If you’re thinking, “Darlene, you’ve covered this ad nauseum,” you’re right! But someone named Gracie G. from Levelland, Texas, asked Tory Burch this question in her column for the September issue of InStyle: “I have a large bust. What type of necklaces can I wear, and which styles should I steer clear of?”
Here’s her surprising answer: “Look for longer-length chains or necklaces that have small beads. They’ll fall beautifully over a large chest and help create an elongated silhouette. Avoid short, chunky necklaces that can appear bulky and overwhelm your frame.”
I’m all for an elongated silhouette, but the only way a long necklace will fall beautifully over my large chest is if I’m standing perfectly still. And the danger isn’t of a necklace overwhelming my frame; it’s of my frame overwhelming the necklace!
But has this worked for you? For instance, when I recently asked about necklace length on the Campbell & Kate Facebook page, one woman answered, “Long chunky necklaces do not work with the larger bust line..but i find that smaller more delicate ones with something at the end to anchor it works fine.” Perhaps something like this necklace from a Finnish jewelry site that Tina has introduced me to? (By the way, if you have to wear an ID badge, be sure to check out their ID card strings!)
I realize their are other other exceptions, such as the time I wrote about how women with large busts and very small backs can wear delicate chains despite the fact that large necklaces actually minimize a large bust.
But in general, how true does Tory Burch’s advice ring for you?
I’m with you, Darlene. When I wear long necklaces, I always end up fiddling with them the whole time because I’m uncomfortable with the way they either bounce off my boobs or sort of get stuck between them. I feel more comfortable and confident in a necklace with a substantial focal point that rests comfortably in the space above my cleavage.
I am still trying to figure out the necklaces. I have been going for “big ones.”
But a few weeks ago, I got a necklace on clearance. And I am completely addicted. It feels like it matches everything, and draws the eyes up. Away from my cleavage. It might just become my signature piece of jewelry.
It is similar to this one, but with a leather chain, and a more leaf-like shape: http://www.philipparoberts.net/5915sn.html
I think for women who are small all over, except their bust, delicate necklaces could be better over larger ones, to not make them look too top heavy, so in that sense it makes sense that a large one would overwhelm their frame. But long ones? Hmm… I used to wear long ones with big pendants at the end, but they swung around like crazy, ending up everywhere. Now I like them to hit just 1-2″ over the cleavage, and then not too small pendants. I think that works best, it breaks up the surface from neck to bust
I have found necklaces and necklines work best if they hit my balance points – a head length down from my chin and a head width(widest point) down from my chin and I keep necklaces in scale with my build – i.e. wrists and hands not weight – some large women have small and delicate hands and wrists and vice-versa. I got this from a book titled The Triumph of Individual Style by Mathis and Connor which is overly complicated but very sound but, alas, out of print.
Plus I never wear a necklace if I am wearing a bigger than the tiniest of stud earrings – the chest area can get overly complicated quickly when you are an H cup!
Excellent blog, Darlene, really useful and interesting – keep up the good work!
I’ve been wearing a long necklace to create the illusion of a V neck, after reading this trick on stackdd+ The Joan Holloway pic was convincing and I must admit it works pretty well!
I started wearing long necklaces ( between 34″ and 36″) a whole ago and find them so much more flattering than shorter necklaces. It really does create the illusion of a deep v, minimizing my bust. Most of mine are on the more delicate side, usually with a pendant on the end.
Chic Mummy, I’ve just checked out your great pics on your blog and agree the long necklaces definitely look flattering. But how are they when you walk down the supermarket aisles? They just don’t look like they would behave!
Astrid, same question–no issues w/ bouncing necklace? I’ve seen this on large-busted commuters walking quickly to catch their trains. And it happens to me EVERY time I say to myself before leaving the house, “I don’t care. I love the way this long necklace looks on me. I’m going to wear it no matter what.” And of course it’s fine when I’m standing still, but whenever I have to walk anywhere for 20 feet at a time, I feel like my bouncing necklace MUST be the center of attention (or I’m sure everyone is wondering why I’m holding it).
But I just bought a long necklace from Macys last night and will be experimenting w/ it soon.