Dressing a small bust

I was initially inspired to start this blog when searching the internet for ideas on how to dress a relatively small busted girl.  I found a lot of the advice focused on making it look as if there was more there than there actually was.  I found this to be rather upsetting because all it told me was that women needed to have breasts of a certain size in order to be pretty.  It seemed appropriate that my first post deals with the body type that showed me how fashion often tries to teach us to hide ourselves.

To the small busted women whom I hope benefit from this post; let me preface with saying, your body is a miracle.  Just think of all of the tiny complex systems working together right now just to allow you to read this page.  It’s mind boggling.  I should stop now because I tend to sound like a stoner whenever I talk about the amazingness that is the human body for too long.  Point is, you may not be too crazy about your miraculous small-busted body, but I hope this will help you dress well because of, not in spite of it.  As I mentioned in the last paragraph, often when discussing how to dress small-busted women, people focus on creating the illusion of a bust.  If you want to do that, just buy a push up bra and move on with your life.  However for those interested in rocking their small-busted selves, read on. 

The amazing advantage of having a smaller bust is that you can often go without a bra.  You can also wear exceptionally low cut blouses and dresses without losing an ounce of class.  Let's first look at some of the interesting ways you can commandeer men's fashion.

Tomboy look and Menswear

Tomboy look- This style ranges from sporty and casual to formal to rock n'roll inspired.  The concept of the tomboy emerged in 16th century England and was meant to describe a girl who did not conform to standard feminine behavior.  The term implied a certain rude or uncouthness to the person it described.  This is not exactly what Tomboy means today, but I like to think of it as having a little edge to it as a nod to the rude rebelliousness implied in its original meaning.  A great way to achieve this look is to pair interesting graphic tees with dark jeans, dark shorts, or leather leggings (if you want to look a bit edgier) and a jacket.   This look will fit your body naturally, and become an easy everyday look.

This is an example of the more edgy way to work he tomboy look

Menswear – Incorporating aspects of menswear into your wardrobe creates a unique and daring look, which can be androgynous or surprisingly feminine depending on how you wear it.  Menswear is often much easier to rock with a small bust.  

The vest came into women’s fashion briefly a few years ago.  These vests were cut to accommodate women’s bodies, and did not exactly flatter the bustier bodies they were designed for.  However you can wear vests either open or closed over a t-shirt, or a button down and matching pants.  If you intend to wear the vest closed, make sure the t-shirt underneath is simple and fits tightly enough that it wont bunch oddly under the vest, or just stick with the white button down.  If you are feeling really daring, just wear the vest (remember you don’t need a bra) with either matching pants or a matching skater skirt.  

While this jean vest isn't exactly something you
would expect a man to wear with a suit, the cut
still works nicely as it moves focus
to the lovely exposed shoulders.

Wearing the vest open can create a casual, punk,
or even folksy look depending on the
vest and the shirt underneath

Next are ties which punk rock seemed to have commandeered from business attire, but can be worn either way.  Wear a tie with your vest, a button down shirt, and dress pants or a pencil skirt for something classy.  Alternatively, for a spunky casual look, wear a loose tie with an open vest a button down, or plain t-shirt and pants.  You can introduce a lot of variety to the simple white button down, black tie and a skirt or pants look with different lengths widths and styles of tie, bow tie, or even ascots pretending to be ties.

Here a black scarf imitates a tie to achieve
a cute interpretation of feminized menswear

I love suspenders because they are so versatile.  They can be worn with jeans, dress pants, pencil skirts, miniskirts, skater skirts, high waisted shorts, and ordinary shorts.  With suspenders you will want to keep the rest of the outfit simple; black and white and possibly one pop color will prevent it from looking too cluttered.  Plain form fitting t-shirts, cropped shirts, or button downs all look good with suspenders and each create a very different appearance.

Girlier style

But what if menswear isn’t your style?  A great place to draw inspiration from is eras in which boobs were not exactly fashionable.  One such era is the 1920’s, when boxy boyish figures were the ideal.  Flappers achieved this look with dropped waist tops and dresses, loose attire, and beautiful embellishments.  Learn from the flapper by wearing boxy jackets, flowey blouses, and very detailed dresses and tops with geometric patterns. 

This jacket with shoulder pads certainly
gives the  modern version of volume
and boxy shape popular in the 1920's

Despite the wearer sticking her  tongue out at
 me the delicate loose cut of this dress pays
a feminine homage  to flapper fashion

What else does your small bust allow you to wear?  Anything backless (no need for a bra!)  This is a great way to achieve a sensual look that doesn’t depend on a form fitting top, and that maintains an air of elegance.  You can also look very elegant in anything with a high neck,  this will create graceful long lines.  You can rock turtle necks, or show off lovely shoulders (and maybe back) with a sleeveless high necked blouse or dress.  You can also do the opposite and wear plunging necklines with the same amount of class.  Summer dresses are your best friends because they were built for your body, and with their tiny, oddly arranged, or nonexistent straps,  the fact that you won’t need a bra is again an advantage.  Do not fear the strapless dress, you have the unique ability to wear it comfortably, just make sure it fits well!

Ok, so you can be girly, but how are you going to remind everyone that you have a waist.  You occasionally have to remind people of this when you don’t have a bust to do it for you.  Some great options are cropped tops, which emphasize the smallness of your waist by ending abruptly above the waist. 

Summer dress paired with a bolero jacket.  The
bolero jacket emphasizes the waist.

Fitted blazers are built to emphasize the waist.   Embellished shoulders are funky, and give you broader shoulders, which in turn make your waist look smaller.  Peplums flair out below the waist, as do skater skirts, both will emphasize its smallness.  

She is so happy because her peplum is
emphasizing her small waist

High waisted anything will draw attention to where your waist curves in.  

The high waisted skirt, and cropped top
work together to help her waist remind us
that it exists.

Finally belts worn about the waist are also effective at telling the world that you have a noteworthy and inward curving waist.

Look at that inward curving waist!

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the lovely Renee and Tiffany who let me play dress up with them for this post.  I hope this gave you guys some ideas.  If you like any of my suggestions, send me a picture of yourself wearing something inspired from this post, or if you have any suggestions or ideas for how small busted girls can look fabulous, send me those and pictures!