8 Australian creatives share their styling tips for big boobs
IMAGE VIA @marsozougwu/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY RUBY STALEY
Built-in accessory.
Amid all the raging hormones and self-consciousness of my teenage years, practically overnight I went from a minus A cup to a DD chest. None of my shirts fitted me like they used to, and I needed all new bras – basically, I had no idea what to do with them. I often felt like my boobs took away from my outfits, or were simply the star of the show.
Over the years, I’ve tried everything – from hiding them away under various black turtlenecks or pushing them up to the gods with a super push up bra – trying to figure out how I felt most comfortable with my body.
For more musings on big boobs and fashion, head here.
Over this period, I’ve begun the process of desexualising my own body – essentially seeing it for what it is, rather than a sexual vessel. With this, comes a greater sense of body neutrality (something I’m also working on) which has helped me to see my boobs for what they are: just another part of my body.
I’m also in the throes of figuring out how I feel about my boobs in a gendered sense. I use my boobs as a vehicle to connect to my femininity but they can feel like a bit of a barrier when I’m tapping into my masculine side.
All of this exploration has been made possible through clothing. I enjoy trying out new styles, trends and designs to see what allows me and my big boobs to feel most confident. And while the way I dress has changed over time, and can be different day to day, dressing for a bigger bust has definitely become a lot more intuitive for me.
Because I’m on the lower end of extended bra sizes, I’m aware my experience is different from those who have difficulty finding supportive items in their sizes, let alone on-trend pieces. To give me some inspiration for championing my big boobs through my styling, I asked some of my favourite larger chested creatives for their advice on dressing to celebrate themselves and their bigger chests.
Niamh Galea, founder and designer of Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp
My philosophy with dressing has always been to embrace the body you have and emphasise the elements you are taught to feel shame around as an act of self-love and visual medicine. My boobs are definitely a part of this process for me and although last time I checked I was an 18E, I haven’t bought or really worn a bra in years.
I tend to dress pretty playfully and like to draw attention to my body as a kind of visual reclamation, sort of as a self-aware power move of acknowledging ‘yeah they’re big and get used to it!!’. This can involve wearing tight or sheer things, or layering bralettes or bikinis over other tops. I also love a stretched out tight white Bonds chesty top and ‘Australian cleavage‘ (Google it). In my most recent collection, I designed a V-neck ruched top as a challenge to myself to wear V-necks which is a style I haven’t really been confident wearing and it’s definitely been fun to reclaim this cut.
Amara Ozougwu, visual merchandiser and model
When styling myself, I like to wear outfits that make me feel confident and express elements of my personality. This usually includes a top that flatters and accentuates my DD breasts. Bonus points if the top includes built-in support so I don’t have to ruin the look with a visible bra.
Having larger breasts can be a blessing and a curse. It’s often frustrating when you fall in love with an item of clothing, only to try it on and realise it was designed for a smaller bust. On the flip side, it feels great when you find an outfit that your boobs fill out perfectly.
I find structured clothing, with boning and adjustable straps, are the most suitable for me. This includes corseted and bustier tops. But ultimately people with big boobs should have the freedom to wear what makes them feel comfortable and [like] their most authentic self.
Allie King, content creator
Like most women with large breasts, I have a complicated relationship with them. Visually, I love the way that they look, but I hate the discomfort and hyper-sexualisation that inherently comes with them. I don’t usually wear things that accentuate my chest, but I simply adore the look of this Marshall Columbia blue heart top. I saw Dua Lipa wearing this top and as much as I adored it, I was convinced that it wouldn’t suit my chest. However, I took a gamble and bought it, and the second that I put it on I was pleasantly surprised by how confident I felt in it.
I really struggle finding tops that are both on-trend and fit my body. I do not like the way oversized things hang on my boobs. But ever since putting this top on, I have had the realisation that there are adorable tops out there that flatter big tit ladies. This style of top is great for me as it does not showcase my cleavage, but it hugs my body and flatters me immensely.
Lamishi, content creator and recruitment coordinator
I love showing my décolletage and I didn’t always. It took a long while, but I am glad that I have gotten to the point that I don’t feel uncomfortable or feel like I am showing too much when wearing a low-cut top or a bikini when this is my body and I happen to have bigger boobs.
