Fashion Tips for Big Busts
British women’s bust sizes, for example, are getting bigger. UK breasts have increased in size from 34B to 36C in the last ten years. According to the Daily Mail’s article of 19th January 2008, “UK women’s cleavages have gone from 34B to 36C in a decade.” Marks and Spencer, that most hallowed of British underwear retailers say “a quarter of its bras sold are a D cup or above, a figure which has doubled in three years.”
The increase in bust sizes means that fashion conscious women may have to adapt their style and buy cuts which minimize rather than accentuate their breasts. How to show off our cleavage in a flattering rather than a tarty way is something we learn as we get older. Cuts and styles which once flattered your 34B figure may no longer be appropriate for a bigger bust.
Fashion Tips for Bigger Breasted Women
Dresses
Wrap dresses are the most flattering style for a bigger busted, curvy woman, or a smock or empire line where the fabric falls loosely from under the bust. Steer clear of high-neck shift dresses and halter-neck styles, if it is difficult to wear a well fitting, supportive bra underneath.
Avoid sleeveless tops and dresses, especially with a high neckline, as sleeveless styles draw more attention to the bust and upper arms. Cover up a dress with this season’s fashionable bolero or cropped jacket if need be. Three-quarter length sleeves are the most flattering as they deflect attention away from the breasts.
Blouses and Tops
Corset tops look great on bigger busts as long as they have sleeves, as they “accentuate without being vulgar,” say UK fashion gurus Trinny and Susannah in their book What Not to Wear, Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated (1 Jun 2004)
Wrap-over tops are a woman’s best friend, as they flatter bigger breasts, lifting and separating the bustline.
The best blouse style, according to Trinny and Susannah “is one that is tight around the waist and loosening on the chest.” This minimizes the waist and give the illusion of a smaller bust. Look for a tie just under the bust, or a corset style blouse, which really flatters the bustline.
Avoid spaghetti straps, which accentuate the breasts and shoulders, and go for thicker, more supportive straps if you must wear a sleeveless top or dress.
Jackets and Coats
Avoid boxy jackets with high necklines and double-breasted styles which will make you appear top heavy. Go for a single breasted, fitted, deep V-neck which will separate the bust and lengthen the body.
Avoid wide lapels and this season’s trendy belted trench coats, which give you unnecessary billowing up top.
Sweaters and Jumpers
Avoid bulky knitwear and go for thinner Cashmere-like fabrics which give less bulk.
The same rules for necklines apply. A V-neck and wrap cardigan or sweater is much more flattering than a round or high polo neck. Go for fine knits rather than chunky. Layer if necessary but avoid bulk.
Necklines
Avoid high and round necklines on tops and T-shirts which provide no break between your neck and bust, making them appear unified and therefore even bigger. Go for a scoop, plunge or sweetheart-neck which “will stop your breasts appearing as if they are an extension of your chin.” advise Trinny and Susannah.
V-necks are wonderfully flattering as they elongate the body and act to separate your cleavage. Low, draw-string-necklines are also fine. Any neck style which provides an expanse of flesh from the neck and chest will give you a sleeker figure.
Swimsuits
Swimwear styles with ruching around the bust will minimize breasts. Wrap styles are also great for creating a well defined and slimmer cleavage. Go for a more unusual style like a plunge or cowl neck which will make it seem than you don’t have as much up top.
Wide-strapped halter necks can provide support and accentuate narrow shoulders. Online retailers such as Figleaves stock a wide range of swimsuit brands which cater for the well-endowed.
Bras
The right bra lifts and supports a fuller-bust and can take years off your figure. Yet it is no secret that most of us are wearing the wrong size bra. This is one time when it is worth investing in the best bra you can find, especially if you are a D cup or beyond. A badly fitting brassier will make you look fat and distort the line of your clothing.
A bra can make or break a look and “can radically change the shape of your body”, say Trinny and Susannah in their book, What Your Clothes Say About You (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 29 Sep 2005). An astonishing "70 per cent of us are wrecking our clothes with an ill-fitting brassier;" according to these TV fashion gurus.
With the huge range of lingerie retailers available (online and in the high-street) there is absolutely no reason why a woman can’t buy lingerie that is both sexy and supportive. The days of passion-killer granny knickers and whale-like bras are long gone. Stockists such as the UK’s www.Bravissimo.com has a great range of femme-fatale bras up to a J cup.
A balconnette style bra provides both the necessary support and lift and is especially flattering for older women as breasts are pulled forward as well as upwards, thus giving the illusion of a slimmer torso and preventing saggy boobs.
Avoid too much lace or decoration, as this will give you added bulk.
