The 12 Best Summer Dresses For Bigger Busts - And The Bras To Wear With Them

There are few fashion obstacles as tricky, annoying or deflating than the search for a summer dress that accommodates a bigger bust. Sure, you can find one that reveals bra straps or offers a bulging cleavage, but that's not high up on most people's sartorial agenda when looking for a great dress that'll see you through the warmer months, whether for your day-to-day meanders or the holiday trunk. Trust me, I know.
As someone with a 32J chest and a penchant for a really great dress (I've not been spotted in trousers besides gym leggings and the occasional pair of jeans since 2012), I've come to know what brands, styles and fabrics work best for those of us with a fuller bust. But after much, much trial and error I've also learned which bras (yes, even a strapless option) work for my bust.
If my extensive searching (read: shopping) for dresses that fit and flatter has taught me anything it's that you always need to work with your own intuition. Brands rarely shoot their ecommerce or campaign imagery on models with a bigger bust so you have to use a little imagine to understand how it might work for you. You know your body and your boobs best, which is why you're better off not overlooking a dress you like the look of because it might not work. Try it on, maybe size up, and size up again and then get acquainted with your local tailor. There are of course styles and brands that work best. Think Reformation's bra-friendly edit or the generous proportions of M&S cotton.
Read on to find ELLE UK's edit of the best summer dresses for bigger busts and the best bras to wear them with.
The definitive bigger-bust strapless bra. Size down in the cup and up in the back for the most support and best fit for this style.
The British female-founded brand has long dressed boobs brilliantly.
This A-line dress comes from Reformation's bra-friendly edit.
A red dress makes for a brilliant summer acquisition and this from Noir has added punk spirit.
This bandeau style offers support without the ouch thanks to its no-cut technology.
AYM Studio creates all its styles with fuller chests considered. This is our favourite and the chocolate brown is very chic.
The drape at the chest allows for extra room without too much fuss and volume.
This smocked bust will work especially well for those with an hourglass figure.
This classic Freya bra is an everyday solution for easy-to-wear necklines.
Despite its high-neck, this M&S dress will work well for bigger busts. Size up and its even better.
The cotton T-shirt dress gets a fashiony spin in the hands of Simone Rocha. And, it can be worn with a normal bra. Rejoice!
A smock dress is a bigger bust favourite. This from Shrimps is a sweet option to wear all summer long.
A bra for necklines that sit lower than usual but still accomodate a proper bra.
The fashion editor favourite Dôen's signature dress style works well for larger chests.
APC's slip dress is perfect for those with a bigger chest who also prefer to keep things slinky. The thicker straps are its best asset here.
With its low neckline, this Ganni dress offers a subtle hint of cleavage.
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Pair with the matching boxer shorts for a co-ord look or throw over a white t-shirt and jeans. Designed in London, made in Turkey Product Details Slightly dropped shoulder Single buttoned, regular cuff Two pleats across the yoke Materials 100% Linen with Shell buttons. Made in Turkey. Fit Advice Take your normal size, intended for a slightly loose fit The model in image 1 is 177cm/ 5'9" and wears a UK10 The model in image 2 is 179cm/ 5'10.5" and wears a UK10 The back length of a UK10 is 71cm/ 28" Find out more about our Shirt Shapes and Sizing Product Care Machine wash at 30°C or below, on a regular cycle with similar colours. Hang to air dry after a quick shake, and to ease the ironing effort, always hang on a hanger. If possible, avoid direct sunlight unless the fabric is white, and never tumble dry. Ironing is optional due to the relaxed nature of the shirt but is recommended for a pressed finish. 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XL Tall to fit inside leg 33" x 84cm. 65% Recycled polyester, 35% Cotton. Items with the curve logo are available in sizes 18 and above., Our tall collection is designed to fit women 5'10" and above. This has been proportionally increased through the body, leg and sleeve to achieve the perfect fit. Available in sizes 8-20. Midi skirts are a staple of two major summer trends: westerncore and boho chic. With gingham, you're taking things well up a notch. Wear with a peasant blouse and boots for the former, and a long tank top and a medallion belt (yep, those are back) for the latter, during festival season. You can also rock a more structured, contrasting top in a neutral like black or white and put on a pair of smart sandals and you've got the ideal look for a garden party, dinner at a friend's house, or a particularly trend BBQ engagement. 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House of CB is a leading British womenswear brand, internationally acclaimed for its feminine, luxury and versatile pieces. Scruncies are a fave for a reason, a way of delivering a fun hair look even when you're between washes. When it comes to the gingham trend, a fun hair accessory in the pattern can be an easy way to dip your toe in and see if the look works for you. Try it in a bright colour to inject some boldness into an otherwise lowkey look. Our red bandana scrunchie features a gingham edge trim. We suggest pairing it with our Macy tote bag, available in the same print. More about me Bandanas, particularly in gingham, are going to be a major hair look this summer. They work well with festival attire like handkerchief tops and short-shorts, or with a more westerncore look like denim shorts and cowboy boots, or even your bikini. Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK's Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.