I am thrilled whenever I find an outfit I can wear without a bra, which rarely happens. I still struggle with finding tops and dresses as I just can’t order anything – especially the cupped dresses or tops – and expect it to fit as well as most gym wear top crops. I usually have to wear a sports bra to get support.
Cait Burke, Fashion Journal’s Digital Editor
I’ve written about the challenges of having bigger boobs and being into fashion before here, and while there’s definitely been an uptick when it comes to the representation of bigger boobs in the industry, we still don’t see them often enough. I’ve had big boobs since I was 13, and it really does become part of your ‘look’ whether you like it or not. Your clothing starts to fit differently, and people think it’s okay to regularly comment on your chest size (this is something FJ contributor Carmen Azzopardi has written about here). As a DD to E cup, I’m fortunate that I can still easily access bras that fit me (whether they’ll be the bras I like aesthetically is another thing entirely), but often I opt to go braless.
Some tops I own won’t fit me unless I go braless, and I usually prefer the way my boobs look when they’re sitting naturally, even though it definitely attracts more unwanted looks. The sexualisation of big breasts is something that can be frustrating to deal with, but on the other hand, I do enjoy embracing that ‘sexy’ element but doing it in my own way. Often I’ll wear a very fitted singlet or a corset – ideally an item that’s form-fitting enough to hold the girls in place – but with an oversized pair of tailored pants or baggy jeans and a bomber jacket. I like that blend of sexy but a bit grungy. Stretchy fabrics like long-sleeved meshes and this button-up Permanent Vacation top I’m wearing in the photo are go-to’s for me as well. They’re comfy and non-restrictive but don’t hide the fact that I have a bigger chest.
Mahalia Handley, model and content creator
Being a young woman with a G cup came with a lot of restrictions. Physically, there are many issues that we go through but a concern I mainly felt every day was that I had to endure choosing to style with more self-modesty due to the size of my chest, which is total bullshit as it’s something out of my control. The only reason women with large chests feel that way is because our bodies are sexualised without consent due to something we can’t control (the growth of our bodies).
There is always some sort of control over how a larger chest is supposed to look, and I hate it. So now I go a lot of the time without a bra, without taping and let my breasts fall where they want. I shut down any comments on where they should be sitting and how they should look because I’m not going to appease anyone other than myself. If I feel like wearing a low top or a turtleneck it’s completely dependent on how I want to dress that day, and that is where I find and restore [my] power.
Gabi Byrne, marketing student and social media intern
I used to hide behind baggy T-shirts or jumpers in my teen years. Now I dress in what I feel confident and most comfortable in. I always like to go for items that are going to flatter my chest – there are simply some tops I don’t feel comfortable wearing. Some days I feel most sexy wearing a high neck and being covered head to toe and other days I’m happy with my cleavage on show.
Comfortability and fashion should all be based on you and what you feel confident in. Sometimes I do still feel uncomfortable if I know I’m wearing a top that may get a little more attention than something less ‘sexy’. I feel that there are certain occasions that need a more business-appropriate outfit, but I love my body and don’t feel like any other woman should feel uncomfortable about what they have, no matter the shape or size.
Izzy Wight, Fashion Journal’s Editorial Assistant
I was a late bloomer, which meant my D-cup chest came as a complete surprise. At first, it felt like a very unpleasant one, a kind of fleshy, slightly lopsided curse on my otherwise straight-up-and-down body. Realising my boobs weren’t just going to disappear, I eventually got over it – and turned to the internet to find out how to style my new bra size.
It was a series of trial and error before I figured out the formula. I started paying attention to proportions and fit, both of which I had completely ignored in my wardrobe previously. Because I still don’t love showing a lot of cleavage, I generally go for a supportive crop top in a neutral colour (black is a favourite). In an attempt to be sexy, I’m showing some midriff here, which I like to do to detract from my chest. When something’s a little more risqué, I go for neutral colours and sleek, smooth lines. While it looks like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen, I know everything is strapped in and secured. Sexy, no?
This article was originally published on May 13, 2022.
For more on the sexualisation of boobs, head here.
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