flattering clothes for the ample busted

[GettinTrimmer]

My bust measures 43in, I am hoping to reduce that as I lose weight, but at my slimmest I am still a DD cup. Can anybody recommend flattering clothes? I know to avoid polo necks from watching Trinny and Susannah ages ago! Does anyone have more tips?

I too am norktastic! 34 -36 H depending on shop. I was recently in Rigby and Peller and even there they did not have anything to fit - they are the bane of my life! the assistant suggested I go to their knightsbridge branch and have a custom made bra - starting at £350 a pop!! think it would almost be cheaper to have a breast reduction.
interestingly, my friend (who is from india) suggested sending a well fitting bra of mine to India and having it copied for a few pounds - if you have five to ten made = £25 for the lot and maybe the same on postage - got to be worth looking into.
I am a size 18-20 and wear a fair bit of Boden - liked the idea of the tunic but deffo does'nt suit at this size. Their slightly fitted blouses are nice. I wear scoop neck/open neck tops and wrap dresses with a thin vest under.
Have to admit though that I am looking forward to the day when I am a D cup again and size 14.
fwiw - my niece had a breast reduction on the nhs (runs in the family) and really does look and feel better and can pick clothes 'off the peg' - not sure I'd do the same as a major op but never say never .........

KristinaM No, you are not the only one not doing tunic/leggings this season! All these smock tops, flowing tops and big cardys just make everyone look fat IMO, and the bigger your boobs are the fatter they make you look!

My 32F's are displayed in scoop neck tops and boot-cut jeans, I also have long limbs and a short body as well as huge boobs, so I definately never tuck clothes in, I would look like I was all arms and legs and boobs, not a good look IRL, no matter how fabulous Jessica Rabbit might have looked on film!

And a Good Bra does not have to be something your grandmother would be ashamed to be seen in, I have a fair collection of Lullaby Lace ones in lots of lovely colours, which makes strappy tops a definite goer as it doesn't matter if your bra strap is showing if it either matches or compliments what you are wearing. And it's really nice to just wear nice undies when ever I feel like it, just because I can.

green monkies - you are me!!! you must be a lollipop too. i live in skinny flare jeans and scoop neck ts, although i am trying to be a bit less boring ATM. i have bought Duo boots (for skinny calves ) for £40 in the sale and some skirts from zara for a fiver!

i dont wear skinnies or leggings, even though i am size 9 with good legs, they do nothing for me, i look too top heavy

BTW the uniqlo 1x1 rib t shirt is long enough for me ( mine arrived tonight )

GettinTrimmer - they have fitting advice but not measurements. I would like to say that the traditional measurements would get you in the right ballpark, but I've just done mine and ended up with 40D - as mentioned, I actually wear 36G! Even then it varies between makes and styles, I've had bras in that size which don't flatter, and ones which simply don't fit. I now only wear Panache Porcelain, to save me the trouble!

Gettin - its so worth going to bravissimo. My Mum was wearing a 38D (as measured by M&S) but was measured as a 34H by bravissimo which initially horrified her as she didn't want to be such a big cup size but quickly realised how much better she looked in a well fitting bra and how much better all of her clothes looked. Until then, her bras had basically been pushing her breasts under her armpits which just made her look fatter.

M&S rubbish for getting fitted... please don't go there unless you want an unflattering look.

Going to an independent shop doesn't have to be expensive, I don't live near bravissimo - but I have always managed to get properly fitted at small local lingerie shops!

Once you get fitted you can keep a look out online for bras that might be as good but cheaper. Freya bras between £19 and £30+

I second a trip to bravissimo, no matter how far!! I had never even worn under wired bras up until about 5 years ago as they always crippled me everytime I put them on and boobs flying out here there and everywhere!!
Now I couldn't manage without (although desperate to go back and get re fitted, just skint lol!) I am currently a H cup......think I was wearing a DD when i first went to Bravissimo and i needed a FF then!! I loved freya bras, though since having DS and being bigger in myself (ahem) I am finding that fantasie are fitting me best.

I always wear v neck tops, never round neck short fitting tops, aaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhh!!

The nearest Bravissimo to me is Brighton, so I will be buying online, or as suggested go to an independent shop. I don't think we have any round here though, it's just La Senza and M & S.

I love La Senza's stuff, I've heard they are now stocking larger sizes.

agree, m and s are crap for bra fitting. Bravissimo best but john lewis good too

I am also a DD. Don't like V necks, but wear scoop neck Ts from Boden and scoop neck jumpers from Woolovers. And a good bra from John Lewis.

I had a brilliant bra fitting at House of Fraser. I would find someone to do it rather than measure yourself and order a few sizes from Bravissimo (or wherever) because I would NEVER had picked up the sizes that I was brought by the fitter, and they were perfect. She just looked at me in my vest and she knew. I think you need the expert eye to help you.

I think dresses (with the V or scoop necklines that everyone recommends, or I do like a nice square neck) are nice for the norky, especially short & norky like me, because you have the flattering appearance of length all down the front and can have nice long darts to make you all look Joan Holloway and lush.

Bravissimo ar ebetter than JL defo! M&S avoid like the plague for underwear they aren't trained properly!

Once you know your "proper" size check out Brastop.com they do Freya and other big sizes keep an eye out oloads in teh sale ! and some random ones as well! Much cheaper than bravissimo or Figleaves or Rigby & Pellar!

36F here. Really really really good plan to go to Bravissimo for a fitting the first time at least. I needed to be bullied out of my 38C's into a 36F, and I suspect that if I'd ordered them to try on at home I'd have still ended up in the wrong size. Also find them better than M&S. It's worth a trip!

