How to dress when menopause triples your bra size and adds 2 stone

[Monr0e]

Good morning, I'm feeling very low today. I had a trip out to the theatre last night (Blood Brothers - amazing) and getting ready just brought home how little clothes I have and how crap I feel in the few things I do own.

Over the past couple of years I've gone from a size 12 to a size 14/16, but the biggest change has been my boobs which have gone from a 34DD to a 36H.Thank you menopause

I massively struggle to find anything I feel comfortable in, any tops and jumpers, I always feel like a big wall of boob up top. Or I have to get larger sizes to accommodate them and feel even bigger than I am.

I don't have a massive budget, but would love to have just a few basics, a decent pair of jeans, wide leg pants and some tops and knitwear that don't make me feel awful when wearing them.

I am meeting friends tomorrow for lunch and another show and at this point I just don't want to go. Can anyone advise where to look or how to dress when you're top heavy or suggest some items? Thank you 👚👗👖

They are not exactly the height of fashion, but I have started wearing long cashmere and merino blend tunic sweaters from Woolovers. They are V-necked, loose enough that they don't cling to thickened waists and bellies, but also skim the hips, so they don't swamp you, and they cover the bum too, as the line is way longer than most sweaters, with a little slit at the sides so it doesn't cling around the widest part of the hips. I look a size smaller in these than in any other sweaters and they seem very good at reducing that beer-kellar-shelf look of the menopause boobs. They are really versatile - go with jeans, cords, smart trousers. They are currently two for £99. I wash them in the machine, cool tumble them so they don't shrink, and they last really well. They actually hang better on me than on their skinny models with no hips or boobs.

Someone on here recommended M&S wide leg jersey trousers in navy for that menopause 'nothing fits me' phase. I have almost lived in them ever since. They are properly fitted around the waist and hips but elasticated, and they go with everything. They don't shrink in the tumble dryer and they don't need ironing.

This is more a day look than for going out, but if you layer a thin thermal V neck top underneath and a cashmere blend tunic on top with jersey wide legs or wide leg cords (M&S or Uniqlo) it's a really easy, put together look you can then add a bit of character to with jewellery or scarf or long line blazer etc.

For evenings, I wear Zara satin shirts with wide leg velvet cords or the jersey trousers, and nice boots.

Sadly, it didn't triple my meagre chest.

Have a look at Melyr. I have a couole of trousers from there. Good quality. Their tops look useful. www.melyr.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqnZcnZqgqzvWRT70LdQ8-XElqV-AtqWmR3qlu1DaRapYwXSDKf

I buy the old Pepperberry tops on vinted occasionally. V necks and stuff that falls from the chest to hide the upper stomach.

Yes I wear them, I think thats what i meant when I said full bra.

Not always 🤣. Some people find they go flaccid and empty. Geverslly if you gain a lot of weight the. Yes, more seems to go on the bust than used you

I’m on HRT and have been fur around 7 years. My boobs became immense in my late 40s but then so had I, all over.

HRT didn’t really impact my weight either way but it did enable me to have the energy and less joint pain so I could exercise.

I eat WAAAAYYYYY less food than I used to and exercise in some way most days and I’ve lost all ye weight bar 4kg from my lightest ever (and I’ll stay here as I think it looks better at my age).

my boobs have shrunk completely to be back in proportion to my body. So for me, the massive boobs were not specifically menopausal but just that I got fat.

they are far softer and not as full as they were - both due to natural loss of density as we age and saggier skin from having been fatter for a decade stretching the skin, but they are a very normal 32D

@Monr0e On Instagram ClubFortyClaire does size by side and they have lots of tips. Also
have a read of the Human Being Diet website. I found changing my eating habits helped enormously post 50.

John Lewis do free personal shopping. I book one of those when I need a bit of a mood lift or inspiration. No obligation to buy anything. It gives me ideas and make me feel better.
I think my best outfit at the moment is soft jersey wide legged trousers (m&s) with a plain t shirt and a soft jersey blazer. I feel smart and like I have a shape in this.
I also like shirts, sleeves rolled up a bit, with a waistcoat or knitted tank or sleeveless cardi. Knitted tanks over dresses. Big jumpers with jeggings and boots.
If I wear baggy on top then bottoms need to be more tailored and vice versa, if everything is loose fit then I look bigger. V necks and layers are good, scarves looped loosely can be helpful if no v neck. Vest tops and v neck baggy cardi's.
At the moment I'm on the lookout for a smart jumper with a bit of sparkle, or fluffy, to see me through a few Christmas events, I'll be able to pair it with jeggings or trousers and it needs to finish kinda mid hip, or have a wide band at the bottom that you can sit on the hip for a bit of a blouson effect.
I'm an 18 on the bottom and 20 or 22 on top just to cover the norks.

