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Original poster

Better quality clothes and how to look elegant with big boobs?

39 replies

WildFlowerBees · 01/07/2023 07:48

How do you look elegant with ginormous norks?

Im a size 12-14 (14 on any day I need to look 'nice') I have FF boobs and honestly I never feel elegant, I'm 5ft 8 have a stump for a body big boobs and longish legs so I should be able to look like I've not just got out of a hessian sack but my chest seems to prevent me from ever looking elegant.

Where can I find clothes that are a better quality so hopefully last longer and are cut better and how do I dress more elegantly on my top half?

OP posts:
pastabest · 01/07/2023 10:52

This is a common complaint that leads many people into making their own clothes

I'm a 36F and wear a lot of self made V neck/wrap jumpsuits. The Zadie jumpsuit and the Sirocco jumpsuit are my favourite ones and both have similar shaped ready-to-wear friends in shops at the moment.

I also make a few shirt dresses as they are really flattering once a full bust adjustment has been done

PlasticOrchid · 01/07/2023 11:33

Have a look at https://fairliecurved.com/ I haven't bought from them, so can't vouch for quality, but they are designed by a woman who couldn't find clothes due to the size of her bust. I follow her on Instagram and she also shares bra suggestions etc. She seems to have built up a bit of a big boobed community who help each other out with suggestions.

Fuller Bust Fashion - Fairlie Curved

Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a garment bigger than you need, just to accommodate your bust. Not anymore. Fairlie Curved for fuller bust fashion.

https://fairliecurved.com

Original poster
WildFlowerBees · 01/07/2023 11:38

TheOGCCL · 01/07/2023 10:22

Totally relate to this. I’m a size 8-10 but my FF boobs always prevent me from feeling truly elegant. I don’t necessarily think it’s about what societal ideals have told me. Societal ideals would actually say I have a covetable figure. Things just hang better on a smaller bust. Large boobs so easily tip you into a sort of matronly shelf look where your entire top half is boob flesh. They’re heavy too, where some women can’t wait to take their bra off, I wear one pretty much 24/7.

My main tricks are thin layers. In colder weather I actually like to wear high neck tops or even roll necks (you just need to find ones that don’t cling but aren’t baggy either) which is clearly not recommended for big busts, but then I break up the flesh shelf with a second layer of some sort, usually a cardigan or a blazer. I’d never expect to do up the second layer. Also a necklace at the décolletage to distract the eye upwards. In warmer weather I do the same but it would be a thin vest or T-shirt and an open shirt. Vertical lines on the shirt are flattering.

These days with everything ludicrously oversized I can actually do shirts up. I think this can look ok as long as you roll the sleeves up and do some kind of tuck at the waist. Showing off a slimmer, more delicate part of the body helps get away from a square, boxy, lumpy shape.

I don’t wear dresses as for some reason they make me feel even more matronly but imo a mid rise is best on trousers, certainly nothing too high that increases the risk everything above your waist is bust. You want some space between the top of your trousers and the start of your bust.

Despite feeling a bit passé I’m still working indoor/lightweight scarves, they are a great way to cover up a large bust.

This video gives some hints and tips, you might not necessarily like the clothes but the shapes make a big difference

Thank you @TheOGCCL 😊

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 01/07/2023 11:40

I'd caution against the minimiser bra. It just made me look bigger all over - I also have broad shoulders and good legs though I'm not as tall as you. Game changer for me was getting a properly fitted and shaped bra that lifted the boots away from my body so it was clear that it wasn't just overall bulk.

I'm also despairing of the styles in fashion now - I loved wearing skinny jeans with a similar coloured vest or slim tshirt and and contrasting blazer. I reckon same with slim leg jeans or black skinnier, or wide legged cropped would look OK. Same principle with dresses/skirt and top combo.

I absolutely cannot wear eg a black or navy trouser suit with a light coloured top - total Trunchbull.

