The Best Dresses for Big Boobs, Whether You Prefer to Minimize

October 17, 2023
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Calling all DDs, FFFs and anybody else who identifies as “well-endowed”: While the smaller-chested among us can often just throw on a frock and call it a day, we bustier ladies don’t have it quite as easy. Between uni-boobs and strapless bras, there’s a long list of occupational hazards that come with the chesty territory. That said, there are some styles that work phenomenally well on those with an ample bosom, both for those who want to minimize their girls and those who prefer to show them off. Here you’ll find the best dresses for big boobs, no matter your personal style. Now all you need is the right bra and you might find getting dressed in the morning to suddenly be a much breezier affair…

THE TOP 5 DRESSES FOR BIG BOOBS AT A GLANCE:

Classic Wrap Design: Diane von FurstenbergPhoenix Wrap Dress ($558)
Cut-Out Lace: Anthropologie Somerset Maxi Dress ($220)
Button-Up Midi: Marvell Lane Willow Dress (~~$190;~~ $114)
Best Under $50: Zesica Bohemian Wrap Dress ($40)
Best Wedding Guest Dress: Shoshanna Darcy Dress ($485)

Meet the Experts:

Abby Hepworth is PureWow’s fashion editor and has more than a decade of experience writing about how to dress for your body type.
Dena Silver is a former fashion editor and personal shopper who has worked for publications such as InStyle, The Daily Front Row and PureWow.
Katie Maguire is a former commerce and fashion editor who covered all things shopping for PureWow, Shape and Well+Good.

Which Necklines and Silhouettes Are Most Flattering on Larger Chests?

Wrap Dresses. Contrary to popular belief, large-chested women absolutely can—and should—rock a wrap style dress. “Wrap dresses help to pull everything inward to create the illusion of a more streamlined silhouette,” explains Maguire. “That means they have the power to make your waist look itty bitty and, when worn correctly, glide over your bust and hips without creating any unflattering bulging or bumps.” The key here is to size according to your bust, not your waist. These dresses are typically more flexible in terms of fit, since you wrap and tie them yourself (unlike a dress you zip up, which can only stretch so much before it rips). Sizing according to your widest part—in this case your chest–ensures little to no gaping or pulling in that area.
Belted High-Neck Dresses. We love the comfort factor associated with high-neck tent dresses, but they can quickly turn your gorgeous silhouette into something that resembles a pumpkin with four toothpicks for arms and legs. “Crew and turtlenecks have the same tendency to turn us into amorphous blobs, offering no defining peeks at our clavicle,” warns Maguire. But there is an easy fix to turn both these styles into something both comfortable and flattering: Add a waist belt. “It doesn’t even need to be cinched in tight, but this easy addition helps bring some shape and definition to your torso.”
V-Neck Dresses. A deep V is sexy on just about everyone, but this is especially true for gals with big boobs. On the other hand, a more shallow plunge can be equally flattering, and still feels appropriate for work or dinner with the in-laws. “If you plan to go the va-va-voom route, look for styles that go no lower than that mid-point of your breasts,” Silver advises. “Any deeper and you risk your girls looking saggy.” For shorter Vs we prefer narrower styles, as opposed to those that start out near your shoulders, to really pull the eye inward for a narrower silhouette.
Fit & Flare Dresses. Similar to the belted crewneck styles, these cinched-at-the-waist dresses create an hourglass figure no matter your natural silhouette, but they’re particularly flattering on ladies with big boobs. And while they work with just about any neckline, we especially love shallow V-necks and square neck options most of all for showing off your collarbone without getting too risqué.
Sheath Dresses. A sheath dress is defined by its straight, fitted cut with a nipped in waist (not to be confused with a shift dress, which falls straight from the shoulders with darts in the bust to add shape). They work very well for women with larger boobs but an otherwise fairly straight figure. Unlike a bodycon dress, which puts it all on display, a sheath isn’t skin tight so you don’t have to worry about showing off every lump or bump even as you show off your curves.

Which Necklines and Silhouettes Should Women with Larger Chests Avoid?

