Busty Move

As one of the most flat-chested people you know (and proud of it! (sometimes)), it never occured to me how tricky it is for the bustier among us to dress for appropriately for work without feeling like we're dressing for a trip to a Muslim country.

But, after having this very discussion with my voluptuous co-worker a few days ago, I decided to get some advice. For you. Because again. Flat-chested over here. I could wear a shirt cut down to my belly button and no one would blink an eye.

Moving on.

For the rest of you, here are 10 tips for keeping your girls covered and your sense of style in tact.

1. Know your bra size. If you are getting the multiple boob effect, or if your bra straps are digging deeper into your shoulders as the day goes on, something is wrong. The quickest solution is a quick bra fitting, which you can get at any high-end department store or lingerie shop.

2. Wear bras that are appropriate for work. Seamless bras with maximum coverage are the best. Bras with a lot of lace or other details might be sexy, but they can also show through shirts and sweaters, bringing more attention to your ladies instead of less. Bras without the right support will leave you, ahem, bouncing all day long.

3. When all else fails, minimize. If you are wearing the right size and style of bra and still feel too busty, you might consider a minimizer. Keep in mind though, from what I hear, that might not be the most comfortable option if you are going to be putting in a lot of long hours.

4. Know your neckline. Thanks to Ashley Harris' recent post, we all know how to choose the best neckline for our face. Now, make sure you are choosing the best neckline for your breasts. A button-down shirt, open at the collar, gives the illusion if a V-neck with a little more coverage. A boat neck is also a flattering choice and a cowl neck is great on its own, or dressed up with a suit jacket.

5. Draw the eye upwards. You busty ladies are probably no strangers to the "My face is up here, stupid" syndrome, and work is no exception. The more you can do to keep people's eyeline high, the better. If you're wearing a lower cut V-neck, for example, consider putting a simple camisole underneath. Steer clear of anything lacy or detailed that will pull the eye down. You can also use accessories to your advantage-- a brooch on your shoulder, for example, or a strand of pearls that ends just below your clavicle. Avoid long pendants or necklaces that end right where you don't want people to be looking.

6. No buttons, no problems. Shirts without buttons have less of a tendency to gape open, so try T-shirt style blouses or sweaters. If you feel like your top fits a little too snugly for office comfort, try a silky camisole underneath to help it lay more smoothly. (A cotton cami will only stick to the sweater and make it worse.)

7. Buy for your bust. A button down shirt that gapes at the bust is never going to look right, no matter what you do. Buy a few sizes larger, for a good fit in the bust, and then have the rest of the shirt tailored to fit your other narrower curves.

8. Know your proportions. For an hourglass figure, a pencil skirt is probably best, while an A-line skirt is just the ticket for someone larger on top with a narrow waist and bottom half. Dressing in a monochromatic theme can also help minimize what needs to be minimized and maximize the best. Try a few different styles and see what looks and feels best.

9. Suit Up, Button Up. Suits with two or three buttons mean a higher closure, which means your bust is more covered. Avoid suits with a single button in the middle. A double-breasted suit shouldn't even cross your mind. (Remember, we are going for less breast, not double breast.)

10. Follow the leader. Look around your office or office building for a similarly built woman and see what she wears. It will either give you some good ideas, or show you how not to do it.

That should probably keep you out of trouble, when it comes to your office dress code, at least.

Any other ideas from our busty sisters out there?