T-shirts for chubby, busty women?

November 18, 2013 6:16 AM

I'm seeking the perfect black t-shirt. I'm also fat, short and busty. Where should I look?

So I'm probably a size 16-18 (US) these days and about 5'3". I have a small frame but I also have big boobs and hips. Basically I'm hourglass-shaped, slightly bigger on the bottom and with a good bit of tummy pooch after having my baby. My tummy is weird and sort of B-shaped. I guess my actual waist is there, but I have, like, a roll of chub above & a roll below. Ugh.

Anyway. I'm looking for a plain black t-shirt with the following characteristics:

1. V-neck, but not too low cut. I find that lots of larger shirts seem cut for someone with huge shoulders and they hang very unattractively. I have pretty narrow shoulders. Also the necklines of lots of shirts I've tried give me way more exposure than I'm seeking.

2. Stretchy fabric that isn't too clingy. See tummy issues above. Something that kind of flows over this area would be good.

3. Bottom hem comes to about mid-hip.

4. This is an important one: Short sleeves that come down to the elbow. I really really hate little cap sleeves. I want sleeves that cover the entire upper-arm area.

5. Slightly fitted through the waist. This has been disqualifying all the men's shirts I've tried. If it fits at the bust and hip, the middle is a sad, wrinkled, unflattering tube.

I'm willing to put out some cash, but probably not much more than $30-$40 per shirt, depending on quality. I've tried some of the tops at Lane Bryant, but they are still too baggy in the middle. I've also tried Old Navy, The Gap and Torrid. Where might my perfect shirt be found?

posted by Kitty Stardust to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Do you have a CJ Banks near you? I find I have the same issues - I like Old Navy Outlet for long sleeve jerseys, but hate their little cap sleeves. Anyhow, I like the CJ Banks tees for their sleeve length.

Disclaimer - I hate their satin trimmed tees. I always feel like the elastic is choking me. YMMV
posted by librarianamy at 6:27 AM on November 18, 2013

I'm a bit bigger and taller than you (size 18-20, about 5'5"), and I've had good luck with Duluth Trading's Long-Tail Tees. Here are their short-sleeve v-necks. I only have the long-sleeves at the moment, so I can't say how far down the short sleeves go. Anyway, I think they fit most of your other criteria: The V-neck is not too low-cut, they seem to have a good balance between stretch and solidity, and the long tail means they hit right where you want. They seem non-baggy to me too; I feel like they sort of skim my body without being shapeless or revealing every bit of pudge. The material is decent too, not that super-thin slub stuff so many places have now.
posted by Janta at 7:04 AM on November 18, 2013

I've had some luck with Just My Size - found online, and also (I'm ashamed to say) at Walmart.
posted by lyssabee at 7:18 AM on November 18, 2013

It looks like L.L. Bean has a good selection.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:25 AM on November 18, 2013

A fellow busty babe here: I love the L.L. Bean shirts. Snug, but not too snug and they hold up to years and years of washing. I also have great luck with The Gap.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 7:42 AM on November 18, 2013

For a shirt that may fit everything but the sleeve requirement, see if you can find the 5% spandex v-neck t-shirts at Target. Make sure to check the tag, because a lot of their shirts are 100% cotton and they don't snap back into shape nearly as well. Looking online, it might be this one? They're usually $10 but some color/size combos are $7. They're my absolute favorite t-shirt. (I'm 4'11", a size 14, and 34GG, for reference.)

I also hate cap sleeves, but I hear you on the elbow-length sleeves being hard to find. I wear a lot of cardigans, and those are usually pretty easy to find with 3/4 sleeves, if you're open to that. Something like this or this maybe?
posted by meggan at 9:52 AM on November 18, 2013

Lands End has petite tshirts. So does LLBean. and EddieBauer. Gap petites. Petites fit my short-waisted body much better. I've gotten a couple of the long skinny tees that are made of thin cotton jersey - they stretch to fit pretty well. I still get the petite size. My sister is 5'6" and prefers petites, so don't pay too much attention to the ad copy.
posted by theora55 at 9:55 AM on November 18, 2013

Try Eddie Bauer. They have a couple of different fits, so try on a few different styles. I have purchased 3/4 length sleeved shirts there, so they definitely carry them.
Also, you can get long sleeved shirts and push the sleeves up to your elbows.
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:37 AM on November 19, 2013

The Jones New York Sport Plus Size Solid V Neck Tee seems to tick all your boxes. (Sorry, mobile link.)
posted by purpleclover at 12:57 PM on November 19, 2013

Pepperberry is a UK company that caters for women with big boobs ('clothes designed with your boobs in mind!'). They're a sister company to Bravissimo which sticks more with lingerie and swimwear, while Pepperberry split off to focus on clothes. I did a quick search and found this black t-shirt, which doesn't meet all your requirements but is maybe a place to start. They will be expensive because of the exchange rate (if nothing else), but if you're having a hard time finding things that fit and look good, Bravissimo/Pepperberry are amazing. Here is Pepperberry's size guide.
posted by you must supply a verb at 12:49 AM on November 20, 2013 [1 favorite]