If you have a full bust, dresses sometimes can be tricky. I know this from first hand experience from styling models with larger chest. Since I have a petite clothing line, I work with models of all shapes and sizes, one of whom is Wendy, 36D cup.
In our weekly product fitting and photo session, I noticed certain dress styles look a lot more flattering on her, while certain styles can make her look heavier than she actually is.
After numerous trial and error, I’ve put together this detailed guide on what kind of dresses look the best on women with large breasts, and what styles you should use caution, or even skip.
Table of Contents
Wrap dresses
One of the most flattering dress style outfits for a woman with large breasts is the wrap dress as it is designed to properly envelop the breasts. Women with large busts can look wonderful in wrap dresses because they will cinch the waist emphasizing your shape and avoiding you from looking the same width in your entire body.
Wrap dresses are an easy and not too complicated silhouette that is a universally figure-flattering silhouette and are designed to skim your body and highlight your curves. A wrap dress is a simple and classy wardrobe staple that very well defines the waist, lifts the bust, and gives every woman a fantastic figure since the wrap lies below the bust, It helps to accentuate the slimmest part of her body.
Square neckline dresses
There are varied suitable neckline dresses for a woman with large breasts but one of the most interesting and incredible designs is the square neckline dress.
As much as the square neckline is suitable for a woman with big breasts, the style idea could also possibly go wrong if the lady has a broad shoulder and a square-shaped face which could make the square-shaped neckline dress less flattering to her body shape.
The square neckline dresses are still a good choice of dress for a woman with a big bust because it stays right in a position that is greatly desired on the bust.
The square neckline dress can be very flattering and give a romantic look that puts less attention on your chest area and directs attention towards the décolletage.
Shirt dresses
There is something quite spectacular about the shirt dress for a woman with large breasts and it is the fact that it is simple and can be very comfortable if you can get one that is quite relaxed, fitting, and not too tight but also has a belt which would further complement the style by cinching the waist to give you more shape. The floaty, loose hem balances out a larger bust with enough hem detail in the dress to keep you in good shape.
Shirt dresses are classy and timeless dresses that are richly versatile, giving you multiple choices to create different outfits from one dress. It comes with different lengths, hemlines, and sleeve lengths. You should seek out options that don’t create gaps in between the buttons and if you have to, go up a size to make sure the buttons don’t pull over your bosom.
If you desire that simple and classy dress that would complement your big breasts, it is best you own a shirt dress because it would soothe you and give you comfort in style.
Smocked dresses
Smocked dresses are pieces that could be seen as amazingly aesthetic because of the details in the threads that were used to put the fabrics together and are highly recommended for a woman with a large breast.
The smock dresses are silhouette pieces designed to cover your breast area quite nicely giving you the comfort and elegance you need to stay confident with large breasts. Smock dresses often feature seam detail below the bust or waist to highlight your figure and cinch you in.
The secret to finding the right smocked dress for your body is simply to make sure you purchase the right size, wear the right bra, pay attention to the overall cut and style of the garment, and it is also important to note that smocking will not minimize the look of your bust and chest but remains a great choice of dress style Idea for a woman with big bust.
The secret to finding the right smocked dress for your body is simply to make sure you purchase the right size.
Wear the right bra, pay attention to the overall cut and style of the garment, and it is also important to note that smocking will not minimize the look of your bust and chest but remains a great choice of dress style Idea for a woman with big bust.
Fit and flare dresses
These types of dresses are also called peplum dresses and could be worn by a lady with large breasts. They are very beautiful staple pieces that are designed to fit tightly at the waist and flare out down the body.
Fit and flare dresses can be very flattering on your body but you should still be careful when making the right choice of a peplum dress. You should opt for peplum dresses that sit and cinches right on the waist and not under the bust because it may end up pushing your breasts up and reducing the desired comfort, you should opt for those that cinch at the waist because it would flatter your body the most and give you the desired comfort and build confidence in your outfit.
Fit and flare dresses designed to hug the body at the top and flare out slightly will help cover your insecurities by reducing the bigger look your breasts have and are recommended for a woman with large breasts.
V neckline dresses
The v-neckline is probably one of the most flattering necklines for dresses and is the best fit for a woman with a big breasts because it neither shows too much cleavage nor highlights the bust. The V-neck helps in emphasizing your look with the right proportioning as it shows off a little of your chest area.
The vertical line in such dresses tends to lengthen the area around the chest making it look reduced or slimmer. It is also best that a lady with a large breast should opt for a wide V-neck dress as they are of greater preference than a very high V-neck cut which may make a large bust look saggy.
Backless dresses with built-in bra
Backless dresses are sexy silhouette pieces that are designed to give you a chicer look and with most of them having wide straps, they help to hold the breasts in position while providing proper support for them. Make sure you look for strapless pieces that are high enough to support your breasts so you can find it easy to adjust them the way you would desire.
