Yahoo Finance 9 best summer dresses for big busts that don’t compromise on style
After some significant delays and bucket loads of rain, the sun is slowly gracing us with its presence. We could forgive its lateness if it wasn’t for the sudden panic we’re all now experiencing at the lack of a summer wardrobe.
Anything other than loungewear has been relegated to the back of the cupboard, and those outfits that once made us feel fabulous don’t quite feel the same after a year without wear.
If you’re part of the DD+ brigade, this panic increases tenfold. The simple act of getting dressed becomes a minefield of out of control cleavage, gaping buttons, visible bras and dodgy sizing, and shopping for a new wardrobe quickly loses its appeal when faced with so many challenges.
But the excitement of finally having reasons to get dressed up is motivation in itself to get out there and hunt down some gorgeous summer dresses that tick all of the boob-shaped boxes. If you’re reading this and your boobs are already starting to sweat at the thought of trying on the same dress in four different sizes, then a comprehensive list of tried and tested dresses for big busts is exactly what you need.
We’ve done all the work so you don’t have to, focusing on which styles, shapes and cuts work best for your chest. One read of this and you’ll be able to put together a beautiful collection of dresses to see you through all of summer’s occasions and activities. Just maybe pack a brolly, just in case.
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You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
The best summer dress for bigger busts 2021:
Best overall – Fotayne gingham dress: £145, Kitristudio.com
Best V-neck – Marks and spencer pure cotton V-neck belted midi dress: £69, Marksandspencer.com
Best occasion dress – Ghost luella dress: £99, Ghost.com
Best for vintage lovers – Meadows caster dress in french floral: £170, Meadows-store.com
Best for earth lovers – Omnes sophia square neck tiered midi dress in rainforest print: £75, Omnes.com
Best plus-size style – Never Fully Dressed Red seville dress: £79, Neverfullydressed.co.uk
Best mini dress – River Island green short sleeved broderie mini dress: £48, Riverisland.com
Best for beach – Melisa Odabash fru dress lemon: £205, Beachcafe.com
Best value – Tu at Sainsburys confetti print frill hem maxi dress: £20, Sainsburys.co.uk
Fotayne gingham dress
Best: Overall
Kitri is a brand renowned for their vibrant prints and sell-out collaborations, but we’ve recently learnt how great many of their styles are for dressing big boobs. This particular style, the Fonteyn gingham dress, is the superstar. There are so many carefully considered components to this dress that make it flattering on the bigger bust. The first, and most important, is the subtle shirred panel at the waist. Sitting just underneath the chest, it cinches and highlights the waist while contrasting with the a-line shape of the skirt, working that illusionary magic to make the waist look even smaller.
The second is the area that stretches across the chest itself. Usually a tricky area to get right on off-the-shoulder dresses, the Fontayne challenges what we thought to be true. With loose fabric over the chest area and a tight elasticised ruffle above, everything works in perfect harmony to flatter the chest. Add to this all the other details, like the adorable puff sleeves and the mix of ginghams, and you have a winner of a dress that will make you feel fabulous with every wear.
Buy now £145.00, Kitristudio.com
Marks and spencer pure cotton V-neck belted midi dress
Best: V-neck
If you have big boobs, you know you can always rely on M&S to deliver. So many of their dresses work wonderfully for big busts, but we had to draw attention to this understated style. V-necks can be intimidating if you are conscious of cleavage, but this dress has you covered, with a discreet hook-and-eye allowing you to control the depth of the neckline. The soft belt and statement buckle draw eyes to the waist, and the fit makes it suitable for so many occasions. Dress it up with strappy heeled sandals, or down with trainers.
Buy now £69.00, Marksandspencer.com/
Ghost luella dress
Best: Occasion dress
Ghost are the MVPs of occasionwear, with their ultra-feminine silhouettes in gorgeous floaty fabrics. Occasions of every variety are finally back in the calendar for summer 2021, so whether it’s a wedding, a baby shower or a celebratory dinner somewhere fancy, Ghost offer a fabulous assortment of styles that will have you looking the part. This dress in particular stood out. The crepe fabric skims curves beautifully, while the high neckline and pleated bodice elongates the chest, creating a sleek and streamlined silhouette. And who can resist a ditsy floral print? We know we can’t.
