Some women take offense at the adjective busty, especially when its used on oneself. They prefer the lingerie industry term “full bust”, the safer adjective “chesty” or simply being identified as “large breasted”. I suppose women who are large of hip take offense being labeled “hippy”, that would upset me also.
Busty
Likewise some women are offended by the term boob. They call them the ever popular slang “girls”, the clinical “breasts”, etc. Lucky for me I am not easily offended, and actually use the term boob to refer to breasts quite frequently. I do not call them girls, maybe because I have two daughters and they are my girls. Nor do I prefer to call them breasts, because men and chickens also have breasts.
Not Busty
Really I want to hear from you. What do you call your body type? Are you self described buxom? And how do you refer to your bust? I say bust and bustline most often now that I’m more aware of the sensitive and tricky nomenclature issue surrounding the mammaries.
Hi, Congratulations of the Oprah connection! I hope someday to have one of your shirts and one of your dresses. I love them both! I look forward to seeing any new designs too.
I don’t mind the “Busty” term. I usually say that I’m large chested. Like you I’m not easily offended either. So either one works for me. Ok, can’t type any longer… have to check out your new website!
I say ‘busty’, but I notice my voice volume and pep goes down as I say it. “Well endowed” never felt right as I do feel large breasts are a curse when it comes to finding shirts, dresses, swimwear and pajamas. I am delighted to have found your site.
So disappointed! Thought that I may have found an answer.. after seeing you on GMA Dallas. But can see that I would have a problem with fit. I am short-waisted 5’2″ petite and high-busted 34D. Perhaps I could shorten the sleeves.. but can see that the necks would be too low cut. Women seem to be willing to show cleavage these days.. but I still find it inappropriate for day or business wear. Your dress or wrap top will not work for me. I am not a fan of big bows… and again such a bow is not a good look for petites. Maybe some day you will have a wrap without a bow.
I don’t like to hear the terms “girls” or “twins”. Large busted or buxom are what I use. We actually have a pair of breasts.. so I prefer the term ” bust.” Will use “boobs” when occasion allows slang.
“Busty” or “large breasted” doesn’t bother me, and neither does “breast” or “boob” (I tend to say “breast” and “large breasted”), but “girls” sounds so stupid to me. It sounds like someone who can’t say that she’s going to the bathroom, but instead has to euphemistically claim to be “going to the little girls’ room.” Note that I don’t have any children, but I still hate the slang.
When I was first described as “busty” by my high school drama teacher, I thought there was something wrong with me because she was having a difficult time with costuming me for a play. I have gotten used to it now and it doesn’t bother me. Neither does “boob” or “boobs” because they are the only slang term that I find tolerable. “Large breasted/busted” or “well endowed” can sound a bit stilted to me, but I prefer them to other rude terms that I won’t mention here. I also find that “girls” sounds immature to me–like the person who is describing their bust is trying to make them sound smaller and little-girish. I prefer not to use the work “buxom” simply because I don’t like it’s etymology/origin.
I would describe my figure as curvy or hourglass-shaped. I have a big bustline, a tiny waist, and voluptuous hips. I am also quite petite (barely under 5’1″), so it is incredibly difficult for me to find shirts that aren’t too low-cut and flatter my waistline. I like your clothing designs, but I agree with Carroll Ann that the bows in the back are a little distracting. I would like either smaller bows (I don’t dislike bows, I find them quite cute) or perhaps even no bow.
I’m encouraged y’all don’t like girls.
Carroll Ann, we have lots of petites as clients and Briana is usually their favorite blouse.
The majority of our clients knot Amanda’s bow in the front. They simply wrap it around the back tie it in the front with a knot. Similar to how Oprah Magazine styled it in this month’s feature.
Being full bust on a petite frame is the one of the toughest challenges to dress. Whether its the neckine, the waistline, or the length of the hem. Thankfully some work can be fixed by a tailor.
Boobs-no. breasts-yes. girls, not too bad. My favorite was enthusiastically delivered to me the other day from a gay male friend. “Oh look at your ta tas!”
I am not at all offended by any word for my boobs (most common word), but I do feel “breasts” is too clinical. In general I hate euphemisms so “the girls” or “the twins” irritate me to no end. When feeling especially whimsical I call them “my secondary sexual characteristics.” The over-the-top clinical nature of that phrase never fails to surprise some people…and make me laugh.
As for self-applied adjectives, I enjoy “buxom” the most.
Long live the ta-tas. Ta-tas are so much better than the other T word which has maybe passed my lips twice in my entire existence.
And “my secondary sexual characteristics” makes me laugh out loud!
“Bodacious ta-tas” is my general phrase for them among girlfriends, or “flotation devices” or I use boobs when talking casually (also with girlfriends or my husband), and I say breasts when talking in mixed company–yes, chickens have them, and so do men, but so do I, that’s just what they are. My 2 year old son calls them my “milks”, which is just fine by me, and much nicer when he is talking about them in public. It’s really hard to offend me, but the word “breastisses”, often said jokingly by men, will get my ire up.
I don’t object to “bust” or “busty”, but am more likely to say “well endowed”, or use the phrase “top heavy” euphemistically, or among girlfriends, “boobacious”. Buxom or voluptuous usually refers to women who are curvy all round, and I describe myself as not apple or pear shaped or hourglassy, but “coconut tree” shaped (round at the top, and then the trunk goes straight down).
I don’t use “girls” or “twins” because it makes me think of Stacy London from What Not to Wear, and I kinda want to claw her eyes out, but in a nice, gentle, polite way. *ahem*. Clint is a-ok by me.
Carroll Ann, I hear you! I’m 5’2″, short-waisted, and a 36-DDD. Depending on the cut of an outfit I can look like I’m all bust and legs, no torso.
I refer to my own as “boobs” and “bust”, but everyone else’s as “bust” only. My mother only ever used “breasts”; to me, this sounded clinical and I always felt as if I was stuttering at the end when saying “breasts”.
In moments of frustration, I’ve used boob-zilla.
I have always referred to my boobs as boobs. I will put on something that is a little low cut and ask my husband or my girls if I look too booby! My girls, 28, and 21 say, mom your boobs are tremendous! At 54 I just tend to think they balance me out now, or I finally grew into them. Although with a size 8-10 bottom I am still sort of top heavy.
Good for you Terri, you have a great perspective. A client called just a couple of days ago and said her son thinks her bustline is the best thing she’s got going for her body. I love the positivity! And lots of women grow into their full busts, the body tends to catch up. Which is why we discourage reductions, especially the younger the patient.
I normally use the term boobs with friends, or chest if I feel I should be less direct. Sometimes we’ll throw in “well endowed” just for fun. I use bust when talking about clothes and how they fit, and “busty” when looking for help finding clothes that will fit my boobs! However, I can not stand it when boobs are referred to as girls, ladies, twins, or tits/titties because the first three just sound so stupid and the last sounds pretty crude. Overall, “boobs” works best for me.
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