Best Outerwear for Large Busts

It's funny to think that as a joke, back in high school a friend and I got matching t-shirts that said “itty bitty titty committee.” Because once I was a college freshman, I had a D-cup chest and have spent my entire adult life as someone with a large bust. Having a large bust affects so much of your life and your wardrobe. Who knew it would even affect where to shop for coats and other outerwear?

Some brands don’t have room in the bust for comfort, let alone a cable-knit sweater. Over the years, I’ve learned some ways to find coats that fit the bust without making me look like the Michelin Man.

This post may look familiar, and that's because I republished it for a 10-year update (has it really already been 10 years???). I find the content relevant right now and wanted to update it with current information.

Outerwear for Large Busts: Shopping Tips

Don’t Shop Juniors

Juniors and Misses clothing are cut differently; you see it most in the bust area. Rarely will you find a roomy enough winter coat from American Eagle, Abecrombie, or those random-named Amazon brands. Juniors and Asian fit clothing and coats will have more narrow of shoulders, sleeves, hip area, and bust.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell what brands are Misses and which are Juniors at department and discount retailers. When a number size, Juniors are odd numbers while Misses are even. Even so, it can be tough; if it’s too tight, know it’s not you, it’s likely the brand.

Read the Reviews

Most online retailers now have customer reviews. Some even let you filter them by age or body type to narrow them down to reviews related to you. It’s worth a few minutes of scrolling through pages of reviews to get a good idea of what a coat is like before pulling the virtual shopping cart trigger.

Look for Contouring

I've loved a puffer vest for years because it’s warm yet not too thick, has a ton of pockets, and the quilting contours the vest to my shape. Strategic contouring through quilting and stitching creates an hourglass shape that works with a curvy figure and provides room in the bust.

Even the heavyweight parka I own has elastic gussets and internal drawstrings to nip in the waist while still accommodating the bust. Above, I show two great winter coats from Lands' End; the strategic contouring provides shape to accommodate a full bust and body curves better.

Shop Brands with Extended Sizes

If a brand stops at 10 or 12, I hate to say it, but it’s likely, even if you are a smaller size, that their brand won’t fit your bust. I’ve found that with outerwear, choosing brands that are comfortable with petite, plus, or tall figures, factor in a larger variety of figures, and often have more selection to find a piece that fits your specific body type is the way to go.

I’m a big fan of Lands’ End for outerwear. They have a broad range of sizes, and plenty of styles to fit most any figure. They often feature contouring or strategic stitching, and plenty of customer reviews to help you choose the right coat. I own a handful of coats from Lands’ End and all of them fit my large bust without being too big in the waist or shoulders. Not only that, two of them are over a decade old and still look like new. Lands' End's return policy is fantastic so if you have a defect or receive it and change your mind, you don’t have to stress.

Best Outerwear for Large Busts

Lands' End

I can say it a hundred times, but Lands' End will always be one of my go-to options when I'm looking for outerwear for large busts. Shopping brands that have a beautiful range of sizes and/or widths is important to me, and Lands' End is no stranger to customer satisfaction. For outwear, they offer regular, plus-size, tall, petite, and petite plus. The beautiful thing about their outerwear is not only are they dedicated to creating enough room in the chest area, they implement a tailored design with adjustable features like belts and drawstrings.

Whether you need a quarter zip pullover, a raincoat, a denim jacket, or a long maxi coat, you can guarantee you will find them all here.

Athleta

I've talked about Athleta on my blog before, reviewing everything from their sweatsuits and loungewear to their skorts for Grown-ass women. I'm a big fan of their products, and not just because they're high-quality and tend to last me years and years; their clothing typically is available in sizes XXS-3X, with both petite and tall options available. Even though they're most famously known for their active wear, they have a notable outerwear line that accommodates a variety of body types, including larger breasts.

Like Lands' End, Athleta's outwear offers a roomy fit in the bust while maintaining a sleek and tailored look throughout the rest of the coat or jacket, so you won't feel like you're swimming in excess fabric.

Universal Standard

Universal Standard is another brand I've spent plenty of time reviewing here on my blog and I love them for many reasons. They offer tons of wardrobe staples, carry sizes 00-40, and are really working to empower fashion all across the board. While I've reviewed a range of their products, it's beneficial for this post that I bring up my review of their 4-in-1 Hybrid Puffer, Kanda Puffer, Willow Coat, Derjon Trench Coat… you get it—there's a lot to choose from!

Needless to say, their well-tailored clothing is designed to comfortably fit a range of body types, ensuring that there's enough room for larger busts without sacrificing the overall silhouette.

Anthropologie

As you may find in my Anthropologie archives, I recently touched on their evolution from typical “boho fashion” to more curated collections full of fun prints, pops of color, and unique designs. They're a great retailer for women over 40, and you might not have known that this also includes their outerwear. Aside from their recent addition of offering select styles in XXS-3X with petite and plus options available, they don't limit their styles to specific styles like other retailers might. This means if you find a coat you love in the petite section, chances are they will also have it in the other sections as well.

As far as outwear goes, their flattering silhouettes and roomier busts aren't just isolated to winter coats and jackets. You can find cozy cardigans and even tailored cropped trench coats that have that same structured look and feminine flare. It's the perfect brand to shop with when you want a good statement piece.

Where have you had shopping success for outerwear for large busts? Share your tips and brands in the comments!