Disproportionate boobs (help me find a dress!)

[kallia]

Before I had DD (now 2 months) I wore dresses every day. Summer, winter, formal occasions, relaxing at home. I bought loads of maternity dresses when I was pregnant but now none of my dresses fit me and I'm very oddly shaped.

I've lost the baby weight on the bottom half but not the top half (I'm not breastfeeding). Now I'm completely out of proportion. My boobs grew 3 cup sizes and 4 inches on the band when I was pregnant and haven't gone down (was 32D, now I'm a 36F). I wear a size 8 in skirts/trousers but size 16 shirt is still too small and tight over the boobs.

I need some new dresses - ideally something smart for the office - but anything that fits me over the bust just looks like a sack of potatoes over my waist and hips. Is there anything that will look good?! And any way at all I can reduce my breast size without surgery?

I've just sent back three dresses today (Hobbs, Karen Millen & Phase Eight) because they're all too small in the chest but huge in the waist :(

Bravissimo do a range of clothing for women with big boobs. It's sized by dress size + 'curvy-ness' so you don't get the dress hanging off your chest and not touching anywhere else effect
www.bravissimo.com/collections/dresses/

I've tried some Bravissimo dresses (not a lot that's really to my taste) but so far everything's been too tight in the boobs, even the SC range :(

I am too heavy too, The vast majority of my dresses are jersey and have that extra bit of stretch. This is the sort of thing www.marksandspencer.com/soft-touch-knitted-belted-midi-jumper-dress/p/clp60511018?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-60511018. My most flattering summer dresses are like a cross between this and a t-shirt

I’ve tried the same dresses there OP, not massively to my taste, but for a shop that advertises as such, I find them too tight as well.

@gooose1964 do you find they last long enough? I try to buy clothes that will last me years so I avoid things with too much stretch or that need to stretch to fit me as when the elastane goes they look thin and stretched out.

@kallia

I've tried some Bravissimo dresses (not a lot that's really to my taste) but so far everything's been too tight in the boobs, even the SC range :(

Oh that's a shame. My other suggestion, that works for me, was going to be stretchy jersey (eg Popsy clothing www.popsyclothing.co.uk/ - look past the crazy prices and there are some more subtle ones) but maybe they wouldn't be stretchy enough either.

Crazy prints, not prices. My auto correct hates me

Your boobs should shrink back once you’ve stopped breastfeeding. I’ve just stopped and feels like they’re smaller than they we’re pre-pregnancy.

Op isn't bf

OP says she isn't breastfeeding.

If you don’t want to buy clothes with stretch, you might need to buy in a size 16 and have them tailored to fit.

Mine never 'shrank back' after DC2.

Perhaps a belt could be your friend here? I’m 18 on top but 14 on the bottom and am liking a belted shirt dress for a more modern look. I have a few v large midi and maxi shirt dresses, size 18 or 20 and they have a nice oversized fit on the top then a drapey bottom.

Have you tried a minimiser bra? They tend to flatten the boob out, so you don't have as much projection, but I wear them with certain dresses and tops. A V neck is flattering to a large bust, whereas a high neck is not. Wearing something colourful or pattened on the bottom half, and something plainer up top can draw the eye away from the boobs too.

No suggestions for actual dress brands, but have you tried ones with belts? Or buy some elastic cinch clips to pull in the waist at the back.

Thanks for the suggestions! Haven't heard of Popsy but I'll give them a go.

I think I might need to try a minimiser bra. Thing is they can't do much about my ribcage (or can they? how magic are they?!) which has seriously expanded post-pregnancy (DD sat high up and kicked me in the ribs for 5 months!)

I used to have a lovely jersey V neck that fitted me throughout pregnancy and beyond (maternity but had a flowy skirt so fitted nicely even after the bump went down) but I just tried to wear it today and the V ripped from my enormous boobs!

Might need to try @HelloDulling's suggestion of buying a larger size and taking it in at the waist... I just balk at trying a size 18 (!) as I've always been petite but I guess that's the way I'm going.

Have you tried the bravissimo work shirts? I know you said SC is too tight but if you also size up...

Also fabric wise try ponte eg Karen Millen curve tops are good