Nobody can chose their body shape, but everybody can choose how to dress their body. This post explains how to master the style challenge top heavy. Read how to dress big boobs to achieve a proportionally balanced look.
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Full Bust and Barely There Hips
One of my readers asked what clothes are best for a Y-shape body. In her case, it is a size 8-10 top due to a DD bust and a size 0-2 bottom on a 5 ft 4 (1.63 m) frame. While such a big difference between the chest and the bottom is rare, her case gives an example of the Y-body or so called inverted triangle body shape. It means that the top is 1 to 2 sizes larger than the bottom. People often call this body shape top heavy. The description or name is due to the breasts being the most prominent feature.
A friend of mine wearing a size 44DDD once said
Guys just stare at my breasts. Sometimes it’s so bad that I want to wear a T-shirt with an upward pointing arrow saying “My face is up here.”
Of course, minimizer bras can squeeze the girls in, but only so much. And who wants to wear such a “cage” day-in day-out or even when dressing for the dog days?
Don’t know your body shape? You can easily find it with this free body type detection quiz.
What Works for Gals with a Full Bust?
Here are your solutions to balance your top heavy body.
- Try a fitted collarless double breasted coat with vertical darts. Focus on great fit in the shoulders and bust.
- Princess-cut blazers, shirts, blouses, and dresses slenderize your body. They curve up from the waist to the shoulders and draw the attention up to your shoulders and down to your waist.
- Pick clothes in substantial, crisp fabrics like cotton or poplin.
- Add your brooches about an inch under your collarbone halfway between the collarbone and your armpit like Liz Taylor often did when she wore a LBD. This trick draws the eyes away from your cleavage and breasts. More on how to accessorize with brooches.
- Always make the “reality check” with your button-downs. Bend over – do the girls spill out? Do the buttons pop open? Is there an unwanted gap? Add a press button if needed.
Tip: Some brands have a push button right there (see my Riders by Lee button-down shirt review.
- Try tailored tops/dresses with vertical stripes.
- V-necks are your friend as they draw the eye up. Heart- and scoop necks are also office appropriate.
- Balance your top with slight shoulder pads.
- For going out, try a strapless, fitted camisole with pants.
- Always wear the darker color on top, the lighter color on your bottom to balance your body.
- Have the right bra! Your girls shouldn’t spill over. Neither on top (quadruple boobs alert) nor on the side. Invest in a great strapless bra for bare styles.
- When you are tall and top-heavy, try loose pants (more on which pants to choose. Or try a loose (not oversize) top with a straight denim skirt, straight pants, or pencil skirt.
- When it comes to dresses, go for shapes that offer fit at the top and are fuller on the bottom for balance.
- Define your waist with a belt in the same color of your dress. More on how to best accessorize with belts.
- Go for structured dresses rather than stretch dresses. Look for a Princess cut dress that balances your bust with the skirt like the American Classic little white dress.
What Doesn’t Work for Busty Gals
When dressing for your top heavy body
- Steer away from anything cropped that is shorter than your hip. It would just emphasize your girls.
- Avoid ruffles or embellishment like embroidery or sequins on the breasts. They make them just look bigger than they actually are. Leave these decorations for women with small busts.
- No fur collars! They add weight where you won’t need it.
- Avoid flimsy fabrics and anything oversize. It would make you look heavier than you are. Who needs that?
- Avoid spill over. Quadruple-boobs are never stylish, they look trashy.
Wrapping up How to Master the Style Challenge Top Heavy
Your goal is to balance your body by playing down the top and creating the illusion of wider hips. Fitted tops, blazer, dresses and coats are the top heavy lady’s best friends. Get them in the dark colors of your flattering color palette and use the lighter colors for the bottom.
When you are petite also check this guide with style tips for petite women. To dress your best as a top-heavy petite, combine the tips that don’t contradict each other. Doing so will solve the challenge to create a balanced appearance.
When your torso is short, see these solutions for outfits for short waisted women.
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