How to Dress to Flatter a Big Bust

Perfect examples are the Kiyonna Women’s Plus Size Faux Wrap Top in Nouveau Navy ($68, nordstrom.com), the Lane Bryant Swing 3/4-Sleeve Pleat-Front Top in Deep Blue ($47, lanebryant.com) and the H&M Women V-Neck Blouse in Cream or Dusty Blue ($20, www2.hm.com/en_us/). Also suitable are henleys, polo-collar tops and button-up shirts, which give a similar effect when unbuttoned to a V. Be sure to tug the neckline apart once unbuttoned to get a true V. Not a V fan? Try showing more neck skin with a shallow scoop, often called a “ballet” neckline, cowls and boatnecks.

(From left) Sherri Shepherd; Sonoma Goods for Life Women’s Relaxed Waffle Henley Top in Pink Theme; Jockey Women’s 100% Cotton Rib Tank in Black.

AARP (Getty Images, Kohl’s, Target)

4. Choose bust-friendly sleeves.

I bet you never heard this one! Even tees and dresses with bust-enhancing necklines can derail flattery at the sleeves. That’s because any short sleeve that ends on a level with your bust (a straight “tee” sleeve, a flutter or puff style) optically extends and expands the bust and gives it more attention. 

Instead, go shorter with a cap like the Donna Karan New York Cap Sleeve Cowl Neck Top in Cream ($69, nordstrom.com), longer to an elbow length like the Chico’s Pima Cotton Bateau-Neck Tee in Dried Roses or Alabaster ($46, chicos.com) or opt for three-quarter or full-length sleeves. To ease the bust, look for relaxed tops with a dropped shoulder seam on the sleeve like the Sonoma Goods for Life Women’s Relaxed Waffle Henley Top in Pink Theme or Sea Violet ($30, kohls.com). What about tank tops? Choose those with widely spaced bra-friendly straps like the Jockey Women’s 100% Cotton Rib Tank in Black or White ($20, target.com) for the most versatility.

(From left) A New Day Women’s Bow Buckle Belt in Black; J. Crew Factory Women’s Leopard Calf Hair Belt.

AARP (Target, J. Crew)

5. Emphasize a waist even if you don’t have one.

A major part of dressing for a big bust is avoiding a boxy or top-heavy look and a blurry middle where breasts and midriff are crammed together. Defining the waist solves this for a shapely balanced effect. Think you don’t have a waist? Let me remind you that once that bra lifts your breasts off the midriff, you will have extra inches of space and separation. This makes it possible to play up an existing waist, amplify a subtle indent or even create the illusion of a waist that isn’t really there. 

You can do this with the clothes you already own by adding a slim belt to oversized tops and tunics or doing a semi-tuck with tops and jeans. Narrow belts in leather or chain links such as the A New Day Women’s Bow Buckle Belt in Black ($16, target.com), Chico’s Gold-Tone Pebbles Chain Belt ($49-, chicos.com) and the J. Crew Factory Women’s Leopard Calf Hair Belt ($35, factory.jcrew.com) are more useful than wide ones since they take up less midriff room. Be sure to avoid a tightly cinched look. Just sling on the belt casually while breathing out for a definition that looks authentic. Other useful waist definers for beginners are high-rise pants, peplum tops and wrap tops and dresses (see tip #6).

(From left) Patricia Arquette; Jean Smart; Torrid Surplice Wrap Midi Dress in Kayla Stripe Peacoat.

AARP (Getty Images, 2; Torrid)

6. Shape an hourglass look with wrap tops and dresses.

Wrap styles are a magical fashion solution for busty women. The crossover does it all by creating a V for bust lift and separation and a defined waist. 

Dresses like the Torrid Surplice Wrap Midi Dress in Kayla Stripe Peacoat ($45, torrid.com) and the Maggy London Abstract Print Front Wrap Midi Dress in Royal Navy/Bone ($87, nordstrom.com) have a fit-and-flare look that produces an instant hourglass silhouette by balancing a large bust and your bottom half. You can get the same effect by pairing wrap tops like Lands’ End Women’s Elbow Sleeve Lightweight Jersey Side Tie Blouse in Black Large Flower Patch ($48, landsend.com) and Talbots Happy Stripe Wrap Top in Vista Blue Multi ($100, talbots.com) with wide-leg or flared pants, an A-like skirt or flowy midi. Just be sure the wrap-style top or dress has enough fabric to cover your breasts and bra without a major cleavage show. 

