It’s both crazy and exciting to already be thinking about fall even though in TX, that’s months away. Still, I’ve had about enough of the heat to already be dreaming of the cool fall air. We’ve already gone over some of the great closet staple deals you can find at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in last week’s post, which you can find HERE. But now the NAS is officially open to everyone and I’m going to share some of the fall trends that are now available. There are some that I can’t wait to try and to be honest, some I’m not sure about. When it comes to fall, I’m more of a classic kind of girl. However, as I always say, I shouldn’t judge until I’ve tried it on and decided first hand if it’s a heck yes or a no. I’ll leave that for you to decide as well.
This fall, I’m seeing embellished and textured tops, sweater vests, chunky boots, lots of chain link jewelry and embellishments, as well as plaid flannel shirts, and shirts thick enough to be jackets, the shacket if you will. Below are some of the trend pieces I found at the NAS. What other trends are you seeing? What trends do you like and what are you happy to leave behind?
Sometimes when I hear people talking about their chest size, I think of that old saying, The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. For some of us with large busts (me! I’m a 34 F, which is the same as a 34DDD) dream of wearing spaghetti strap dresses with no bra. Yeah, that’s not happening for me. On the flip side, I envision some people with small busts dreaming of more fully filling out a bathing suit top or wearing a dress that shows some cleavage. Whatever people dream of when it comes to their bust size, the goal is to embrace what mother nature gave us. We all deserve to look good and feel good, and for some of us, that means learning how to downplay a large bust.
Petite With a Large Bust
Are you someone who is petite AND has a large bust? For reference, I’m 5’ 3”. You’re technically considered petite if you are 5’4” or under. But I’m also short-waisted and have a large bust. There are definitely some challenges to dressing my body type in a way that makes me feel awesome, but it is totally possible. Over the years, I’ve experimented and tried on a million outfits. I’ve also read all the blog posts and articles I could find. Now, I definitely have a few tips for those of you who are trying to dress for your large bust. BTW, I’m a middle school teacher so I try to cultivate a look that does not draw extra attention to my bustline. Below are my three tips to downplay a large bust.
This is my go-to neckline to help minimize the look of my large chest. I’ll also do a scoop neck for a nice, open look. However, I still think the v-neck is the best option to downplay a large bust. It seems counterintuitive, if you want to minimize your chest, then you should cover up all of your chest, right? But it turns out that just isn’t true. When you cover your entire chest area with a neckline like a turtle neck or a crew neck, it makes your chest look bigger. It’s like all eyes are on the girls. With the v-neckline, the eye is drawn to the open area on your chest above your actual bust.
If you’re trying to downplay a large bust, show some skin somewhere else; your arms, your legs, or your neck. This tip piggybacks on tip number one, which was to wear a v-neckline. One reason why a v-neck works is because you’re telling the eye where to look instead of them automatically looking at your bust. One benefit of having a short torso is that usually your legs, and often your arms look relatively long in comparison. Show some skin by showing off your arms or legs or neck. When I say show some skin, I don’t mean anything scandalous or provocative. Here are a few ways to show some skin:
Try a sleeveless v-neck top and show your entire shoulder and arm.
Opt for a cap sleeve or even just a regular t-shirt sleeve and show most of your arm.
Try a three-quarter length sleeve and show some forearm and wrist.
Wear a v-neck or scoop neck top and show your neck and upper chest.
I avoided tucking in tops for so long and now looking back, I wish I would have been more aware that a tucked-in top can really be beneficial. I don’t think that tops need to be tucked in (or tied) 100% of the time, but when you have a large chest, I say they should be tucked in most of the time. For me, an exception is when the top hits at the perfect length at the top of my hips and the fabric is soft and flowy enough that it doesn’t create the dreaded tent effect that often occurs with large busts. What is the tent effect? It’s when the fabric of a shirt hangs out in a tent-like way because the large bust pushes it so far out. This is not the optimal silhouette. To counteract the tent, tuck in your top. I like the front tuck (aka French tuck), but I don’t think there’s one tucking technique that’s superior to the rest. You could also tie your top if it has enough fabric or use one of the twist-tee-knot contraptions like this ONE. The real point is that you’re drawing the fabric back into your waistline to give you more of a shape.
