Work tops: 34H/16/170cm, technical job, all-male team.

[MaidOfAle]

My work shirts are going bobbly and I can't find replacements. They were bought when "relaxed fit" still meant a bust dart and I could size up to 18 or 20 to stop buttons from gaping whilst still having the shoulder seam on the shoulder point where it belongs. The men all wear checked or striped shirts with jeans or combats and I'm the only woman so I bought checked and striped shirts to blend in. We are discouraged from wearing t-shirts because they are "too casual" despite the technical nature of our jobs.

I don't do the kind of job where dresses and skirts are an option: chemical spills and crawling under lab benches demand trousers.

The modern oversized shirts cut with dropped sleeves are incompatible with the cardigans I need to survive my arctic office and the lab coats I wear in some of the more technical environments, as the lowered shoulder seam means that the whole sleeve gets dragged up my arm and the excess side fabric rucks up beneath the snugger outer garment.

At the same time, the fitted shirts with princess seams that Next do for office wear don't come close to the right shape for me. Half my tits are behind the princess seam because big boobs require a taller front as well as a wider one. It doesn't help that I have a long torso (like "forget about one-piece swimsuits" long) and short limbs, making princess seams generally higher than they should be even if my bust was smaller.

I don't particularly fancy flashing my cleavage by bending over in Urkye's fitted jersey tops, otherwise I'd just bulk-buy them.

So:

• appropriate for a mixture of lab and office environments
• no cleavage flashing when crawling on floor or bending over
• no dropped sleeve oversized nonsense, must layer under other garments well
• can't be too casual
• must cope with big boobs
• machine washable

Any ideas please?

Hi I don’t have a solution for you just thought I’d suggest maybe sewing darts under bust of shirts or getting someone to do it for you. I get that’s an extra cost, I regularly alter dresses and tops myself I’m 34F/G it’s not that hard and there are tutorials online, I get that it’s having the time though to do this if you’re working full time. It’s almost impossible to find stuff to fit without paying a fortune. I’d be interested to hear your experience of Urkye as have just posted regarding them.

I'm in a similar job to you & work in mainly male environment. I'm a 34G/14/16 & 5'8". As you say, dropped shoulders/sleeves with volume are a no-no as it's difficult to layer them under lab coats etc. What I've found:

• fabric with drape is important - eg a heavy polyester crepe or viscose/rayon mix. Heavy cotton can be too stiff to fit well, expecially the button area around the bust. Conversely a knitted/jersey top needs to be in a heavier weight, so it skims the body. After washing I dry them on hangers so they need minimal ironing, usually just around the shirt plackets.
• when you try on tops, make sure you try them with different types of bra. Balconette styles don't work well with buttoned shirt styles on me, as there's too much "up front" causing gaping. You might need to wear a minimiser style.
• shirt styles or popover tops work best for me. I also wear breton type tops in a heavier jersey.
• when it's cold I layer with Uniqlo heattech scoop neck long sleeve tops underneath, or I wear a sleeveless jumper over the shirt.
• you have to try on a variety of sizes and also check you can "move" in it. No good if it's so fitted you can't raise your arms!

I'd also say don't just wear checks/stripes to blend in. Wear colours/patterns that give you joy!

These are examples of the type of top I wear at work, mainly from Marks & Spencer & brands I can order from John Lewis - anywhere you can filter on styles/sleeves/fabric & with good images that you can zoom in on. Seasalt's bretons are good although current fabric isn't as heavyweight as mine which is several years old.

Seasalt have a shirt called the Larissa shirt that might work. It's all cotton so comfy, and it's slightly crinkled through the torso so doesn't bulk up all over the place. They come in tons of patterns too. Expensive at full price (£46), but they're often on sale (for instance, site now has some patterns and sizes at half-price for £23). You could also buy one off Vinted or eBay for cheaper to see if you like it before investing. They also work well over tank tops if you want to wear them open or add warmth without worrying about cleavage.

Also, Seasalt have garment measurements for everything (click size guide for the item) so you can compare to a top that fits to see if you need to go up or down a size.

Only issue is that they are fairly lightweight cotton so may not do so well if you get something caustic on them in the lab. (On the other hand, the bright patterns mean that minor stains are virtually invisible...)

Any good https://direct.asda.com/george/women/shirts-blouses/white-formal-work-shirt/G007914828,default,pd.html?redirectFromInt=1&cmpid=ppc--geor-------_-dskwid-_dc&utm_campaign=pla:Fashion-Womens_BAU-_Performance_Max&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds

I ended up with a haul from Very, after checking the website photos carefully for certainty of bust darts. I tried the Seasalt Larissa at M&S and liked the fit but didn't like the colourway and didn't get around to ordering online. It's on my War And Peace todo list.

