Shopping Frustration

samon

Does anyone else get frustrated with the fashions that are out there these days?  I need some new tops for work and at least 3/4 of the cute tops I see are so low cut that I can't even wear them.  What happened to having a decent neckline.  Seems everyone is suppose to show off their cleavage which is hard for me since I have none.  Even before bc I was never one to wear clothes that showed any.  Now that seems to be all you see when you are out in public.  Even some of the button down tops had the highest button way too low.  I gets really depressing when I can't find any decent clothes.  Now that summer is coming I can't wear my turtleneck tops anymore and I really need some new clothes.

caaclark

I understand your frustration.  I wear camis almost every day.  I just found some in Kohls that are really cute.  They are the Elle brand and are called the "must have cami".  They have soft lace on the top and also on the bottom.  Super cute and feminine.  I wear them with button down tops so that I don't have to worry about someone seeing down my shirt.

I have also found the Kimberly Ashmand  cami mast. bra works well under lower cut tops.

I hope that helps.

OLBinNJ

I can so relate!!  My chest is concave where my boob was.  They took a lot of breast tissue, all the way up to just under my collar bone.  I need high necklines, and have a really hard time shopping.  I see all these cute styles that I would wear if I had boobs, but I can't.  I was never one to show off my boobs, but this is crazy.  Everything seems to be cut low.  I can't wear the "split neck" tops that have the top button pretty low.  Even wearing regular button down shirts is hard because it shows where I'm concave.  Finding a bathing suit is even harder.  I look at the mast suits and wonder who can wear them.  They are too low!!!  Are you kidding me?  Lands End used to make high neck tankinis, but lately their suits are too low!  Anyway, I understand and share your frustration. 

debbie6122

       I know what you mean, I was just talking to my sister and I told her i couldnt wear half my clothes in the closet because I have no cleavage anymore and just like you I cant wear turtlenecks forever, It gets really depressing when you cant dress with out looking like your getting ready for a snow storm, even the cami's show my side with no cleavage so i cant even wear those either- But im going to look for the Elle brand carol mentioned, thanks

mthomp2020

I hear ya!  I'm a uni-boober, and I think that's even harder then having a double mast.  I'm only an A, but it's amazing how much tissue even a small-breasted woman has up to her collar bone!  I second Carol on the Elle camis.  I have 2 of them, and they really are nice.  Plus the fabric of the top you wear over it doesn't seem to cling too much.  They're available in tons of colors, too.

I, too, have noticed that many of the mast suits are cut too low.  To add insult to injury, most one piece suits are too short in the torso for me, and the bra-band hits me about 2 inches or more below my breast.  The new Lands End tankini tops are too large in the cups for me, so they're a no-go.

I did find a tankini top on-line through Kohl's that works well.  It's a halter-type neck, so it completely covers the cleavage area, and also the sides.  It has straps down the back, too, so it stays in place.  It has a soft-cup bra, so I'll just sew a pocket into it, or pin my Amoena leisure form into it.  So you might try looking for bathing suits with the style neckline.  Amoena has 2 like that, but since I've gained weight neither would work for me, otherwise I'd get one.  I have a swimming pool, so I definitely need bathing suits!

caaclark

As far as the bathing suits go, I posted before that the Nicola Jane suits work well for me.  One of the best things about them is that they have adjustable straps.  I did not know how much they made a difference unil I put one on with adjustable straps.

Also, the Elle camis run a little big.  Even the small is not tight-something I love.  They are really very flattering and also very soft.

Erica3681

I find camis and tank tops can be so helpful. And in addition to cleavage being big these days, a layered look is also in. I just ordered a cute shirt online (always risky) -- it's much lower cut than it looked in the picture, but I can wear it with a simple white tank underneath and it looks good.