Terryer · 01/07/2023 11:40

DustyLee123 · 01/07/2023 10:50

im going to try a minimiser bra now ! Wireless for me.
And that red dress is love,y, but it would need to be cotton for me.

It wouldn't drape so nicely if it was cotton. It's very light and cool

Terryer · 01/07/2023 11:41

A minimiser bra just pushed all my excess boob under my arms. It looked awful.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 01/07/2023 11:46

I find Freya bras are the best fit for me.

WhoHidTheCoffee · 01/07/2023 11:51

I have a similar issue, though am shorter than you. Some FatFace tops allow enough room for boobs, as do Boden. I do struggle to find more structured tops, though. V necks definitely work best for me.

For dresses, Seasalt can be a good option.

Toomanyclothesinmywardrobe · 01/07/2023 12:26

It’s the foundation first so, even though bravissimo is good for day to day and not wildly pricey, would really suggest you get at least one bra that’s in the next bracket up - empriente (low neck versions) are amazing and provide proper lift without creating loads of ‘cheap’ looking cleavage.

after that then yes, either dresses with some structure to them (even just paneled Foley dresses so you get a bit of in and out) with short sleeved blazer/cardigan/shirt. You can get lucky with Boden - some of their dresses work great with boobs (and even with tummy!)

Toomanyclothesinmywardrobe · 01/07/2023 12:26

Flowy not Foley

nameXname · 01/07/2023 21:01

Agree with earlier posters that minimiser bras are not helpful. The best 'generous' bras - eg French or Italian or Rigby and Peller - are (alas) I find worth investing in, even if only for special occasions. Right now, at home, I'm in blissful comfort wearing a very unglamorous but very comfortable cotton/lycra bra without wires from Royce: www.royce-lingerie.co.uk/ But if I wanted to look my best, I'd wear something underwired, such as Empreinte, even if only for a few hours.

Am tending towards your sort of shape/height OP and for formal occasions I like the best-fitting trousers or jeans I can find (takes some trial and error), straight or slightly flared, in a dark colour. Plus a similar-shade fitted top or tee-shirt - vee neck or gently scooped, nothing too revealing - plus a top-quality fairly long (even thigh-length) jacket. You need, I find, something that defines the waist AND elongates/slims the torso. For example, for work meetings I have a vintage sharply tailored fine wool blazer from Windsmoor that is SO flattering. One can gussie this up with a top-quality necklace or scarf, if that's your thing, or earrings (ditto). Or nothing.

For really fancy occasions I have several very smart fitted/ curvy /longish silk jackets in beautiful deep colours; they can be worn with everything from my best dark jeans to formal flared silky trousers and are comfortable, flattering and - dare I say - usually look good. This might at first mean working with a local dressmaker to find a pattern that fits and flatters. After that, making variations on the same theme is not difficult. Either that, or look for one size larger to fit across the bust, then have the waist (or just the buttons) and the shoulders taken in. That's what I do. I buy secondhand good quality and do the alterations myself.

If you have good ankles and like to show them, then shorter straight cigarette trousers worn with higher heels or fancy ballet flats are also an option. If you have long slim legs that are one of your best features, then flaunt them!

https://www.royce-lingerie.co.uk

Yetisrus · 01/07/2023 22:02

I have this problem, I'm a JJ. I tried some shirts on today, one made me look like an American footballer with all the padding. I'm not very broad I just carry weight on my boobs so I don't need extra just up the front.

I've resorted to wearing my nice dresses to work, winter is fine as I can wear a vneck jumper and skirt.

I miss the days of Bravissimo clothes.

londonmummy1966 · 01/07/2023 22:30

I'm a similar size to you but slightly shorter with a tiny head so the boobs are a nightmare. I find that a V shape at the neckline works well - so either a v neck top or a zip neck or button neck worn a bit open.IN all cases I put a round neck vest or t shirt underneath to stop myself from looking busty. The v over the vest seems to mitigate the boobs.

With wide leg trousers I usually wear either a rib knit collared top with a zip neck by Me & Em with the zip undone a bit or a henley neck top over a vest.

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