Ladies who lift and work in an office environment!

sammyliftsandeats

Hello,

I work in a business casual office environment and I like to wear button-up shirts to work with trousers. However, they do not like me very much as I find them restricting across the back.

I typically wear a size small, as it fits in the front (I have a small chest). But when it stretches across the back, that's when I feel it stretched and uncomfortable when I reach for items. My issue with going up to a larger size is then it becomes way too big up front and looks a bit frumpy.

My back isn't even BIG - it's just wider than the lower part of my torso.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where to find shirts perhaps made out of a softer/stretchier material?

Thanks!

fbchick51

Truth be told.. the only solution I ever found that really worked was to by the larger shirt and have it tailored to fit the front (wide shoulders, big biceps, small boobs). I also preferred blouses made from rayon as even the big size seems to hang well on my frame. Another option that worked well was to wear a nice cami under the smaller blouse and leave the buttons undone till under my chest.

Thankfully, I now work from home so my wardrobe is mainly T-shirts and yoga pants.

happysherri

I have problems with my shoulders with some tops - snug, since I've been lifting. I have to go up sizes in certain shirts. Good luck

ItsSlimpossible12

I second the nice cami under the smaller blouse and buttons undone (tastefully!!!!)

JoRocka

shirts with no sleeves.
I go up in sizes and have them tailored down if I have to- or deal with shirts that look big on the waist.

I don't honestly care.

And stretchy blouses. That's a win- Penny's usually has good ones for not to expensive.

need2belean

Great post Sammy as I also have this issue.

sammyliftsandeats

JoRocka wrote: »

shirts with no sleeves.
I go up in sizes and have them tailored down if I have to- or deal with shirts that look big on the waist.

I don't honestly care.

And stretchy blouses. That's a win- Penny's usually has good ones for not to expensive.

Shirts with no sleeves may be a good idea...especially with the warmer weather coming up.

I'm going to keep an eye out for stretchy blouses...I don't see many around but maybe I'm looking at the wrong stores.

Thanks!

sammyliftsandeats

fbchick51 wrote: »

Truth be told.. the only solution I ever found that really worked was to by the larger shirt and have it tailored to fit the front (wide shoulders, big biceps, small boobs). I also preferred blouses made from rayon as even the big size seems to hang well on my frame. Another option that worked well was to wear a nice cami under the smaller blouse and leave the buttons undone till under my chest.

Thankfully, I now work from home so my wardrobe is mainly T-shirts and yoga pants.

alheise12 wrote: »

I second the nice cami under the smaller blouse and buttons undone (tastefully!!!!)

That is my current fix! I think maybe when the weather gets warmer, I may get into wearing dresses and other things so this won't be much of an issue anymore.

need2belean

sammyliftsandeats wrote: »

JoRocka wrote: »

shirts with no sleeves.
I go up in sizes and have them tailored down if I have to- or deal with shirts that look big on the waist.

I don't honestly care.

And stretchy blouses. That's a win- Penny's usually has good ones for not to expensive.

Shirts with no sleeves may be a good idea...especially with the warmer weather coming up.

I'm going to keep an eye out for stretchy blouses...I don't see many around but maybe I'm looking at the wrong stores.

Thanks!

Let me know if you find em. I only have 1 stretchy blouse and it is a lint/dog hair magnent. If I'm going to be in meetings that day, I can't wear it. It sucks. No amount of lint rollers will fix it.

ItsSlimpossible12

sammyliftsandeats wrote: »

fbchick51 wrote: »

Truth be told.. the only solution I ever found that really worked was to by the larger shirt and have it tailored to fit the front (wide shoulders, big biceps, small boobs). I also preferred blouses made from rayon as even the big size seems to hang well on my frame. Another option that worked well was to wear a nice cami under the smaller blouse and leave the buttons undone till under my chest.

Thankfully, I now work from home so my wardrobe is mainly T-shirts and yoga pants.

alheise12 wrote: »

I second the nice cami under the smaller blouse and buttons undone (tastefully!!!!)

