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Last Updated on November 1, 2022 By Chi

How to Make Boobs Look Smaller: 12 Must Know Tips

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Wondering how to make boobs look smaller? You are at the right place!

If you have large chest, it can be tricky! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that, because you probably already feel the pain from time to time. In fact, having big boobs is one of the main reasons that make causal wear for hourglass shaped women so hard to find.

We are bombarded with social media or commercials modeled by women with extremely feminine curves. Nothing wrong with models who have those curves, but it seems so many people (especially men), and our society, think that having a large bust is something to be admired. Since having big boobs in many cultures is viewed as the most desirable and feminine shape, not everyone understands that a lot of women who actually HAVE a larger chest can struggle with dressing their shape.

Table of Contents

  • The Challenge of having large breasts
  • Get the Right Bra
  • Get the Right Fitting
  • Wear Supportive Bras
  • No Push-up
  • Wear Minimizer Bra
  • Bra Specialist
  • Opt for Fitted, Not Tight
  • Avoid High Necklines
  • Notice Necklace Placement
  • Wear Darker Colors On Top
  • Avoid Heavy Fabric

The Challenge of having large breasts

For starters, having big chest makes it so much harder to find certain clothing that fits you, such as button down shirt, or a blouse.

Secondly, if you ever want to wear a shift dress or any dress that goes up and down, the fabrics will just hang straight down from your boobs, which gives you a bit of maternity dress look!

Thirdly, having large chest can also make you look chubbier than you are. That is especially obvious if you happen to be petite. The reason is shorter women tend to have shorter torso and shorter waist. Therefore, if you are short AND have large breasts, then you could look a bit “hunched”. It almost look like under the boobs, there’s not much space left for your waist…

Finally, certain styles that looks so chic on flat-chested women, such as the tube tops, could look totally…different (to say the least) on someone with big boobs. Do you ever feel that way?

I know, I know, the list can go on and on, and I totally understand. Even though I don’t personally have this problem, I know many women (some of them are my readers) who strive to dress in a way that makes their boobs look smaller.

That is why I’m dishing out some easy to follow style tips on how to make your boobs look smaller. Keep reading to get all the stylish details!

Get the Right Bra

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

Ladies, I really can’t stress this enough. You NEED a bra that fits you properly. Now, of course, it’s important that every woman has a proper fitting bra. However, when you’re striving to make your boobs look smaller, it’s even more essential.

You’ve probably heard it before, but the number of women who are wearing the wrong size bra is pretty astounding! It may seem like a catch 22 at first, because you’re probably thinking “I want my boobs to look SMALLER, so why does my bra need to fit perfectly?”

Well…that’s exactly why you need your bra to fit properly. When you wear a bra that doesn’t fit the way it should, it can cause your boobs to look even bigger than they are, much like the rest of the clothes we wear!

how to make boobs look smaller

Get the Right Fitting

Now I have to tell you, it’s not enough to just walk into a department or bra store and try on one or two bras. Unfortunately, getting properly fitted doesn’t quite work like that. For your style goal it’s crucial you take your bra fitting experience a bit further.

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

How to Get the Right Fitting?

Going to a bra fitting specialist is going to be the best bet here.

These individuals are, well…experts on fitting bras properly. That means they’re able to help you find the absolute best bra options to fit your body and goals.

Honestly, if you take nothing else away from these tips I hope you understand just how transformational the right-fitting bra can be for you.

Wear Supportive Bras

I know I don’t have to tell you how many different types of bra styles and fabrics are available in the world. There are so many cute, frilly bras that are adorable with their lace and satin. Sure, they’re great, but they’re generally not the best option when you’re trying to make your boobs appear smaller than they are.

Most often, those bras that are sexy or pretty don’t provide a lot of coverage. Meanwhile, because they use really thin fabrics such as lace, they do not provide much support for your boobs.

how to make breasts look smaller

No Push-up

Of course, this also includes push-up bras or bras with a lot of padding in them.

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

Why you should Avoid Push Up Bras

It probably goes without saying the additional padding is going to make your boobs look bigger, rather than smaller.

When you don’t have a lot of coverage from your bra, you’re not going to have boobs that look smaller, instead, your boobs will likely look bigger.

Wear Minimizer Bra

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

I’ve found that opting for a minimizing bra is a great route for women who want their boobs to look smaller. Minimizing bras give a kind of compression effect to the fit and offer more coverage to your bust. They’re more comfortable than the compression many sports bras provide, and still give you SOME bust shape – giving you the best of both worlds. Now, just like any other bra, there are quite a few different minimizing bra options available so you will want to try at least a few different options to find the option that feels most comfortable for you.

There are many places to get minimizing bras from. Plenty of retailers carry them online or in local store. Of course, it’s ideal to be able to try them on at local stores, which can also provide you with the expert fitting services as I mentioned. If you don’t happen to find one near you, then shopping online could also work as most retailers make it pretty easy to return things you don’t want.