H cup here too. I've given up on shirts, they were designed for men and look so much better on men and small-breasted women.

If you search for "collared blouse" you get styles that might work for you:
https://www4.next.co.uk/search?w=collared%20blouse&p=2#934

I’m a very similar size and shape. Long Tall Sally shirts work for me because of the long body. I dont much like them so I dont wear them any more, but they were useful when I needed work clothes. I think stripes are a mistake , also there are lots of jersey tops that are clearly not T-shirts. . Next Clearance currently has a lot of Seasalt tops and shirts in your size. Might be worth experimenting. I thought this looked ok.

A top like that, with no ability to button it up, is going to show the world my tits when I crawl under a bench or lean over to plug an instrument into its PC.

I tried LTS and they went straight back because the arms went beyond my fingertips. But, them being part of the Very group made me look at Very, so it wasn't a total bust (yes, pun intended).

Sorry, I had totally missed that key point in your list 🙈

I tend to wear v-necks as they break up the expanse of chest but then I don't have to do a lot of leaning over or crawling around on the floor.

I get not wanting to flash cleavage.

Believe me, if my job involved me staying upright, the deep-V-with-a-collar suggestion would be most welcome because that kind of thing suits me.

I'm not a fan of ruffles myself but this is understated and could work? (Buttons up)
www4.next.co.uk/style/su064915/b12997

www4.next.co.uk/style/su508390/al9926#al9926

I have been known to sew up the front of blouses and pull them on over my head to avoid the gaping situation, or an inadvertent button pop!
Usually only need to do the middle section, so you can still unbutton above and below, which helps with getting it on and off. Something with a bit of stretch is also a bonus!

TBH OP, if the men are in jeans and combats with their shirts then I would push back against t-shirts being ‘too casual’. You’re not talking about wearing a baggy number from Glastonbury 2005. Well-fitted plain t-shirts, in good quality thick cotton or an elevated fabric like a fine knit if necessary, would solve your problem.

A haberdashery department will sell you little tiny pop studs that you can add between the buttons to help with gaping without sewing part of the opening itself.

I'm inclined to agree with @OhTediosity . If you're the only women and the accepted 'uniform' involves buttons that aren't practical for your boobs, you could probably threaten them with E&D/HR if it came to it. Just because it's a male-dominated environment shouldn't mean you need to dress like a man.

Would a long sleeve polo neck work, something like this? It's not a t-shirt and it's definitely work-appropriate. Would work under a cardigan, and practical enough for lab work.

Would something like this work?
https://www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk/navy-and-white-butterfly-fitted-cotton-stretch-shirt-fidmg015-g17?gl=1*12ndznfupMQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpvK4BhDUARIsADHt9sQh1KbTd-VxdKFBTbSV5A64XiJhnhrI4MjDfvnX4Yzp8qZNt66QC4kaAhKiEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADrd_BjdDj4rqJTFTUgNYLeMHg7

forget matching your male colleagues - wear patterns / styles you like.

You're not wrong, but...

I'm autistic and I struggle with choosing clothes generally, despite my collection of Trinny and Susannah books. The T&S stuff helps me with things like choosing colours and shapes and with very specific cases like job interviews and weddings, but they didn't ever write a section on "dressing for nominally white-collar jobs that actually involve a lot of physical work plus also being client/user-facing".

If I was not the only woman in my team, I'd copy the other women. I'm the only woman and, because I'm autistic, I don't know how to trailblaze fashion so I reached for copying the men by default.

When I had a purely desk job, I wore skirts a lot because there was a T&S section for "desk job" that I could follow and adapt for my body shape.

I’d wear jersey tops, various sleeve lengths.They are not the t shirts that have been vetoed. Autism friendly. Given that you are wearing a cardigan or lab coat over them they are definitely office suitable. Boat or round neck will avoid flashing cleavage. Plus no stupid multiple collar or sleeves in sleeves sensory hell.

Agree with others that a plain or patterned top without buttons or polo shirt is fine for work if male colleagues are wearing shirts and smart jeans. Have you looked at Lands End?

I've had a couple of empire line tops from Live Unlimited- stretchy, neat fitting around the shoulders, pull on, so no gape, and just about bum covering in length. I can't link right now but it might be worth having a look at the site.

This has buttons
www.hush-uk.com/anika-oversized-short-sleeve-blouse-army-olive/010337-2295.html

They have one style like that left, not in my size, and the empire seam would have neatly bisected my nipples anyway.

But... they have round-necked long-sleeved jersey fitted tops that look like jumpers but aren't, and these might be useful.