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4 ultra-processed picnic foods to limit and the healthy swaps to make instead

Ah summer. It's the season of sunshine, bracing walks, pub gardens and... all your wholesome meal plans going firmly out of the window in favour of a 'picky bits' dinner. For those who aren't yet acquainted, we're talking about the traditional British tapas you'll typically find in the fridges at the front of your local supermarket: cocktail sausages, mini pork pies, sausage rolls and all manner of other delicious, nibbly finger foods. When it's boiling hot outside, the much-loved 'picky bits' dinner has its obvious advantages – these foods are supremely easy to share and don't take much in the way of assembly. But with conversations heating up around ultra-processed foods, you might be wondering how to enjoy a summer picnic while cutting back on heavily processed options. To that end, we asked a dietitian to share some simple, tasty swaps you can make ahead of your next al fresco lunch. The humble bread bun is a staple of many picnics. Aside from being the perfect vessel for a burger patty or a sandwich filling, it's fantastic for tearing into hunks and dipping into a ramekin of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. "Rather than opting for the pre-packaged buns in plastic wrapping, I always recommend going for buns and loaves that are freshly baked in the in-store bakery," suggests Clementine Vaughan, a registered dietician specialising in women's health. "These freshly-cooked loaves tend to contain fewer additives, sweeteners and artificial ingredients." Not only is buying bread from your local bakery potentially better for your health, but it's also a bonus for the environment too, as it reduces your reliance on single-use plastics. If you're keen to amp up the feel-good factor, opt for sourdough varieties, which use a natural fermentation process that's been linked to a variety of gut health benefits. Creamy, healthy and versatile, middle eastern hummus is one of those dips that can be intimidating to make from scratch. Actually, it's surprisingly easy to whip up with just a kitchen blender. "All you need to do is to whizz together chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and a crack of salt," says Vaughan. "If you don't have a blender, you can alternatively make homemade guacamole by manually mashing together avocados, red onion, lime and coriander with a fork." Many dips and spreads are considered ultra-processed foods because they rely on additives and stabilisers to lengthen their shelf life. "If you don't have time to make your own, the best thing to do is flip the pack in the shop and check the ingredients, as some dips have more industrial processing than others." As a general rule of thumb, Vaughan says you want to gravitate towards foods that contain ingredients you recognise, rather than lots of hard-to-pronounce additives and chemicals. Crisps can still feature in a healthy balanced diet, but the key is opting for the right variety. "If you look at Lightly Salted Kettle Chips, the ingredients are often just potatoes, oil and salt," says Vaughan. This is vastly different from popular baked varieties that have lots of artificial flavourings, emulsifiers and preservatives added in during the manufacturing process. Whether cooked in Kettle Chips' way or not, crisps can be high in fat and salt, so it's important to eat them in moderation. However, there's no need to obsess over a few picnic dinners when the weather is good. "Food is social and meant to be enjoyed with friends," Vaughan reminds. "Sticking to unrealistic diet expectations, where you eliminate certain foods entirely, could end up more detrimental - both in your enjoyment of the season and your mental health." Cocktail sausages are a great way to add a hit of protein into a picnic dinner, but they can often pack hidden ingredients like dextrose, stabilisers (aka E numbers), preservatives and flavourings in their meat filling. "For a meat option that skips the ultra-processed additives, try making your own homemade meatballs by adding breadcrumbs and spices to balls of minced pork or beef," suggests Vaughan. "The important thing is to check that the meat is good quality. I recommend buying mince from your local butcher." If you're up for a tiny bit of cooking, you can batch fry a portion ahead of a sunny spell and eat them cold with dips and salads throughout the week. Finally, when it comes to UPFs, Vaughan is keen to stress that demonising foods is never helpful, and our aim ultimately shouldn't be to nix them entirely. "If they're used smartly and sparingly, UPFs can be really helpful for busy people and families that don't have time to cook everything from scratch," she reminds. As with most things, it's all about striking a sensible balance. "I like to stick to an 80:20 rule, aiming to eat 80% whole foods with a 20% allowance for UPFs," says Vaughan. "This is a realistic setup for most busy people who want to enjoy the best of the season and not feel restricted in what they can and can't eat." Read more on UPFs: Five ultra-processed foods you shouldn't stop eating (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) 6 ridiculously easy ultra-processed food swaps to make on your next big shop (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) Ultra-processed foods account for nearly half of calories eaten by UK toddlers, study finds (Euro News, 3-min read)