Rock Your Large Bust
Now that you have a few tips to try out, I hope you go out and rock your large bust! The point of all these tips is definitely NOT to hide your chest. The point is to dress in a way that flatters your body and most importantly makes you feel good. Happy outfitting!!
Meet Kelly
Kelly is a middle school math and science teacher with a love for reading, casual fashion, playing the saxophone, gardening, cultivating a 100-item wardrobe, and hanging out with her husband, friends, family, and pugs.
In summer mode, you’ll find her at home, reading in her garden. In teacher mode, you’ll find her figuring out ways to maintain a work-life balance and stick to a 40-hour workweek by being uber-organized. You can explore her blog Teacher Style.
Summer is winding down but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of time left to style summer clothes. Here in Texas, I’ll be wearing them well into September and sometimes early October. I usually don’t buy a lot of new things toward the end of summer but when I do it’s always exciting to pull them out of storage the next year. Recently I picked up a few pieces at Talbot’s because these colors just spoke to me. Every season, Talbot’s never disappoints, with color trends and fun patterns season after season. Not to mention so many participans in Outfit Formulas have always sung their praises for the high quality of their pieces. The items I’m wearing in today’s post certainly live up to the Talbot’s reputation on all fronts! Even though they incorporate some of the latest colors and patterns, I also feel like these are pieces that will stand the test of time and hold up for many summers to come.
My first pick, of course, was this ladder back stripe dress. This has been the summer of the dress for me in so many ways. As I prepare for a book launch, my days have been consumed with meetings and calls. More days than not, I simply reach for the nearest dress in my closet, throw on some cute sandals and minimal accessories, and BAM – I’m dressed and ready for the day!
Since I’ve heard so many Pretties rave over the quality of Talbot’s white jeans, I had to try a pair for myself. I’ve been dying to try a pair of cropped flare jeans and this pair fit the bill. You weren’t wrong about them. Their white jeans are just the right thickness and have the perfect amount of stretch. It’s no wonder they’re a fan fave! Just add a patterned sleeveless top and you’re good to go. This sleeveless shell had me at palm leaves! I was tempted to get this adorable striped shell but resisted the urge to feed my striped top addiction…at least for now.
It’s that time of year again, time for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NAS)! It’s a great sale where you can pick up some classic closet staples as well as some fabulous fall trend pieces. It’s also a great time to add some investment pieces if your budget allows. So why am I telling you about this sale? Because it’s an opportunity to fill in any gaps you may have at a fraction of the price and isn’t that what girlfriends do? But like any good friend I’m also going to tell you not to go into this sale without having a plan. Look through your closet and see what you have and what you need, that way you don’t end up with 16 striped tops. Then, make a list of the items you’d like to add and then possible investment pieces and go from there. For this sale, I’m going to focus on classic closet staples. Not sure what is considered a closet staple? Grab my free Closet Staples Wardrobe BuilderHERE. Now, let’s talk a little more about the sale.
NAVIGATING THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE
If you’re already familiar with how the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale works then feel free to skip this section but if you’re new to the sale or just want a refresher here are a few things you should know about the sale.
1. WHY IS THIS SALE SUCH A BIG DEAL?
Sales happen all the time, right? Why the fuss? Most sales happen at the end of a season when retailers are trying to clear out old merchandise. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is unique because the items on sale are brand new pieces and particularly focus on upcoming fall trends. Getting such deep discounts on these new pieces is unheard of from any other retailer.
2. HOW DO I GET THE SALE PRICE?
Nordstrom releases the sale in waves with Nordstrom cardholders getting early access for a full week before the general public. If you aren’t yet a cardholder you can apply here to take advantage of the sales now before they sell out. The sale will be open to the general public on July 28th. Click HERE for the full release schedule.
3. WHAT ABOUT THE TRENDS?
I’ll be sharing my fall trend picks here on the blog next week when the sale is open to everyone. Stay tuned!
MY THREE RULES FOR SHOPPING
1. IF IT’S NOT A “HECK YES” IT’S A NO.
If you don’t love everything about an item, the way it fits, the color, how you look in it, then don’t buy it/keep It. You should love the clothes you put in your closet because if you don’t, chances are you won’t wear them much or possibly even at all. It’s hard to look at something you’ve spent your money on a year later and realize the tag is still on it.
