Which Necklines and Silhouettes Are Most Flattering on Larger Chests?
Wrap Dresses. “Wrap dresses help to pull everything inward to create the illusion of a more streamlined silhouette,” explains Maguire. “That means they have the power to make your waist look itty bitty and, when worn correctly, glide over your bust and hips without creating any unflattering bulging.” The key is to size according to your bust, not your waist. These dresses are typically more flexible in terms of fit, since you wrap and tie them yourself (unlike a dress you zip up, which can only stretch so much before it rips). Sizing according to your widest part—in this case your chest–ensures little to no gaping or pulling in that area.
Belted High-Neck Dresses. We love the comfort factor associated with high-neck tent dresses, but they can quickly turn your gorgeous silhouette into something that resembles a pumpkin with four toothpicks for arms and legs. “Crew and turtlenecks have the same tendency to turn us into amorphous blobs, offering no defining peeks at our clavicle,” warns Maguire. But there is an easy fix: Add a waist belt. “It doesn't even need to be cinched in tight, but this easy addition helps bring some shape and definition to your torso.”
V-Neck Dresses. A deep V is sexy on just about everyone, but this is especially true for gals with big boobs. On the other hand, a shallower plunge can be equally flattering, and still feels appropriate for work or dinner with the in-laws. “If you plan to go the va-va-voom route, look for styles that go no lower than that mid-point of your breasts,” Silver advises. “Any deeper and you risk your girls looking saggy.” For shorter Vs, we prefer narrower styles, as opposed to those that start out near your shoulders, to really pull the eye inward for a narrower silhouette.
Fit & Flare Dresses. Similar to the belted crewneck styles, these cinched-at-the-waist dresses create an hourglass figure no matter your natural silhouette, but they’re particularly flattering on ladies with big boobs. And while they work with just about any neckline, we especially love shallow V-necks and square neck options most of all for showing off your collarbone without getting too risqué.
Sheath Dresses. A sheath dress is defined by its straight, fitted cut with a nipped-in waist (not to be confused with a shift dress, which falls straight from the shoulders with darts in the bust to add shape). They work very well for women with larger boobs but an otherwise fairly straight figure. Unlike a bodycon dress, which puts it all on display, a sheath isn’t skintight.
Which Necklines and Silhouettes Should Women with Larger Chests Avoid?
Empire Waists. “Shirts that severely nip in at the waist—especially those with seams just centimeters below your boobs—can often appear to be a maternity style on your frame,” advises Silver. Instead, she suggests looking for silhouettes that skim your curves or that have a drop waist, which will provide the added benefit of elongating your torso.
Tops with Bra Details. You don’t rock shirts with shelf bras for a reason; they just don’t work. “A shirt with an external bra that’s fit for a B-cup isn’t going to magically work with your gals,” says Silver. “It’s going to work against them and probably cut them off awkwardly.”
Button Down Shirtdresses—with a Caveat! As Silver notes, “Most button-downs are not made for us busty gals and even oversized versions can be wildly unflattering...but there are a few brands who have started developing these work-friendly shirts [and shirtdresses] for our bodies.” She recommends Perfectedd, Universal Standard and Pari Passu.