Buy now £95.00, ghost.co.uk
Meadows caster dress in french floral
Best: For vintage lovers
If you like your wardrobe to take you back in time, Meadows is the brand for you. Heavily inspired by Victoriana, with touches of prairie and folk, each piece is romantic and feminine. This piece specifically is one to treasure. We’ve touched on square necklines already, but this one features a higher neckline which gives it a vintage bodice feel, which is not only incredibly flattering on bigger busts, but feels very supportive and controlled. Plus, it’s 100 per cent cotton!
Buy now £170.00, Meadows-store.com
Omnes sophia square neck tiered midi dress in rainforest print
Best: For earth lovers
Sustainability is a huge factor when it comes to adding some new items to your wardrobe, and OMNES is the new kid on the block, offering beautiful pieces in bold, vibrant fabrics that are produced with our planet in mind. This gorgeous dress is made from 100 per cent BCI cotton (BCI supports farmers with every aspect of growing the cotton to protect and restore the environment) and features an eye-catching, digitally printed pattern; a process that saves on resources. The combo of angel sleeves, square neck and tiered skirt are heaven for anyone looking to dress their breasts this summer, and the lightweight, breezy fabric will bring you comfort on balmy days.
Buy now £75.00, Omnes.com
Never Fully Dressed Red seville dress
Best: Plus-size style
While many high street brands have yet to stock collections for women above a size 16, online brands are delivering. Neverfullydressed.co.uk has a curve range that caters to sizes 18-26, and it’s a favourite among the plus-size community. The collection is on-trend, colourful and has a range of silhouettes. This Seville print dress screams of summer days and fruity cocktails, and we love the 90s-style spaghetti straps.
Buy now £79.00, Neverfullydressed.co.uk/
River Island green short sleeved broderie mini dress
Best: Mini dress
Sun’s out, legs out. Mini dresses in this weather are great for keeping cool and getting your pins out and they don’t have to be tight club-style numbers. This one from River Island is made from gorgeous cotton broderie anglaise which is not only beautiful and full of detail, but breathable too. It’s a loose fit with room up-top no matter your cup size, and the tie-waist allows you to cinch that waist. The additional touch of ruffled hem and puff sleeves give it an adorable folksy vibe. Add all the straw accessories to round off the look.
Buy now £48.00, Riverisland.com
Melisa Odabash fru dress lemon
Best: For beach
Designer Melissa Odabash knows her way around beachwear, and this dress is a prime example. It’s effortless in style, and made of 100 per cent lightweight cotton – the only fabric you want to be wearing in holiday sunshine. This dress has earned its spot on our list because of the panelled high apex neckline. A high apex is key for big busts on anything from bras and swimwear to tops and dresses. It means less pressure is put on the straps, and that the neckline is in proportion with your chest area. A strappy dress that works on big busts is hard to find, so when you see one, snap it up. This one is a worthy investment that will be a long-term holiday companion.
Buy now £205.00, Beachcafe.com
Tu at Sainsburys confetti print frill hem maxi dress
Best: Value
Supermarket clothing lines are killing it at the moment! Not only are their prices budget-friendly, but their collections are increasingly on-trend whilst catering to a variety of shapes and sizes, without sacrificing quality. Just look at this Tu at Sainsbury's dress. This is perfect for casual summer dressing. It’s a flowy fabric with a gorgeous ruffle hem, and the high neck and sleeveless arms add a touch of elegance while elongating the torso and creating a streamlined silhouette. And it’s £20!
Buy now £20.00, Sainsburys.co.uk
The verdict: Summer dresses for big busts
We love the Kitri fonteyn dress, thanks to its well-thought-out design which makes it great for all cup sizes, its quality fabric and on-trend gingham print. At £145, it’s slightly more costly than your average high-street dress, but will deliver time-after-time, seeing you through this summer and next thanks to its timeless style.
For something more budget-friendly, Tu Clothing’s confetti print frill hem maxi dress is a wardrobe staple. The elegant design makes it a great occasion dress if you’re after something low cost, and you can still wear a bra, despite the sleeveless style.
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Your summer wardrobe still not complete, here are the best midi skirts for easing into the warmer weather
