Your fashion stylist guide to dressing a fuller bust
Written by Wendy Mak
During my years as a fashion stylist, I've found most women tend to think the grass is greener on the other side.
You know the one - you have curly hair but wish for straight hair. And those with a small bust wish they had more, and those blessed with a bigger bust wish they had less.
In this post we'll look at how to dress a larger bust and in the coming weeks I'll also show you how to build the illusion of a bigger bust (a special request from my lovely client Fay).
Dressing a bust can be a tricky thing. Women with an especially fuller bust can often struggle to find the right tops to accentuate but not draw attention in the wrong way.
Simply saying "choose a cross over top or V-neck" would be the easy tips, so I wanted to show you a few of the less obvious options that you might not have considered when it comes to flattering and dressing a bigger bust line.
1. Look for long, vertical lines
Long vertical lines that run down the bust like in this dress, creates an elongated look - and enables you to consider some higher necklines as you're less likely to suffer from "mono-boob" (which happens when you don't have the elongation that these lines provide).
personal fashion stylist sydney melbourne black cream dress your bust
Dress from Next Direct
2. Simple, clean lapels
When selecting jackets and blazers, choose ones with very clean, simple, thin (or even no) lapels.
This all helps with the elongation as we saw in example 1 above, and it also helps to "cut" across the width of the bust.
fashion stylist sydney how to dress large bust
Blazer from Sheike
3. Divided we are stronger!
They weren't wrong when they said a cross over neckline helps play down a larger bust. But you don't always need that boring, traditional cross over top to get the same effect.
This top in a bold colour and a print breaks all the rules - yet it works. The contrast printed piping achieves the same effect of a cross over by (in essence) dividing the bust in half (one of the few times we'll ever say that unity is not a desired trait!!).
ways to dress big bust orange blouse fashion stylist melbourne
Blouse from ModCloth
4. For the adventurous
Those feeling a little more adventurous can look to this blouse. It works because it's a wide neckline and has detail that runs downwards (see the buttons and stitched pleating). I know, I know, again this fashion stylist goes with the elongation thing! But I tell ya, it works!!
Because the pleats are stitched (what we call pin tucked) it helps to "flatten" the blouse across the bust, instead of billowing out at the bust line.
It's bold and fun with the print, so you want to be a little playful and adventurous with this. And as a special bonus the straps are still wide enough to wear a bra.
Pin tucked blouse top printed dress large bust
Blouse from Banana Republic (yes they're shipping to Oz!)
I hope that inspires you to break out of the traditional, boring cross over tops and try something new!
Until next time, stay stylish & successful!
Wendy