Bikini tops for a small bust
September 4, 2012 10:24 AM   Subscribe

Bikini tops for small busted gals...where do I find them?

I ordered 4 (J crew) bikini tops online and all of them fit wrong (if the cup fit, the band was a bit too tight). In this picture, the top fits her so perfectly. I'm not looking for something with the Victoria's Secret push-up padding, but something lined would be great. Something simple...solid color, no adornments, and with straps would be ideal.
posted by okay-quiet-time to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
The top in your picture looks like it has darts in it whereas a lot of the tops I see in stores do not and tend to rely on the cup being gathered along the bottom tie string to create depth for the boob to sit in. I hope that makes sense, if not memail me and I can send you some kind of diagram of what i mean.

In short - look for cups that have dart seams in them.
posted by WeekendJen at 10:28 AM on September 4, 2012


On second look it looks like the pictured cup may just be multple fabric pieces rather than one darted piece. In any case, you want to see seams on the cup providing fit.
posted by WeekendJen at 10:29 AM on September 4, 2012


I've had great success with the small sizes from Land's End, though I've only ordered very basic designs.
posted by jetlagaddict at 10:55 AM on September 4, 2012


Harajuku swimwear runs really, really small. I am a small 32B, and I probably should have gone for a medium (the small is a bit too tight).
posted by ablazingsaddle at 11:28 AM on September 4, 2012


The "triangle slider string bikini" from Popina looks similar to the one in your picture, and it comes in extra small (32.5 inches). I've ordered from them before and the suit was well-made, reasonably priced, and well-fitting (I am small busted). They provide good customer service, too.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:55 AM on September 4, 2012


Best answer: I have this bikini top. Per earlier advice, it's got a seam. I am a 34A. And not a big A, either.
posted by 8dot3 at 12:48 PM on September 4, 2012


yep, much as I hate to recommend them, American Apparel does a nice job for the small-busted lady.

their cross-back top is great (and darted, as per above), and I also just bought this complicated but neat-looking top, which fits a small chest much better than that picture would lead you to believe.
posted by dizziest at 1:42 PM on September 4, 2012


This is an issue I have EVERY DAMN TIME I have to order a new bikini. And goodness gracious, I know you busty ladies probably have a time with this too, what a pain it is. I'm willing to spend $100 on a bikini that fits just right because it's that worth it to me...and this coming from the girl that balks at $8 shirts...

At any rate, sliding tops don't work for me. I'm so small that I really can't fill out the cups well enough that there's any gap between the cups and that look doesn't suit me. This year I scoured the internet for days (literally, DAYS) looking for a new suit because the one I'd happily worn and loved for three years finally gave out. Go figure, it was a Walmart suit.

I ended up with this one and I love this thing. Really, that site has some great suits I can imagine fitting just as I'd want to them too as well so maybe browse there. They've got the matching bottoms too. I did consider ones from Lucky though. And I used net-a-porter I think to find exactly what I wanted and then I combed the web for that exact thing but cheaper.
posted by youandiandaflame at 4:25 PM on September 4, 2012


Lands' End sizes don't go down very small, but "Lands' End Canvas" does XXS & 0, and I have been very pleased with the many bikinis from there that I just spent the last two months living in. Not sure what might be available right now, but, in season, there are many cuts of plain tops and bottoms to choose from. Usually LEC bikini tops have a spongy rounded triangle thing in them that is designed to be removed if you don't want it. I am wee but have had to exchange a few LEC 0 & XXS bikini tops for the next size up. I think the plain line might be called "beach essentials"? They go for a song at the end of the year, $3 if you catch the very last minute of the sales. Nice sturdy fabric, though.
posted by kmennie at 5:51 PM on September 4, 2012


Response by poster: Thanks to all for your suggestions! I decided to give that Patagonia bikini top a shot (as recommended by 8dot3). Lands End swimwear seemed to be right up my alley as well.
posted by okay-quiet-time at 8:32 PM on September 4, 2012


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