2. IT’S NOT A GOOD DEAL IF YOU DON’T NEED IT.
You work hard for your money, don’t waste it buying things you don’t need. It’s easy to get caught up in the little shots of dopamine you get when you make a purchase but are those purchases things you actually need? Remember, saving $40 on something you don’t really need isn’t actually saving.
3. BE A CLOSET CURATOR, NOT A CAUGHT UP CONSUMER.
Curating a closet you love takes time and patience. It’s about deciding what items you want to invest in and what gaps you want to fill. That’s why I put so much focus on building a great foundation with closet staples. Once you have a good base it’s easy to mix and match and sprinkle in a few trends here and there.
Again, that’s why I’m sharing this sale with you. It’s a great opportunity to fill in any closet staple gaps you may have as well as upgrade any of your pieces to a higher quality, i.e. investment pieces. Since we’re going into fall, I’m going to give you my top 10 fall closet staple pieces you can find at the NAS. That being said, don’t forget to explore the other items available and refer back to my Closet Staples Wardrobe Builder HERE as a guide. I can’t wait to see what all you find and how you style the pieces!
Swimsuit season is one of those terms that can evoke many different emotions. The excitement that the sun is out and that beach or pool time is near, but also dread, the dread of finding, wearing, and loving oneself in a swimsuit. As someone who is working on the self-love part, I can totally relate. Finding a new bathing suit is something I don’t look forward to, but nevertheless, I go into bathing suit season hopeful that I can find something I like and that likes me back. Something that makes me feel confident and something that will aid me in making memories with my family. You see, a great bathing suit will allow me to jump in the pool with my kids, surprising them that I got my hair wet. It will be there as I teach my youngest to swim instead of instructing from the side. It will show others to be brave because no matter our age, shape, size, or background we all have insecurities and we need to realize that we are all perfectly imperfect and that’s what makes us all amazing. So let’s get through this bathing suit season and find our perfect suit together! Below are some sassy swimsuits that cover some of the season’s top style and color trends plus a few cover-ups that I’m loving and they are all under $60, which is also beneficial for the budget.
Do you struggle to put outfits together? Are you stuck in a yoga pants rut? Not sure if you can make the latest trends work for you? You’re in the right place!
I’m Alison, a mom of three and recovering yoga pants addict on a mission to make getting dressed and feeling pretty the easiest thing you do all day! Learn more about my story HERE.
I am so glad I was part of the Fall 2019 Style Challenge. It gave me confidence and so many great outfitt ideas. The ladies in the group were very supportive and I will defintetly be doing another challenge in the future.
Betty Weyandt December 20, 2019
I’ve been participating in the GYPO Style Challenges for three years now and I’ve loved it. I’ve always loved clothes, but I didn’t know how to put outfits together. My closet is now full of mix-and-match outfits, I have learned how to dress myself, and there is no more stress in figuring out to wear. The private FB group is full of wonderful ladies that build each other up. It’s so fun and is seriously the best group on FB.
Kirstin Rasmussen November 20, 2019
Get Your Pretty On has changed my life, seriously. I have always chased what is trendy but found from season to season, that things go out of style and I was wasting money on items that I would only end up wearing a few times. GYPO has enabled me to simplify my closet, helps me make smarter purchasing decisions, and I feel so put together and confident using the outfit formulas that are provided. This program is a GAME CHANGER. I've been following GYPO for a few years now and my only regret is not jumping on board sooner.
Michelle Kline November 20, 2019
Great community of ladies, helping each other look stylish, without breaking the bank, and using much of what you already own.
Chosen Faith November 19, 2019
GYPO challenges have been one of the best things I have done! It had taught me so much more than just creating a closet of clothes that I love but also to have confidence in myself, how to pick and choose colors that work for me instead of against, and had given a wonderful community of Pretties who are so special.
Maraline Freeman October 16, 2019
I love GYPO!!! I finally feel put together and stylish! The shopping lists and outfit combinations make shopping and getting dressed effortless.
Krista Probst October 16, 2019
SHOP THE ACCESSORY LINE
SHOP THE LOOKS
A NOTE TO READERS
Please know that Get Your Pretty On uses affiliate links in some of our posts. This means that clicking on or purchasing through a link may help me earn a small commission, which helps make this blog possible. Thank you for your support! For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
