November 21st, 2008
Low cut tops: how low will you go?
Earlier this week we asked you about short skirts, and how short you would deem to be "too short". (We got some interesting answers too – feel free to wade in if you haven’t already). Today, then, we’d like to ask you a similar question about low-cut tops. Just how low would you go, we wonder?
The Fashion Police, you see, would suggest that the top half of the dress shown above? Is Too Low. Because it looks like there’s a danger of the model’s boobs making a bid for escape at any second, and even if that’s not the case, and tit tape has been employed, that still qualifies it as "too low" in our book. The fact that the neckline extends below the bottom of the boobs was a big clue there, too.
What do you think, though? Is there such a thing as "too low", or as long as it’s not actually indecent (which this one isn’t), do you think it doesn’t matter?
(This dress, by the way, was reported to us by Hannah, who commented that it "aspires to be daring and provocative but what you end up with is something that you borrowed from your friend 10 sizes bigger than you".)
Regardless of how low it is that dress is naaaasty
I am definitely not a low-cut top girl. I just look at this picture and think, when would this EVER be appropriate?
My rule of thumb is maximum half of the total cleavage (from the start of the line to where the bra is) for evening, and maximum one quarter in an office situation. Being fairly well-endowed, I’m never going to avoid cleavage completely unless I dress like I’m 60, which I don’t plan to do.
That dress above, though, is bad. In addition to the no-support low-cut neckline, the pouchy stomach area gathering makes the (probably rail thin) model look like she has a paunch. Very yucky.
All women’s breasts are different. Taste is a matter of knowing what looks good on YOUR body. This chick looks like a tramp in this dress because her breasts are too big for it. But if Debra Messing wore this, you’d be seeing a totally different dress. And you can still go lower so long as the girls are secure.
I agree with Amanda. I think some cleavage showing can be sexy, and the 1/2 rule seems practical. To me, any cut that is low enough (and loose enough) to fully expose the breasts in a situation where the wearer must bend over is far too low and/or far too loose. It moves beyond sexy deep into the world of tacky.
While I think no skirt is too short, the situation is completely different with cleavage. I guess it’s just about what you’re comfortable with. While I have no objection to other people wearing low-cut tops, I’m always too worried my boobs would fall out.
Ooh yay, thankyou Fashion Police.
Ooh yay, thankyou Fashion Police.
Thankyou fashion police
I totally agree that is has to do with the size of your chest. I’m an H cup and there is NO WAY I can wear the same things as my A and B cup friends. What looks cute on them looks incredibly skanky on me. And it also depends if your bra is the lift-and-separate kind, or if it’s a push-up shoving your b00bs together! You can wear a lower neckline the more separated they are.
In general, I err on the side of less cleavage. I’d rather be buttoned up a bit too high than to have people think I’m a big slut. My BF is trying to work with me on it, because a lot of shirts I don’t like to wear, he thinks are perfectly appropriate for a bar or something.
I’m a B cup by my girls are of the shape that really look a lot better when fully supported. So anything that shows off my VS Biofit bra is out. But as others have said, considered the size of my rack, lower-cut tops don’t tend to look too trampy on me, as long as I don’t go REALLLLLY low (and my definition of “realllllly low” does include the above dress).
1st sentence: by = “but”
I’m a 34DD. I can’t wear things that are very low cut, the girls pretty much look like they’re escaping. If I can look down my own shirt and see my bra, it’s too low cut.
My problem is that I apparently have a freakishly short torso, because absolutely EVERYTHING is too low on me. Seriously, I buy ordinary, v-necked shirts and I have to pin them to my bra when I go out, or the girls are OUT. Cami tops have become my best friend
And the dress above? Would honestly reach my belly button. It’s no fun, I tells ya.
I tend to steer away from low cut tops as I don’t want to look trampy, but my twin sister wears them all the time and she never seems to look trampy… I guess its as much about how you feel as how you look.
oh yeah, the dress above – too low, for me, and I suspect (and hope) for my sister…
I’ll wear really low tops, but then I never have to worry about cleavage. However the low, and loose top would be concerning for even me. I usually don’t go lower than what a plunge bra would allow, though keyholes are an option.
I’ll go as low as I can without my bra showing. I will NOT go without one, that’s just sloppy. And any time you need double sided tape is indeed a big clue.