All day yesterday I wore this sweater (over the Carissa Rose Farrah Shell in persian red) I received for Christmas. After wearing it twice the tie broke so I had to wear it completely buttoned up with the cowl neck, as opposed to just buttoning one button and cinching the waist with the tie.
As I walked the cowl neck had a life of its own. The thing bounced each time I took a step. I guess resting on a FF bust was just too much of a spring board for it.
Which segues us into the neckline discussion. The neckline is important (in addition to no cowl necks allowed) because if its too low, “you look like a sl*t”! At least that’s how one client put it. She followed her comment with, “if I get something that fits the neckline and bust, then I just look chubby because its big in the waist”. And she is a curvy Italian, size 4 SW (small well-endowed) in our line.
Even wear to work pieces have necklines so low that they require wearing the ubiquitous camisole, which adds extra bulk, which is usually unwanted bulk.
Over to you, what are your neckline pet peeves? Or better yet, what are the necklines you feel good in and enjoy wearing?
I love a great deep V, but she’s right it’s not work appropriate, especially since I’m short, people can just look down there to my bra. I love the look on small breasted women like the picture of Kate Hudson above. I kinda envy that.
Oh hey, maybe a necklace might work with the cowl neck sweater to hold it down so it doesn’t bounce as much. It’d have to be just right though so it doesn’t look weird. I’ve seen it done, but I cannot remember where.
I actually don’t love a plunging v on any size. On a small bust, it emphasizes a bony chest and lack of upper curves. On a fuller bust, it looks tarty (and you can’t wear a bra! Awful). Either way it always seems to say “I’m trying too hard” to me.
It doesn’t seem possible to cover up every last hint of cleavage when you have a big bust and we’re going to get flack no matter what. If we wear a high neckline, we’re accused of showing off our “sweater girls.” If we wear a lower neckline, we’re showing too much cleavage. What else can we do? Wear a sack? Why do we have to feel so ashamed of something we have no control over?
I wear all types of necklines and all of them have their benefits and drawbacks. I wear turtlenecks for warmth (they don’t look as bad on me as it might seem–I have a long neck and I layer them under a v-neck to break up the chest area), v-necks with camis, sweetheart necklines, scoopnecks, cowl necks, and square necklines. All of these types of necklines can vary. Not all cowl necks are as low and drapey as the one you linked to. I suspect you just need one that comes above the bust. Other than the turtleneck tough, every option will show some amount of cleavage, even with a cami. I have accepted that as my burden as a busty woman and I’m sure I have been judged for it at some point, but oh well. It’s something we just need to deal with.
Camis don’t add extra bulk (actually I find they have a nice smoothing effect), but in the summer I find them especially uncomfortable. I’m thinking of altering some of my necklines to come up a little higher, but I’m not sure how to do that exactly.
Right on. I’m tired of feeling like a sl*t when I try to wear tank tops in the summer. Help Carissa Rose!
My pet peeve is with wrap necklines. They are the go-to for curvy girls but I ALWAYS have to have a camisole under it which essentially just draws the eye to the bust. I won’t even mention how hard it is in the summer to find something flirty that still covers bra straps…
Carissa, congratulations on your feature in Oprah – my mom and I scoured through our magazine until we found you. What an awesome write-up! I also love the way that the blue dress was styled with the large necklace – not something that I would have thought of. I hope that the Oprah blurb generates great publicity.
I am 21 and a 32 G. At my age I often want to show a little cleavage, I don’t think that makes me slutty or even look that way. There are times when cleavage is appropriate and times when it isn’t. Look at Selma Hayek for instance; she is quite busty and has no problem showing it off, and when I think of her I don’t think slutty or trashy I think confident, curvy, and where does she find clothes that she can have cleavage in without falling out. Which is the problem I have I like a little cleavage, but I don’t like the feeling of being about to fall out of my shirt or dress. I want more shirts and dresses available that show “tasteful” amounts of cleavage.
I just go for the basic cotton t-shirts sold at Kohls. They are comfy and very inexpensive, and i wear them under everything to cover myself up. I get the Large in the Junior section.
There is also a nice wrap dress sold at American Apparel that fits extremely well on the ladies up top.
I am petite, so finding necklines that don’t go too low on me is very difficult. i wind up having to wear camisoles underneath my shirts, which doesn’t seem to add extra bulk as long as they are well-coordinated with the rest of my outfit. It seems like no matter what, I am going to show cleavage. I prefer V and scoop necklines because they flatter my bust unlike high t-shirt necklines, which looks awful. It really upsets me that people accuse me of being inappropriate when I wear a shirt or dress that fits my waist, too (even if the clothes aren’t tight). I really hate hiding my waist because all it does is make me look way bigger than I actually am.
We older women with large busts have an additional issue with necklines that are too low, which is that with time, your cleavage–or at least the “vee” of it–develops wrinkles and/or lines, even in the best fitting bra, and that just looks sooo old and unattractive.
Terry,
Very insightful comment. I hear that from our older clients. I prefer to dress them in a slanted/deeply angled V neck (not low), as opposed to a wide V or scoop. We want to create direction with the neckline, not too much skin reveal.
Also you may considering applying a light cover of make-up & powder, just on the decollete that is showing. Its fine to cover our flaws.
The decollete is exceptionally prone to sun damage, so when in the sun (especially if you’re under 30) either cover that area or apply super SPF.
Hmmm, I’m now wondering how old one gets before the cleavage shows wrinkles. That thought to one side, as a five foot 1.5 inch post-menopausal woman with temperature control issues and a 32G bustline, I am mindful of necklines. I favor v-necks or scooped necks, and with the right bra, I haven’t had many problems with cleavage peek or inappropriateness. Maybe my collection of tops is limited, but I am usually comfortable and usually don’t look like my entire torso is made up of mammary tissue. Of course, when I work out, I am wearing that e-nell bra that makes for a unibreast, no matter what top I am wearing. But in the middle of a half-marathon, I care less whether there is a unibreast and more that there is no bounce.
I’m 42, 5’6″ with a 36E bust and I find that V necks, square and Scoop necks work best on a large bust. I agree that they never seem to fit properly though and always show too much cleavage or your bra. I usually end up pinning them in place (or to my bra) or sewing them with invisible thread to just the right height. I have a few lines on my decoletage so I use MAC face and body foundation to cover them up and this means that my chest matches my face and my skin is lovely and flawless.
Pingback: My Dream Red Carpet Outfit | Carissa Rose – Clothing Line for Women with D+ Cups
Pingback: Designers we Love | Carissa Rose – Clothing Line for Women with D+ Cups