Empire Waists. “Shirts that severely nip in at the waist—especially those with seams just centimeters below your boobs—can often appear to be a maternity style on your frame,” advises Silver. Instead, she suggests looking for silhouettes that skim your curves or that have a drop waist, which will provide the added benefit of elongating your torso
Tops with Bra Details. You don’t rock shirts with shelf bras for a reason; they just don’t work. “A shirt with an external bra that’s fit for a B-cup isn’t going to magically work with your gals,” says Silver. “It’s going to work against them and probably cut them off awkwardly.”
Button Down Shirtdresses—with a Caveat! We can all agree that there’s nothing worse than dressing for work and getting to your desk, only to realize the buttons on your bust are mere moments from bursting open. As Silver notes, “Most button-downs are not made for us busty gals and even oversized versions can be wildly unflattering…but there are a few brands who have started developing these work-friendly shirts [and shirtdresses] for our bodies.” She recommends Perfectedd, Universal Standard and Pari Passu.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

CLASSIC WRAP DESIGN

1. Diane von FurstenbergPhoenix Wrap Dress

Size Range: US 00 to 16
Pros: fully adjustable wrap, made from stretchy jersey, timeless design
Cons: high price point

You can’t talk about wrap dresses without bringing up the woman who perfected the silhouette and made it into the must-have item it is today, Diane von Furstenberg. Although she and other designers have continued to play around with the silhouette for years, it’s proven near impossible to improve on her OG mid-length, jersey design, especially in a geometric pattern. This particular abstract floral print further helps create the illusion of a nipped-in waist and doesn’t outline your form in the same way as stripes (vertical or horizontal) to actually down play your chest rather than emphasize it.

BUY IT ($558)

ANTHROPOLOGIE

CUT-OUT LACE

2. Anthropologie Somerset Maxi Dress

Size Range: XXS to 3X, also Petite
Pros: versatile design, machine washable, smocked waist
Cons: V neckline is not adjustable

This best-selling dress from Anthropologie is an absolute must-have, in our opinion, because of the comfortable, floaty material and the super-flattering fit. The V neck is just low enough to show some skin without actually being low enough for your cleavage, and the flowy sleeves help to draw the eye up to your gorgeous face while the ruched middle nips in your waist. Some reviewers say it runs a bit big, but for larger cups that just means extra room to accommodate your bust, so we suggest going with your usual size. Oh, and did we mention it’s also machine washable? Score!

BUY IT ($220)

MARVELL LANE

BUTTON-UP MIDI

3. Marvell Lane Willow Dress

Size Range: US 8 to 14
Pros: specifically made for bigger busts, made from lightweight cotton, has pockets, neckline is elasticated
Cons: limited color options

Looking for even more big bust-specialized fashion brands? Be sure to add Marvell Lane to your list. It focuses mostly on swimwear and lingerie, but there are also some gorgeous dresses and separates to shop as well. Even better, the sizing is specific to different cup ranges—D-F and G-J—so you can feel more confident both the top and bottom halves of your new lace frock will fit exactly the way they’re supposed to. Plus, the neckline is fully elasticated so you can have some fun switching this up with an off-the-shoulder silhouette.

BUY IT (~~$190;~~ $114)

AMAZON

BEST UNDER $50

4. Zesica Bohemian Wrap Dress

Size Range: XS to XXL
Pros: under $50, lots of colors to choose from
Cons: hand wash only

This Amazon bestseller comes in tons of gorgeous boho prints in a wide range of colors, all for under $50. But the best part about the Zesica Ruffle Wrap is that it is a true wrap, meaning the belted waist is entirely adjustable, which is tough to find for under 100 bucks. There is also plenty of fabric to ensure your gals are as covered as you want them to be. As one reviewer says, “I have never been more excited to write a review—I am 5 foot 3 and my breast size is a triple D, sometimes an E. Being short and curvy it’s really hard to find something that fits in all the right areas but this dress fit like a glove and made me look absolutely beautiful.” (P.S. The brand recommends those with larger chests go one size up to ensure a better fit.)

$40 FROM AMAZON

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