Here is the list of bra brands who make minimizer bras and you can find them with major retailers such as Bare Necessities , Herroom

  • Wacoal
  • Chantelle
  • Simone Perele
  • Vanity Fair
  • Triumph
  • Lilyette
  • Bali
Parfait Enora Minimizer Bra
Parfait $25-52
Aviana Satin and Lace Minimizer Bra
Aviana $55

Bra Specialist

A popular bra brand for women with the full chests is the UK brand Fantasie Row. Their full cup bra size starts with UK Size D (the equivalent to US size D) and goes all the way up to UK Size F (the equivalent to UK size G)

They make not just bras, but also swimsuits, great news for women with full chest! You can shop their brand not only on their own website, but at major US retailers such as

  • Nordstrom
  • Bare Necessities
  • HerRoom

If you happen to be in the UK, Bravissimo is a great brand that specializes in bras for women with big bust. If you are in the US, they can ship to you. I have not found a US retailer who carries Bravissimo, so it will need to be international shipping.

Fantasie Fusion Underwire Full Cup Side Support Bra FL3091
Fantasie $50
Fantasie Estelle Underwire Side Support Bra
Fantasie $29-$74

Opt for Fitted, Not Tight

Now that we’ve established the foundation pieces (aka your bras!) to make your boobs look smaller, let’s chat about the way your clothes should fit to accomplish this goal.

Most women immediately go to thinking that the best way to do this is by wearing oversized clothing, but that’s NOT the case here. Contrary to popular belief, if you put on an oversized top it’s going to make your boobs look bigger.

More fabric = illusion of a larger shape.

Unfortunately, that’s just the way it works. Instead, you want to wear clothes that are fitted.

Now, let me clarify just a bit here because I’m not saying to wear TIGHT fitting clothes.

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

What to Wear Instead

I’m sure you’ve put on a tight-fitting top before and found that your boobs looked bigger than you’d really like.

That’s why the goal really needs to be fitted instead of tight.

In other words, you really need a nice happy balance between loose and tight – where the clothes curve against your body shape and show where your body actually is.

NORDSTROM SIGNATURE Button Front Stretch Silk Dress, Main, color, IVORY- PURPLE REY FLORAL
Nordstrom $149
ASTR THE LABEL Elysian Dress, Main, color, NAVY SKETCH FLORAL
ASTR $129

This is especially if you happen to be short, because clothing with no shape tends to shorten us as well.

Take this advice into consideration for any garment that you’re wearing on your top half. So, this includes not only your shirts and blouses, but also one piece such as dresses and jumpsuits. Don’t forget that outerwear is included here! If you want your boobs to look smaller, tight fitting cardigans and very fitted blazer/jackets aren’t going to help you achieve that.

Swap those tight fitting outwear pieces for something that has more of a straight fit. You will likely find pieces like denim jackets, bombers, etc. are great options for that straight fit that’s flattering and gives your boobs a smaller look.

Avoid High Necklines

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

Another tip you may be confused about, so let me explain.

High necklines, while they technically ‘cover’ your bust area are not ideal when you want your bust to look smaller than it is. The reason is that a top (or dress) that has a high neckline actually emphasizes your chest area.

Here is an example of Sofia Vergara, who is an hourglass shape with full chest. By wearing a crew neckline, which covers the chest fully, it actually emphasizes her big breasts.

how to dress hourglass figure
Sofia Vergara (Getty Images)

This is why it’s better to stick with a neckline that has some open space, like a v-neck or scoop neck. These types of necklines break up the space around your bust and make your boobs much less of the focus.

hourglass wedding dresses
Sofia Vergara, 5’6″, hourglass figure (Getty Images)

The key here is to be cautious of how deep the necklines lay though. I’m sure you’ve worn deep v-necklines and felt like your boobs were the ONLY focus of what you were wearing. Similar to the way your clothes need to fit your body, you need to find a middle ground with the neckline.

Yes, a deep neckline will cause your chest to be a major focus. So, just make sure you’re being cautious of how low it lays on your body.

Another way to “distract” a bit from your chest when you are wearing the lower neckline is to wear one with puffed sleeves. The combination tend to draw more attention side ways, i.e. towards your shoulders and upwards to your face, instead of strictly focusing on your girls.

Notice Necklace Placement

Accessories can be such a fun way to express yourself and take your outfit to the next level. When your goal is to make your breasts look smaller, you’re going to want to take the length of your necklace into consideration.

This is SO important! Anytime you wear a necklace that rests right at your boobs, it’s going to bring a lot of attention to them, which can then give them the illusion of being bigger. Since that isn’t your goal, I suggest sticking with necklaces that rest around the collarbone area OR are long enough to stop below your boobs. Each length is going to give you a different aesthetic for you to consider.

