I have a confession to make. On Thursday I broke my No Boat Neck for Busty Women Rule because I fell in love with this top’s terracotta color and the top was on sale. In the left photo, the top almost looks sort-of-kind-of okay, even though it highlights my bust with (1) too much fabric above my chest and (2) a neckline that parallels my boobs. Of course, if that’s your goal, then a boat neck is perfect for you, as I discussed on this blog long ago. On the right, I discovered another drawback of this top: when I raise my arms and move around, everything collects above my bust!
I’ve been reconsidering boat necks since reading Butterfly Collection’s endorsement of them in her fun Tips for a Perfect Busty Summer Wardrobe a couple of Fridays ago, but after my latest purchase, I still need to be convinced. (And no one came to the boat neck’s rescue when I asked if this rule always applies back in 2010 . . . perhaps there’s a frumpy element to knits and boat necks on short-waisted women like me?)
Part of my justification for going ahead with this purchase was that I thought I could compensate for the neckline with a necklace or jacket, which is some of the advice given by Angie of You Look Fab for dealing with a high neckline. (Surprisingly, she includes boat necks as an example of a neckline that works for a larger bust–perhaps she means a more scooped-out version.) Below are my attempts to use necklaces and jackets to distract from my boobs.
I’m not in love with any of these results, but I’m not worried about finding ways for this top to work with my wardrobe long term. With all that fabric above my large breasts, it’s only a matter of days before some oily tidbit creates an indelible stain there. If you look closely, you can already see a toothpaste mark between my breasts. Now I understand why I was so tempted by color–the tees that last longest in my closet are black!
P.S. I’m wearing a Fantasie 4520 under this top, and there’s an unfortunate story behind it. I needed a non-patterned nude tee shirt bra last Wednesday and allowed myself to be persuaded to buy this in a 36G again because it was only $50, and I didn’t feel like arguing with the fitter. I didn’t have the heart to ask for Shawntell when this fitter approached me at Town Shop because I had worked with and liked this fitter years ago. However, when she let out an audible gasp and tried to stop me from doing the Scoop and Swoop that I learned at Eveden’s bra fitting school because I was “filling the cup too much”, I knew I needed to be stronger next time. Really, what hope does your average woman off the street have?
Oh, that comment of the fitter is just so sad… 🙁
I don’t know why but I think that boat necks really work well for many big busted women. I guess I’m drawn to them because they highlight breasts WITHOUT being a least bit obscene or indecent.
I do like my boat necks to be pretty tight and stretchy since then that annoying movement won’t happen when I move around. I believe that the top you’re wearing causes that because it seems to be pretty thick and not bubblegum-stretchy. 🙂
Good point about highlighting w/o being indecent, Bra Nightmares. I hadn’t thought of that. Also, GOOD EYE about the fabric! It’s 100% cotton, another personal rule I broke by buying this. I need the extra stretchiness that comes from spandex . . . a lesson I’ve learned but chose to ignore for this color.
Oh and I forgot to say, that color looks amazing on you! So I might have done the exact same thing and bought it ignoring the material. 🙂
Thanks, Bra Nightmares! Even though the style looks matronly on me, the color makes me happy every time I put it on.
Just as there is no one V neck shape/depth/width, the same is true of boat neck tops. I think you need a wider cut (this one isn’t boat necky enough) I would also recommend a deeper cut so that you have more neck to balance out your bust. The material also makes a big difference. I like linen boat necks because they sit more elegantly and I like cotton boat necks that don’t cling but that I can cinch at the waist with a belt.
Of course, not every busty style works on every bust woman. Put me in a swing dress and I look like I’ve escaped from somewhere! xx
Ha ha! I couldn’t wait to read what you would say. I’ll look for something more “boat necky” and in a different fabric.
If I see something that I think would be a good cut for you I’ll be sure to send it!! You make me giggle Darlene xx
I can’t explain the exact reasons boat necks work so well for me (30F) but they do! I think something about the broad neckline helps balance the bust (in fact I would say yours isn’t very wide – I prefer ones that go out to the ends of my clavicles) and as the other commenter pointed out they don’t show any cleavage so I don’t have to worry about it. I also go for very fitted styles in shirts or dresses and I think that helps.
I think pics from Bra Nightmares, Claire and you are in order.
Theoretically, I see why a broad neckline COULD balance out a large bust . . . it could create the illusion of broad shoulders in the same way that wide hips can be an asset.
It might have something to do with your natural “balance points” (based on the width and length of your face). Imogen Lamport’s blog Insideoutstyle has lots of great info about balance points and proportions. I don’t look good in boat necklines because they fall higher than my balance points. I am proportionally longer in the chin to bustpoint dimension than in the bustpoint to waist dimension (which I believe is also the case for you). The boat neckline emphasizes this dis-proportion, whereas a vee neckline helps disguise it. If you have a pretty brooch, try pinning it in the center of the boat neckline, while gathering several inches of fabric from the chest into the brooch–this is probably as clear as mud! You are using the brooch to convert the neckline into a vee. If you are feeling a little sassy, you can pin the brooch off-center to make an asymetrical vee neckline.
Judy, that brooch idea is fabulous. Thanks!
As for my balance points, I knew this neckline fell higher than mine, but I was hoping a jacket or necklace would compensate. I think I’ve learned that on me, it’s better to start out w/ a neckline that does not end higher than my balance points than it is to try to create a lower balance point later . . . there’s just too much fabric.
Also, thank you for that proportionality observation. I just did a very rough measurement of myself, and you are right. What a great new piece of knowledge for me.
I’ve never gotten along with them either. I believe I owned one back in high school, it had horizontal stripes too and was basically horrid on me. 😉
I’m becoming quite fond of scooped necklines. Wraps/v-necks are good but sometimes that runs into the problem of being too low/needing a plunge bra, so scooped are better for me for every day use.
The color is great, though! I can see why you fell for it. 😉
Oh, and did you know BiuBiu has free shipping today only? I’m just saying… 😀
The fitter sounds horrible. Again, you need to try Ewa Michalak bras. You could get one for about $40 and I have a feeling you’d be very fond of them! Comexim even runs cheaper than that…