Dressing The Busty Figure

A tailor becomes your best friend when your proportions are not in sync with the fashion industry. Finding a flattering fit can be a real challenge for us busty gals.

When I try on a dress or a long top, it always looks dowdy because I have to buy it to fit across my bust, and then it is too big and boxy everywhere else. Equally frustrating are jackets that can never be closed and sleeves that are always too long. When I buy a tank top to fit my bust, the armholes are way too big, and it is too long.

I am showing you how I styled the same silver top from Chico’s in the above two photos. It has almost sheer layers, and it is from a couple of years ago. I bought it for the soft silver-gray color. It looks very boxy alone, but I can make it work for me if I layer carefully.

The proper fit makes us look neater and less voluminous. Almost every dress I put on looks tent-like, which is why I almost always wear separates. I look for tops and jackets that are more fitted or have uneven hemlines, such as the red jacket above. I have learned that trying to cover up makes me look bigger all over. Proportion and fit are crucial if you want to look your best. Wearing a top that fits appropriately and ends at just below my natural waist looks much better with a longer jacket or open cardigan because it creates an illusion of longer legs and less volume on top.

One trick is to wear a bold shorter necklace that stops above your bustline.

Some of the other tips I often use to dress my top-heavy body are below:

1. Wear a darker color on top.
2. When I find a tank that fits well, I buy several. I enjoy wearing crepe fabric that skims the body to show every dimple and roll. Tops that end just below the natural waistline make me look a little taller and thinner than when they are longer. Soft flowing fabric is much more forgiving than stiff materials with lots of texture. I would never wear a fisherman sweater!
3. Wear a belt or employ the half-tuck. When just a bit of the front of your longer button-up top is tucked in, more of the leg length shows, making you look taller, and the waistline is defined without showing your backside. It also eliminates that tent effect I get when I don’t tuck in at least part of my tops.
4. Wear a shorter, more fitted top under jackets and cardigans. The proportions suggest a smaller body beneath them.
5. Tie a scarf so that the bulk of it is always above your bustline to frame your face and add color and pattern.
6. Wear a short dramatic necklace that ends above your bustline. Long necklaces can be tricky, but you can use them to create a V-neckline over a less flattering neckline. Just be careful not to wear a necklace that rests between your breasts.
7. The V-Neckline or a scoop neckline such as in the Covered Perfectly tops are the most forgiving. If I wear a turtleneck or any high neckline, I always try to create a V over it using a scarf or a long necklace.
8. Avoid the high round crew necklines such as those you often find in a classic men’s style tee. Those are the least flattering tops for us.
9. Wrap or surplice style tops and dresses are often your best options. (A surplice neckline is shown in the photo below. This is the only style of dress I can wear straight off the rack.)
10. Try not to show any cleavage and always wear a properly fitted bra. The wrong bra can ruin your whole look. Showing cleavage makes your bust look even more abundant.