Larger Chests in Fashion *please*
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
The standard in fashion has always been the image of tall, thin women who have the ability of pulling off anything and everything they wear simply because of their figure. But, when the average mannequin has a bust size of 34 inches, teetering on being considered a B cup, there is little consideration for women who are above these measurements. And, it makes fashion as a whole inaccessible to women who are above these measurements.
As someone with a larger chest, I find myself feeling discouraged from wanting to express myself fashionably because the clothing norms centered on women with larger chests. Pieces like tank tops and low cut shirts are often discouraged for larger because of unwanted stares and claims of intentionally “being sexual." The truth? All that’s being done is wearing a piece of clothing and having a larger chest (both can, and do, coexist). Even participating in trends becomes an obstacle to partake in, as the criticism you receive is vastly different from what someone with a smaller chest might receive.
We’ve seen these kind of struggles play out in the entertainment world with Sydney Sweeney, who rose to stardom in HBO Max’s Euphoria as Cassie and starred in the latest rom com of the year, Anyone But You. The comment sections on her social media and in general depict a constant sexualization — the seemingly endless amounts of press photos depicting her with ill fitting dresses and tops that aren’t meant for her chest/ It drills the institutionalization of insufficient representation in fashion.
Despite how limiting it can seem, there are pushes being made to create a more accessible fashion world for those who feel as though they have no space in it.
Being able to go on to a Victoria's Secret and seeing a full drawer of bras you can wear that actually look good has become easier to do than in the past. Gone are the days of subjecting ourselves to grandma bras. We can also look forward to trends such as oversized clothes or corsets which allow larger chested women to be included without feeling as though they have to sit out or completely alter the aesthetic for the sake of not standing out amongst the rest.
Strike Out,
Writer: Esmeralda Moran
Editor: Annika Chaves
Boston.