I checked Kohl's website for the Elle cami. This one sounds like what you're describing but it's called "Lace-Trim Camisole." Here's the link: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/intimates/camisolestanks/PRD~474353/ELLE+LaceTrim+Camisole.jsp. It's on sale, which is good, though I hope it doesn't mean it's about to be discontinued.

mthomp2020

The only negative about the Elle camisole is the seam under the bust.  Since it's a v-neck, I adjust the straps pretty high so it covers the lack of cleavage, and that brings the bust seam up higher then it belongs.  Underneath knits, the seam shows through. 

I doubt if they're discontinuing it just yet.  They go on sale pretty frequently.  I'd only worry if they went on clearance.  I hope they don't discontinue it.  I don't know of any other cami that comes in so many colors, and it really is very comfortable and soft. 

roseg

I agree that this can be very frustrating. To my advantage, I had little cleavage before my mastectomy so it's not as much of a shock as it might have been.

I'm big on a tank underneath things.  Loose armholes are bad for me and a tank under that fixes that problem. I think Penny's has nice cotton tanks at a good price so I often look there. Old Navy also usually has tanks in fashionable colors.

Many older women put weight on in their chests so shirts for women my age are often cut way too big in the chest.  Shopping in the junior department or areas aimed at younger women can help.

One of my gripes is tanks with the shelf bra.  With my reconstruction situation I need to wear a normal bra. The extra elastic with the shelf bras is uncomfortable and I stay away from those.

Don't even get me started on those dresses that wrap across the front! I went to a wedding and had a ttank on underneath a dress that was too low in the front. I was surrounded by cousins with boobage - not all of which was that good looking. One of them says to me -"oh that's such a good idea."  At the next even I saw her at she had a tank on underneath her wrap front dress and frankly - she looked better without all that skin showing.  So don't forget - we can be an inspiration!

OLBinNJ

mthomp2020, I also adjust the straps of camis to hike up the top.  I have to wear a bra, because a cami with one boob and one foob, just doesn't work.  I've bought camis with a shelf bra and cut it out to make it work for me.  It's also not just a lack of cleavage, I also have the issue with an indentation in my chest above my foob, so I really need to hike things up!  And Rose, those wrap dresses that are so popular now, arrgh.  Boobage surrounds me, and I can't wear the style!  Oh the trials and tribulations, I sometimes think a bilateral would at least make the dressing part a little less difficult.

lovemygarden

Rose, the Gilligan & O'Malley cami that Target sells has actual pockets, just like a mastectomy bra does, but has no elastic like the shelf-bra camis do! I can't tolerate elastic either. But you can just pop your foob of choice into this cami and go. Adjustable straps, a v-neck design, and costs $12.99

mthomp2020

I saw the camis at Target.  The fact that they're v-neck and I'm a uni means I can't use them.  Like OLBinNJ, I sometimes think that having a bi-mast would make life a lot simpler.  As small as I am (A cup), I still have a noticeable lack of tissue under my collarbone, and tops that are too low make it pretty obvious.  I really do get tired of wearing camis under tops during the summer, since that means an extra layer of fabric, and I tend to get hot very easily.  I really only wear camis underneath tops/blouses rather then using them as a bra substitute.

lovemygarden

Ooops, my bad, I didn't think about the uni vs (my) BMX... so sorry!

The ironic thing is, when I had boobs I avoided wearing low cut tops since about age 45 because the veins along the top of my breasts became more noticeable (not thicker.. just darker, and I have very pale, delicate/thin skin so they really showed through) and so I didn't want them to be visible. But now after the BMX they are gone, along with the boobs...and so from that perspective I could wear big-V tops if I wanted to (after I get rid of my port next summer, of course)! 

Life works out in funny ways sometimes, doesn't it?!

Suzybelle

I got some really comfy camis at Walmart for 3 bucks each, and they're organic cotton.  I have about 10 of them and wear them nearly every day in either white, black, or gray, depending on what I am wearing.

 I just layer.  And I've stopped worrying so much about how my chest looks...I guess I'm getting comfortable with me.  That's a good thing!

samon

Thanks for all your replies.  I will look into some of the camis that all of you mentioned.  Those will be great for some days when it's not too hot.  I guess I just don't look forward to those hot days when layered clothes just won't work.