This lets you move and bend without fear of fallout. Faux wraps (known as surplice wraps) work in a similar way but offer less control over the wrap for shaping. Unfortunately, wraps of any kind are not always easy to find, so I always encourage women to snap these up when they see them.

7.  Show off your bust in a form-fitted look.

Instead of always trying to minimize or camouflage a bigger bust, why not revel in having one? However, there’s a big difference between defining your breasts and going overboard. Stick to showing the shape, not your cleavage, and balance form-fitting bodysuits and tops with generously cut bottoms like (again!) wide-leg pants, flared jeans and A-line midis to avoid a top-heavy look. And if you love to dress up, or have festive events coming up, take advantage of your bosom’s allure in dresses that make the most of curves and your strong natural shoulder line — a favorite choice for busty celebs. This is when to slip on a strapless dress with a structured top and a curved top-line, a halter style or even an off-the-shoulder look to make the most of your assets (even high-neck halters work here due to the strong horizontal shoulder emphasis that balances a big chest).

(From left) Padma Lakshmi; Quince 100% Organic Cotton Knit Blazer in Cappuccino; J.Jill Pure Jill Indigo Open-Front Jacket in Midnight Wash.

AARP (Getty Images, Quince, J. Jill)

8. Count on a blazer to add structure.

Sometimes you just want to minimize the soft curves of a big bust. Throwing on a blazer gives you a crisper, sharper silhouette, thanks to the structure. Be sure to skip oversized boxy styles that just amplify a “big” look and opt for relaxed blazers like the J.Jill Pure Jill Indigo Open-Front Jacket in Midnight Wash ($119, jjill.com), the Banana Republic Factory Boyfriend Blazer in Martini Olive ($85, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com) and the Quince 100% Organic Cotton Knit Blazer in Cappuccino ($80, quince.com) for sleek contours without excess volume. 

One of the best bust-boosting tricks is to layer a contrasting color blazer over a dark top (with a flattering low V or scoop neckline) and matching dark pants — for example, an olive blazer over a black scoop-neck tank and black jeans. This creates a column of dark color framed by a lighter or brighter color for an overall trim silhouette.

(From left) Eloquii Preppy Striped Button Down in Black Stripe; Loft Striped Poplin Pleated Belted Top in Black.

AARP (Eloquii, LOFT)

9. Wear vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones.

Many women love striped boatneck tees and buy them on repeat. Don’t keep falling for them! Those horizontal lines emphasize a large bust and make it look even broader and fuller. Instead, stick to stripes that run vertically, such as the Ann Taylor Striped Relaxed Perfect Shirt in Black ($63, anntaylor.com), the Loft Striped Poplin Pleated Belted Top in Black ($42, loft.com) and the Eloquii Preppy Striped Button Down in Black Stripe ($56-, eloquii.com) or opt for the nautical boatnecks you adore in solid colors. Vertical stripes in tops and dresses have a slimming, elongating effect that works for your bust and body, making it one of this spring’s major trends.

(From left) Gap Modern V-Neck T-Shirt in Black; Nic + Zoe Geo Pebble Faux Wrap Top in Indigo Multi.

AARP (GAP, Nordstrom)

10. Divert the eye in black and prints.

Color can be an effective ally in dressing a large bust. Remember that anything in a dark color recedes, diminishes and looks smaller, while anything in a light or bright color gets more attention. It’s why wearing black is a tried-and-true strategy for those on a diet — and it works for a big bust, too. In fact, black can even free a big bust with edgy fashion tastes to wear high-necked turtles, form-fitting dresses and ribbed knits without a second thought. Stick to strong, simple lines for your black pieces since details like frills and lacing detract from the hue’s mission. Try a black V-neck top like the Gap Modern V-Neck T-Shirt in Black ($30, gap.com) with white pants for a quick but efficient example that’s all optics. So over wearing black? All-over prints in florals, leopard and artsy patterns keep the eye moving and, like black, hide a big bust in plain sight. Take advantage of print pieces like the White House Black Market Ruched Sleeve Shirt in Leopard Drift Ecru ($70, whitehouseblackmarket.com), the Chico’s Floral Flutter-Sleeve Maxi Dress in Black ($97, chicos.com) or the Nic+Zoe Geo Pebble Faux Wrap Top in Indigo Multi ($138, nordstrom.com), and whether you’re a 34D, a 36DDD or a 38G, enjoy your super style.