My boyfriend once told me, "Jessica, if I wanted a girl with no hips and no breasts, I wouldn't bother leaving the locker room." This preceeded a rant about how gay men shaped the fashion industry and made women aspire to look like pre-pubescent boys. I nodded my head and shrugged off his thoughts, instead choosing to hit the gym to whittle down my hips and show some bony pelvis. But, as a woman who has boobs, I have to say that fashion has, perhaps, gone a little too far.
Because boobs are out. Yes. Out. That natural (or bought) curve that brings the boys to the yard is on high style's "icky and trashy" list. So, it's time to remove them, box them up with some mothballs, and save them for next season.
Vogue's fashion director Lucinda Chambers makes it clear that a girl's best assets are worse than last season: they are over, over, over, and must be disguised at all costs. In the latest edition she tells a full-chested writer who wants to know how the new spring look will work for her: 'You need a minimizer bra.' She brooks no negotiation.
Personally, I think those in charge of fashion have gone a little far in creating a negative connotation for everything that delineates female from male, woman from girl. Anyone else find this slightly ridiculous? I think next season fashion will either demand that women balloon to 300 pounds but maintain tiny ankles…or just be honest and explain that having two X chromosomes is totally passé.
But, should you want to minimize…here are some options. As a former bra specialist, I always dissuaded women from purchasing minimizers as they typically made breasts look square and oddly shaped. Wacoal and Chantelle were the best of the not-quite-so-rectangular options, though.
Wacoal Seamless Minimizer Bra ($62)
Chantelle Minimizer Bra: as seen in April's In Style ($68)
What do you think of this new minimizer craze? Should breasts be hidden for fashion's sake? Weigh in on the subject in the comments below.
And check out our Bra Guide and Bras for Big Busts for more great lingerie picks.
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I wear a 36c bra with gel inserts. I think breasts help make a woman. especially a part time woman like me.
I think that part of the reason for this is the styles of tunics and shift dresses. With these styles that float away from the body and flatter chests are a must. If you want to show off curves buy styles that nip at the waist. Wearing a shift dress with large breasts, give the illusion that you are large all over, no matter how tiny your waist! If you want to wear these styles, buy a minimizer bra.
I am a 36DD. Even with a minimizer (and I agree, they can smash or end up with a uni-boob look) summer is not so fun. I end up light layers, like tanks (w/bra) and a summery cardigan, but the baby-doll/empire waist look is not for me….I wish there were more summer designs that worked for curvier women, regardless of what is in or out. Can’t someone design classic, modern wear for summer???
Sigh.
This is ridiculous–I just want clothes that work on ME. Screw the little boy look. I’m never gonna fit that. It’s a lot easier to change a pattern than change a body, so I’m sticking with what works on me….
I’m a 32A and still this is the most ridiculous thing i’ve heard in a long while. women have the curves we have (or don’t have), and we need to stop telling each other what’s wrong or “out” about the differences in our bodies. simply disgusting.
So I lack fashion sense, I dont live in NYC or Paris and have had my 29th b-day again this year, as long as I can, I will wear clothes that show off my curves, I date men I dont want to be one. They seem to like my curves also, I still get the look from the 20ish crowd ,that puts a smile on any girls face
Where exactly am I supposed to store the girls while they’re not in fashion? And who wants to tell them that they’re out? Frankly, my boobs are now a 36c, bigger than they’ve ever been, and men love them. I’ll wear non-fashionable clothes if it means the girls get to keep their day in the sun!