Sainsburys had some lovely light velvet wide legged trousers with a stripe at the side for £15 with a tie waist. They are lovely.

Shirt dresses from White stuff are very flattering too and can be dressed up.

The one I’ve got looks to be discontinued, so this is the closest I can find. I’ll attach an image x

OP you so made me laugh with your 'feeling like a small caravan'. I know exactly what you mean.

I've gone from a 32 B to a 36 E, most of it in my armpits for some god forsaken reason. How the mammogram lady manages to get it all in the picture is a miracle.

Something that really helped me was being measured up for a proper bra in a proper, old fashioned lingerie shop. I say measured because I wasn't measured, the lovely woman just looked at me in my bra and knew what I needed in terms of style and size.

I went into that place feeling like a a matronly bay window and came out feeling almost sleek. I look so much more 'organised' in my clothes now.

@Jugendstiel apologies for the sidebar

I really feel the cold. I am curious about those Woolovers tunics but wondered if they are itchy

I bought a cardigan with a tiny percentage of wool from M&S and found it itchy at the cuffs.

I am short, and tunics probably aren't brilliant for me but warmth is very important! If they're not itchy and they're on special, I might try them myself.

(I hope my chest doesn't get any bigger - so far nothing is changing but menopause is late in my family). Those who are finding they're getting bigger - I sympathise.

Solidarity everyone. I’m now a size 16 rather than my nice 12/14 despite no change in eating habits and a physical job.

My bust is now a 40 E and I look like a blob in clothes and I never feel nice. To top it all I’m now pre diabetic which apparently can also be linked to menopause (whole different thread!) so I carry all the weight round my middle .

Hope you enjoy your shopping trip OP, just avoid the racks of boxy tops that are everywhere - what a lovely mum you have 😊.

Totally get this. My boobs just seem to get bigger and bigger. They were already 32GG. Now they are 32JJ.
i don’t want to look ‘matronly’. This thread is really helpful! What triumph bra was it @CapriceDeDieux?

Someone mentioned Les Dawson

This is exactly how I feel 😁

I have a couple of those tunics and am very sensitive to itchy fabrics. The tunics are fine as long as I wear a scoop neck T-shirt underneath. Very soft. I have to hand wash them though which is a faff (my washing machine wool program is not to be trusted unfortunately).

Check out Mellisa Murrell, stylist that's on YouTube and Instagram. She has some really useful videos on how to dress depending on your shape. She post regularly, provides links to items you might be interested. I find it really useful for ideas.
Link for her channel here: (10) MM Personal Styling - YouTube

V necks are good strategy until one’s throat and chest start resembling the prize turkey in the poulterer’s window.

Ask me how I know. 🤬

Cross-over tops and dresses- the ballerina style, and large earrings to widen your head and keep you in proportion.
Only half joking

Yeah, it really snuck up on me. I'm 43 and hadn't even contemplated peri being the cause of my ever increasing waistline and boobs. My mental health took a real dive and I was really struggling with lack of energy, brain fog etc. I wouldn't have been able to carry on or feel happy just by buying new clothes so I decided to get into running whilst my hrt combo and dosages were being adjusted. I'm really into it now and I'm really unpleasant to be around unless I have had a run. I treat it as me time and really benefit from the headspace. I'm much happier now and am losing the weight gradually which is great. Weight training has also really improved my body positivity and mental health. I've told myself I'm not buying any new clothes until I'm back down to a size 12. For me that acts as motivation but we're all different.

I went from a 34D to a 34F (or even a G in some styles). I've put on 10lbs and I have to eat very frugally to stop this figure going higher.

I think all that 10lb is pure boobs because I can still fit in my size 12 unforgiving jeans, but tops are all tight across the chest and under my arms.

I've found that if I squeeze into a smaller cup size like 34DD, I can look a lot slimmer, but I have to wear a loose top so the excess boobage can be pushed under my arms without showing. 😫

Or mine.

I’m the same size and weight as I’ve always been, just a bit closer to the ground.

id agree with your last sentence, it’s being touted like it’s inevitable. My aa bust has remained constant. I’m 53 and on hrt.

I have insulin resistance. But that's a whole another thread. Which I have started elsewhere.