already be there! If it has been overlocked and top stiched instead, I suggest use fine shirring elastic threaded through a large embroidery (chenille) needle and just go through the loops of the sticthing in the same area and pull. Make sure you use black for dark fabric etc....

Epic. I'm not bad with a needle and have loads of scrappy bits and bobs 'just in case'

Safety pins at the neckline, but they need pinning in place carefully. Lengthways along the seam just catching the outer layer. Another safety pin on the skirt a few inches below the waistband stops it flashing. As long as the dress isn't too tight the safety pins shouldn't pop off. I graduated in a wrap dress with three safety pins and didn't feel worried about flashing!

I put a permanent stitch in to stop the gaping. Seems to work fine.

I can't do this because of dressing / undressing, I have mobility and pain issues so wrap dresses work for a number of reasons, one of which is ease of dressing / undressing.

Is the problem partly because the dress is not designed for a shorter person - your torso is going to be shorter than the target wearer, so the straps will be lower. Instead of pinning the centre where it crosses over, you could try pinning edge of the the first side to the inside of the crossover flap side underneath your armpit. Then when you do the crossover the neckline will sit higher up. The ideal would be to restitch the ties to a higher position but the dress design may not make that easy.

I wear a crop top over my bra when the dress is too low cut for me. They don't add bulk or ride up the way a vest top would.

@famousforwrongreason I am only too glad to help! I have altered my clothes for as long as I can remember, I sew, alter, make (have done professionally and for hobby) and have worked with clothing (luxury end) for over 25 years. Unfortunately, we are all different shapes and sizes and one size definetly doesn't fit all!! Luckily, most clothing is made simply these days, although no seam allowance...grrrr... If you want any other help with regards to alterations, just let me know. Might not have all the answers but I will certainly try!!!

I see you have mobility issues. A crop top probably wouldn't work then. How about a modesty panel? This is an example but you can get nicer ones, without the lace.

older please do a blog! I'm v fed up with clothes not fitting and would love to know how to do basic alterations