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

How to Choose the Right Necklace?

Opting for a necklace that rests at the collarbone area is going to bring the eye UP and away from your boobs, giving them a lot less attention and giving the illusion of a smaller chest.

If short necklaces aren’t really your thing or you just want some more variety in your accessorizing long necklaces are also a great option to consider.

The key, as I mentioned before, is that the long necklace is long enough to rest below your boobs. This long length creates an elongated effect to your chest/upper body area which can help aide in your boobs looking smaller.

how do i make my boobs look smaller

Now I will say its best, if you’re going to go with the long necklace option, that you stick with necklaces that are on the delicate side. Throwing on a very chunky long necklace won’t be the best option for you.

Wear Darker Colors On Top

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about color! A really easy way to make your boobs look smaller? Wear darker colors on the top half of your body. Every woman knows the age-old style “hack” of darker colors being more slimming. You can still have fun with the colors you wear, just focus the bright/bolder colors on your bottom half to allow the top half to be the darker tones.

how to look slimmer

Avoid Heavy Fabric

Not all fabric lays on the body the same way. The same shirt can be made of cotton and a chunky knit and look COMPLETELY different when worn. This is why you’ll want to avoid those heavy fabrics when selecting clothes that fit on the top half of your body.

HOW TO MAKE BOOBS LOOK SMALLER

Why you Should Avoid Heavy Fabrics

Heavy fabrics will make your chest appear larger, so it’s best to stay away from them when you want to dress so they look smaller than they are.

Anytime you’re getting dressed or shopping make sure you’re paying attention not just to the way the garment fits but the types of fabric it’s made of.

Hello there! My name is Chi Li, 5'2", founder of PETITE DRESSING, the clothing line for women 5'4" & under. Are you petite and have you been frustrated with what to wear?
This is an issue few truly understand and even fewer brands truly address.
Being petite myself, I have been writing about fashion for short women since 2016 and my brand petitedressing.com has touched the lives of millions.
My styling concepts for petite women not only focus on the perfect fit but also on flattering & elongating the petite frame for a lean silhouette, optimizing the proportions.
Shop my clothing line here.

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Comments

  1. Sara says

    May 13, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Thank You Chi!
    As a petite lady with a short torso and 34D chest, I am always frustrated with how much literal space my breasts take up. Before your picture of Sofia Vergara in this post, I didn’t realize even “perfect” women can be similarly affected in their look.

    Would you be interested in following up with a post on different versions of “sweetheart neckline” for petites? I have noticed they are NOT all created equal. Especially for small busts and big busts.

    Thanks again for speaking directly to us!
    The Pink Lady (AKA My Apple Shape + My Pink Complexion 🙂 )

    • Chi says

      May 16, 2020 at 10:08 am

      Hi Sara- thanks for your comment! Interesting to understand what your observations are in terms of how the sweetheart necklines work different on you?

      • Sara says

        May 16, 2020 at 9:06 pm

        Hi Chi!

        Sure, I’m flattered to be asked. See below.
        FYI If photos would be easier to understand what I mean, just email me.

        Sweetheart necklines:
        – Triangle/cami On my Full Bust: the spaghetti straps of a triangle-type sleeveless dress (Like a sundress or cami) often start in the middle of the breast, instead of at the shoulder line. That is either because the breasts are plumper and the “mountain” stretches the material sideways, or the woman has a wider ribcage to begin with. I’ve found in the few sweetheart tops or dresses that have the straps starting at farthest point away, the far end of the shoulder, makes my chest look narrower in a pleasing way.

        – Triangle/cami On a small bust: I’ve noticed the longer the straps on a slip-dress, the flatter the breasts tend to look. Because there’s usually isn’t as much flesh distributed over the chest area, they can get away with the deep plunge of an unsupported sweetheart camisole bodice. But it also emphasizes what is NOT there in the process.

        – Horizontal sweetheart: when a Sweetheart neckline dips evenly across, it makes my large bust look even bigger

        – V-neck Sweetheart: When a sweetheart neckline begins at the low point in the center sternum, and angles up as it goes out, til it end so at the top of the shoulder, it makes my proportionally large breasts look smaller yet still sculpts my chest.

        – shallow/narrow Sweetheart: When the neckline stops before it reaches the shoulder point (at an angle or horizontal), it makes the breasts look plumper, and the neck shorter and wider.

        The Pink Lady 😉

        • Chi says

          May 18, 2020 at 7:07 am

          Hi Sara- thanks for the great and thorough tips! It’d be wonderful if you’d like to join my FB group- lots of other ladies could benefit from these too!

          • Sara says

            May 20, 2020 at 10:50 pm

            Thank you, Chi 🙂
            I didn’t know about the Facebook group. I will join!

            PinkLady

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