When the fashion industry tells me what to wear, I waver between rebellion and compliance.  Today’s post looks at whether trends matter, the busty challenges of trying to follow them, and a few guiding principles for meeting the challenges.

Why should we care about trends? When I first saw this graphic yellow and white pattern from Louis Vuitton, I found it fascinating. Now that I’ve seen it in multiple magazines, I’m already bored–and spring is still weeks away!

Every time I see another model wearing this pattern, it loses a little more of its edge of originality. Although each of us needs to find ways to maintain our own originality, here are reasons to pay attention to trends.

  1. Department and chain stores seem to go overboard on trends, thereby limiting our choices. Remember the Invasion of the Babydoll Tops a few years ago? Paying attention to trends when they’re first announced gives us a chance to figure out how to adapt to them–even though there was no adapting to the babydoll for a busty woman, but more on that dilemma below.
  2. Eventually we’re going to see someone who adapts a trend in a way that we admire and we’re going to want to make it work for us, i.e.,  “I’ll have what she’s having.”
  3. It’s important to remain current. There’s a difference between trying to look retro and never leaving the period in the first place. Also, the sooner you buy something that’s on trend, the more wear you’ll get out of it. Wait until it’s on sale or off-price, and its lifespan is much more limited.
  4. We get bored and want change, but most of us don’t have a fashion designer’s creativity or resources. It’s more efficient for us to let the fashion designers come up with the ideas, and it’s more efficient for the fashion designers to mass produce their ideas.

However, it remains especially challenging for busty women to try to follow trends because:

  • Few mainstream clothing companies use fit models with D+ boobs, and when we find something that fits, it often doesn’t fit the way it’s supposed to.Take this gorgeous BCBG Max Azria dress in my favorite color of the season (they call it poppy, but I’m calling it flame).

    This knit fabric and scoop neckline are great for big boobs, but why did the designer have to add a waist seam? For a G cup woman, it’s going to ride up to just below her bust, looking more like an empire waist, and the hem will be higher in front than in back. If the waist and hem don’t ride up, then be ready for major cleavage.
  • Busty clothing companies offer fewer options. After I fell in love with this dress, I had the bright idea of checking out Pepperberry’s spring collection to see if they had anything comparable. Of course they didn’t! Neither did DD Atelier, BiuBiu or Urkye, although each had items I would like to own that would fit as the designer intended. I am super thankful for the companies that manufacture especially for us, but I also appreciate the St. Bustier business model that cherry picks full-bust-fitting pieces from mainstream fashions for us.

What’s the best way to approach seasonal trends if you’re busty? I’ve come up with the following list, but please add to it in the comments.

1. Concentrate on fit, but don’t forget the other variables that flatter a woman with big breasts:

  • context-appropriate deep scoop, square or V-neckline,
  • fitted and/or defined waist,
  • drape-y fabrics (vs. stiff),
  • accessories that focus the eye away from your bust (unless that’s where you want the attention).

2. If you can’t get the right fit or meet the other variables, look for workarounds:

  • Get alterations. (By the way, I have some BIG news for you: on a trial basis for the next three months, Leila Breton of Three Dresses Project has agreed to write a monthly column about alterations related to being full-busted !!! Look for her first column about altering my tunic on March 6.)
  • Use layers to create the illusion of a more flattering neckline (V-neck cardigan or V-shaped bib necklace over a top that covers your collar bone, for instance).
  • Belt things.
  • Invest in well-fitting classic separates and dresses from the busty clothing companies and accessorize or combine themwith trendy pieces.

    The waist won’t ride up and the neckline won’t ride down in this stretch wool dress from DD Atelier. The flame-colored handbag makes the classic dress more current.
  • If you absolutely MUST own a trendy garment that either doesn’t fit correctly or isn’t flattering according to the “busty rules”, then go for it. Indulge yourself, but avoid cameras and mirrors for the life of the garment. If you do catch a glimpse of yourself, you can always sell the item on eBay or donate it.  (Seriously, it’s okay to wear these things, but 90% of the time that  I’ve done so and then caught a glimpse of myself, I’ve ended up with buyer’s remorse.)

Now that I’ve thought through my approach to the trends that I’m going to write about here, I can’t wait to get started!