“Having a mastectomy is a life changing event, both physically and psychologically. It will take time to adjust to your new body but it’s important to remember, you are still you, and you deserve to feel good. The topic of losing breasts is vast, deeply emotional and complex, however I just wanted to take you through some clothing options that may inspire you if dressing for your new form is presenting as challenging.
For some women, reconstruction is not always possible, not always wanted, and we choose to ‘live flat’ without prosthesis. The world of women’s clothing just isn’t designed for people with no breasts!
Having no breast tissue at all is a completely different ball game to simply having a small bust. We come with complications – be that wobbly scars, chest concavity, ‘dog ears’, sensitive skin or even noticing that our bellies are more prominent as a result!
You may find that clothes that previously fit you now seem very strange. Necklines may gape, waistlines are now lowered, darts may billow and shoulder seams can pull forwards. With a few little tips and tricks, you CAN find something that fits.
This is not a dictation on ‘how to dress’ or how to ‘hide’ our flatness’ – you need to hide absolutely nothing and I am a big believers in ‘wear what you want’ – but for those in need of some fun inspiration or a little more confidence have a look at some ideas below. What better time to try some new styles and shop for your new shape.”
Watch our video to see Emma’s outfit picks and read more below.
“If you find that your scars or skin are sensitive, you could opt for a soft crop top or vest-top under your clothing – this has the effect of smoothing out any lines and protecting your skin from any irritation. Bamboo cami tops are nice as breathable and the natural fibre doesn’t irritate irradiated skin.”
“Lace, gathers, ruching, pleats are all textures that give depth and interest to clothing, as well as creating some volume over the chest. Tops with cargo pockets can have the same effect if a frill just isn’t your thing.”
“Laying clothing can be a good way of dividing up the chest area. You can create multiple layers of colour and visual interest with items such as a blazer over a shirt or tee-shirt, a kimono style top over a vest etc. The layered lines create a visual distraction and could make you feel less self-conscious on days where you feel like this.”
“Layering up necklaces at different lengths, adding cross-body bags, a belt or and statement pieces can create an optical illusion whereby the eye keeps moving around and not fixating in one place.”
“Asymmetry is perfect for breaking up space, creating volume and directing the eye to the asymmetry and not the chest. A one shoulder top is a great option for ‘flatties’ as no bra required!”
“Have some fun with bold prints and embellishments, you may find these are also a great distraction from the chest area especially in summer when you can find great bright prints.”
“A-line and swing style dresses create a lovely silhouette as they come from the bust and comfortably skim the body.”
“Summertime can be difficult and I too feel a pang of envy when friends are wearing beautiful low cut dresses and bikinis. That being said, there are beautiful options for us too – the one shoulder dress with flounce below is a great example of being flat and free and having no-one notice. (Plus there is something to be said for the lack of boob sweat in the warmer months…)”
“The truth is…no-one does really notice. And if they do it is momentary. We notice ourselves much more than the shape of others which of course does not make it any easier, but we can experiment with fashion in a way that works for us. Your scars are survival lines – treat them to some style.“
We hope you enjoy this post, we would love to share more… so, let us know if you’ve given this a go by tagging us in your outfit recreations on socials @littlelifts_uk on Instagram or Little Lifts on Facebook.
If you’d like to find more help and support regarding mastectomy without reconstruction, check out Flat Friends UK.