Finding the perfect dress for a woman can be difficult and opting for dresses with a built-in bra could be the right choice to make provided you find one that your breast sits in comfortably.
If you love wearing backless dresses, then consider purchasing some sew-in cups that provide better support for the dress.
Off-the-shoulder dresses
This design of the dress is shoulder-bearing and is very sexy without essentially revealing too much of the breasts as off-shoulder styles are distinct and recognizable in their way. These styles are made to sit straight across the top of the chest and wrap around the shoulders and back in a continuous even line.
For a more fitting and supporting look in the off-shoulder dress, it is best to either wear a strapless bra that fits the size of your breast or wear a clear strap bra underneath your dress. An off-the-shoulder dress is an amazing fashionable way to show off a little skin while still retaining an outfit that is classy and timeless.
Dresses made of silky fabrics
Silky fabrics are light and easy-to-wear pieces as too-fitted pieces are difficult to pull off but the silk fabric dresses give comfort to the body figure and would be best for a woman with big breasts because it allows the dress to sit freely and comfortably on her without any form of stretch around her bust.
They are much more than a soft touch in radiance and drape nicely on a woman’s body without adding any form of distress to the breasts while still having the characteristic flattering effect. Hence, are a good wardrobe staple choice of fabric for a woman with big breasts.
Sweetheart neck dress
The sweetheart neckline is a romantic neckline that is extremely flattering and a classic simple dress style that is lovely to wear and super flattering for a woman with big breasts. The sweetheart neckline which is shaped like the top half of a heart remains a wonderful option for fuller-chested women because it accentuates the decolletage, lengthens the neck, and adds balance to the overall silhouette while giving her a longer and leaner appearance.
The sweetheart neckline is a sexy and figure-flattering neckline that has numerous varied shapes that uniquely structure the breast and is one of the most used necklines for special occasions. The sweetheart neckline can be open, and the best (or worst) wearability depends on the size and shape of each breast, as well as on the shape of the sweetheart neckline, the only solution to find the perfect sweetheart neckline for your breast is to try different sweetheart necklines till you find one that suits you perfectly.
It is designed to help the breasts sit beautifully in the cups and add some elegance to your figure and is a recommended style of neckline for a woman with large breasts.
Caution with turtle neck dresses
Turtle neck can be a double-edged sword if you have large breasts.
The wrong turtle neck style can make your breasts look larger and too noticeable to the eyes, while the right turtle neck can highlight your assets tastefully. The best way to flex your turtle neck dresses without feeling insecure and staying stylish is by choosing those that are not too tight because tight-fitted dresses would only give the breasts an illusion of an even larger size.
Choose turtle-neck dresses that have a little bit of space and do not stick tightly to your skin, with this you would achieve the elegant look for a large breast.
Avoid dresses made of ribbed fabrics
Ribbed knit fabrics are also stretchy and have an elasticity to them which allows them to stretch without distorting their shape. The ribbed effect makes the fabric feel a little thicker and too stiff on the body and is not the right choice of silhouette piece for a woman with big breasts. It is, therefore, best to avoid ribbing or knitting your dresses as the signs of stretch shown in them are not suitable for a woman with big breasts.
Ribbed or woven fabrics are generally not a supportive type of fabric and would not work well on women with large breasts making them never to be recommended.
Avoid dresses with big sleeves
The idea of anything staying big In a body Is to add volume to an already existing shape and that alone rules out big sleeves from the dress option style for a woman who has large breasts. When you wear voluminous sleeves, they add a lot of volume to the upper area of your body, giving a heavier effect that would make the busts look heavier than usual.
For that reason, it is best for a woman with big breasts to wear fitted sleeves for her body type. When you wear voluminous sleeves, they add a lot of volume to the upper area of your body, giving a heavier effect that would make the busts look heavier than usual.
Avoid spaghetti strap dress
Large breasts can be uncomfortable if not properly supported by the right dress and cup and as such, dresses with spaghetti straps should be avoided as they would only accentuate the breasts and shoulders. The spaghetti strap dress would make the breast look not well put together, droopy, and less flattering for a woman with large breasts making it a piece to steer clear of at all cost.
The spaghetti strap dress has tiny straps that could make the breast look larger and can only be worn alongside a strapless bra which is never an option too for one with large breasts and are never a recommended choice of dress style but if you must wear a sleeveless dress, then choose those with more supportive straps.
Nancy Baker says
Hello Chi!
I love your tips! Everything you advised has worked for me. I am a plus size short waisted (short torso) hourglass. So when I was a much smaller size – peplum was sooo flattering. I do have larger breasts – even when I was a size 12.
Any one best tip for 2x (5’4”)?
Thank you for all your valued advice!
Best,
Nancy
Chi says
Hi Nancy- thank you! I will be writing more about petite plus size!