It's not easy being flat-chested when Playboy to Playtex reminds you that you need something to either lift and separate or push up and present. Yet one advantage of being at a bust disadvantage is that as a petite you can shop in the boys department. The boys department generally offers clothes that are sturdier than the girls and in the case of suits, just like the men's department, the alterations are included.
My favorite boys department is at Nordstrom's. Although I don't particularly favor browns, blues, and beiges, I did buy one jacket and a full pants suit. The separate jacket is the Nordstrom brand, double breasted in a medium brown with flecks of an almost teal green. Unlike my women's jackets from the Nordstrom petite department, this jacket hasn't dated at all, very classic clean lines. The lining is brown and sewn in smoothly. I only wish the boys department carried brighter colors, but one can't have everything.
The suit I have is also brown, a Polo brand from Ralph Lauren. I love both of them despite their color (brown not being a favorite color of mine). A Polo men's sport jacket runs anywhere from over $100 to a little over $2000. Women's jackets range from just over $100 to $700. Boys is $100 to just over $200.
I also highly recommend their classic Oxford shirt, but only if you're going for the preppy look or trying to dress up capris or walking shorts. The Ralph Lauren Web site currently features an Oxford you can customize by choosing the color of the logo and your monogram. The girls version costs $49.50. The boys Oxford costs only $45. They are available in the same colors (blue, pink, and white). Yet compare that to the women's custom Oxford at $79.50 or the men's at the same price.
I can't recall the price, but I guarantee that even at Nordstrom, the price for a boys designer suit is much less than a similar suit in women's or men's — and all the alterations, including hemming and the taking in of the waist, were included in the price. Did I mention that I've sworn never to move anywhere that doesn't have a Nordstrom? More on that and other means to get nice business jackets later.
Want to feel a little Garbo? Or put on the business-like air of a young Katherine Hepburn or be rebellious like George Sand? Get a designer jacket in the boys section and strut your label knowing that compared to your taller contemporaries, you saved a bundled and did it in a style that wouldn't flatter if you weren't flat.
Article comments
1 - Franklin Chase
Thank you for the visual... but I think I like you the way you are.
2 - Lilly PuTian
Gee, thanks. At least I don't have to worry about sagging and my bosom buddies don't get in the way of during various sports activities.
3 - Janet Blayor
I am so flat chested, I am ashamed. In fact if it was not for my puffy saucer shaped nipples I'd have no boobs. I always had to lay in the sun to tan my self, so I bought a tanninbed. At least that way I can tan nude if I want.
4 - Lilly Putian
Notice that guys can have absolutely no pecs or have man boobs and yet they don't seem to be ashamed (although I'd really prefer not to see man boobs bobbing around at the beach).
Yesterday I wore a top backwards to it would look like a jacket. That's a trick that a busty chick can't pull.
As for tanning, I'm not sure why anyone needs to do it while just laying around, particularly with the problem of skin cancer and sun spots waiting in the future.
I slosh on sunscreen when I'm out swimming and at least I don't have to worry about backaches from carrying too heavy a load up front.
Women do not need boobs to make them women. Bigger isn't better in breasts or penises. It's sad that our culture makes us think we need to be super-sized on both accounts.