Agree with other comments re lower neck to divide up the boobage, no tents, and not chopping yourself up into a series of wide bands. Worth getting a supply of little safety pins (the ones that pin dry-cleaning tags on work well) to hold shirts together at the critical point and avoid spraying the room with buttons.

Small additional point, depends on if you're boobs + tall or boobs + short waisted. I specialise in the short look [sigh] which means tailored everything, and no big belts, or I turn into a strap of leather on legs with boob explosion over the top.

You should google your area to see what shops you have, you might be surprised.

Bravissimo!
Bravissimo!!
Bravissimo!!!
Bravissimo!!!!

I am 32H - was 34K when breastfeeding. If you are not near a B'mo shop, then travel, take a weekend break, anything ... just get there and get fitted!

Try on loads of their clothes too. I am 14 Super Curvy in B'mo sizing. Once you know what size you are, you can buy with confidence in their online sales or eBay

get mesured in Bravissimo and then once you know the size and style that suits you you can buy new bras on e-bay. There are few e-bay shops that sell old stock Frea nnd Panace bras for about £10-£15!
I was 32-34 E before pregnancy and liked wearing strappy tops under mock wrap dresses- looks sexy without compromising modesty.

Agree with the poster who liked dresses if you are short. Am 34FF just over 5 ft, and for work now live in a series of just below the knee shift dresses, mostly in a single dark colour. This includes some with high necklines, but these are are cut straight across the collar bone, or have a gentle scoop, which looks fine. Also got one with a square neckline, which works well. Stick a more interesting short cardigan or very short cut jacket over top, and maybe some interesting boots, and it gets quite chic in an early 1960s sort of way. I think this works partly because there's no surplus fabric anywhere and you're not cut at the waist. Experience has taught me to choose a dress where the fabric has a bit of weight but is soft enough not to assert its own shape over yours(eg suiting or similar) and is woven not knitted, is lined, comes below the knee and has a bit of tailoring. I've found good ones cheap new or second hand from M&S, Laura Ashley and Next. Going a size up to avoid tightness over the bust doesn't seem to be such a problem with this style, either. Blimey, I didn't realise I had such strong views....

Oh, God, I wish they had a Bravissimo here in Cyprus! Will have to wait till my visit back to the UK in the summer
Anyone know the nearest branch to East Kent? Or Swansea?
I'm currently a 40 FF/G, lost five stone last year and went down from a 46F, so not much reduction on the boob front.
Definitely second a lot of advice here - avoid crew necks, stick to scoop or v-neck lines.
Tailored look is our friend, not the dreaded tunic.
Does anyone else find that sleeves are often tight when you have big norks? I feel that the manufacturers don't tend to proportion everything when increasing the size.

icancancan they do 34h in bravissimo.

Bravissimo on the internet is great too if you don't have a shop near you. (And they have all the sizes/styles which they don't always have in the shop.

Ditto all the above good advice!

A well fitting bra is the best investment you'll ever make - spend the money. It makes your boobs look smaller and you thinner, not to mention much better for your posture. I highly recommend the Bravissimo fitting advice online and by phone so it is not essential you go to a store. Also it is hassle free to keep sending stock back and forth if you need to. It is worth it to get it right. Often when they measure people they are much smaller in the back but bigger in the cup than they think. I thought initially the backs were too tight, but they are now perfect. They know what they are doing.

I'm taller, so lots of layering works for me with thin vests under deep V necks and scoop neck tops. It breaks up the bulk of your boobs.

Don't wear bulky fabric. Personally I avoid the cleavage look as it just draws attention to your tits. And it looks cheap.

Never wear a minimiser!

Don't buy clothes that hang from the tits i.e. smocks, tunics etc.

Darker colours work better than white and light colours.

DontCallMeBaby Thanks for the link to Bravissimo.

I don't have the time to travel to either Brighton or Oxford to a Bravissimo store, so I'm going to ring them for advice. Will let you know how I get on!

I think I am a 38E/F.

Their clothes are gorgeous, I like the style of dress which has a v-neck and is ruched and comes to the knee.

Thanks all for your advice.

I can't echo anyone enough about Bravissimo. Please get fitted there, or at an independent lingerie shop, before you buy anything online - it's really important to get the size right first time, and you need an expert to look at you when you are large of norkage. Bras by different manufacturers come up big or small - like clothes they aren't the same size - therefore it would be a great idea to try lots of different makes during your fitting so you know you are a 40DD in one make but a 38E in another etc. I'm generally a 34H, size 16, but my bras can vary by a cup size or so just as occasionally I can fit into a 14 in one shop but don't fit into a 16 in another M&S, JL and other dept stores are generally useless at fitting anyone more than a C cup in my and my friends' experience, although you may strike it lucky and find someone who has been fitting for years - but even then the choice in store is limited for anyone over a D cup.

Once the bra is sorted then dressing becomes so much easier

1. Don't wear floaty chiffony things that drapes from your boobs - I always look 10 months pregnant and 3 dress sizes bigger

2. Cotton lycra tops and thin cardigans, layered up, are your friends. I don't even wear shirts as I find the fit impossible - cotton lycra moulds to your shape much better.

3. Scoop neck and v necks only, but maybe with vest top underneath. M&S vest tops good, but H&M tend to be longer in the body so I prefer those. Alternatively vest top with round neck cardigan that is only buttoned up your boobs looks good too.

4. Try to avoid too much bunching at the waist as it's important to show off your waist to accentuate your womanly curves IYSWIM - so wrap dresses can work brilliantly as they are smooth over the waist (but the belt can help sort of hide any bumpy bits by taking the eye away from it IYSWIM)

5. Never ever minimise your boobs. Minimisers are nasty inventions, probably designed by a gay haute couturier who hates women with anything approaching a curve. Try and be proud of your fabulous norks and treat them to a well fitting bra - most men appreciate large boobs, so flaunt them I say!