That is my current fix! I think maybe when the weather gets warmer, I may get into wearing dresses and other things so this won't be much of an issue anymore.

Once the warm weather rolls around I become a dress at the office wearer for sure. HIGHLY recommend dresses for comfort!!

kzooyogi

I buy almost any cute t-shirt dress that I can. The Julia dress by Lularoe is a go-to (I'm wearing it right now) because it's cotton, stretchy, and can be dressed both up and down. As far as shirts in the winter - my coping strategy with the tightness in the back is just to coexist as best I can. I feel for you!

Kimo159

I can't do button up shirts, at all. First it was because my boobs were too big, now they shrunk but my back is too wide. I wear flowy blouses and sweaters. In the summer I'll rock dresses or skirt and blouse pairings. I've had a lot of luck with banana republic for office clothes that look and fit well, they have some stretchier button up shirts as well so you might be lucky to find one there that works for you.

JoRocka

sammyliftsandeats wrote: »

JoRocka wrote: »

shirts with no sleeves.
I go up in sizes and have them tailored down if I have to- or deal with shirts that look big on the waist.

I don't honestly care.

And stretchy blouses. That's a win- Penny's usually has good ones for not to expensive.

Shirts with no sleeves may be a good idea...especially with the warmer weather coming up.

I'm going to keep an eye out for stretchy blouses...I don't see many around but maybe I'm looking at the wrong stores.

Thanks!

I have some jersey type blouses that look really nice- and I think they all came from Penny's- I don't know if I have any pictures of them- If I remember I'll see if I can take a picture tonight?

Yeah stretch fabric is the fabric of my life- not cotton.

fitmom4lifemfp

I just don't wear close-fitting tops anymore. I do my cardio on my lunch hour. Sometimes that is just a brisk walk, but sometimes it's 150 floors on the stepmill. Whether I take a shower or not, it's damn hard to cool back down before I get back to work. I wear skirts with loose sleeveless tops, or sleeveless dresses, once the weather turns warm (and it is here now).

tulips_and_tea

I 2nd the JC Penny blouses / tops. Something like this is what I wear a lot. They go with skirts and pants.
http://www.jcpenney.com/worthington-short-sleeve-scoop-neck-t-shirt-petites/prod.jump?ppId=pp5007810257&catId=SearchResults&searchTerm=worthingn&N=4294965755

Hope I did the link correctly. If not, just go to their site and search "Worthington" tops.

BruinsGal_91

kzooyogi wrote: »

I buy almost any cute t-shirt dress that I can. The Julia dress by Lularoe is a go-to (I'm wearing it right now) because it's cotton, stretchy, and can be dressed both up and down. As far as shirts in the winter - my coping strategy with the tightness in the back is just to coexist as best I can. I feel for you!

I like that Julia dress! Uniqlo is my go-to for stretchy cotton dresses - they have sleeveless and t-shirt styles, and some of the have the built-in bras too.

Mouse_Potato

Knits. Always. I live in a hot climate, so I wear short-sleeved stretchy tops pretty much year round. I can't really do button down blouses anymore because deltoids and lats.

sammyliftsandeats

BZAH10 wrote: »

I 2nd the JC Penny blouses / tops. Something like this is what I wear a lot. They go with skirts and pants.
http://www.jcpenney.com/worthington-short-sleeve-scoop-neck-t-shirt-petites/prod.jump?ppId=pp5007810257&catId=SearchResults&searchTerm=worthingn&N=4294965755

Hope I did the link correctly. If not, just go to their site and search "Worthington" tops.

We don't have JC Penny in Canada BUT I am going across the border this weekend so I will have to take a look at the stores that we don't have.

Thanks!

MJFSH

I don't wear shirts, usually sweater tops with skirts or dresses with or without sleeves
Summer time is usually sleeveless dresses and tops with skirts
Usually anything non stretchy is too tight on my arms.

JoRocka

MJFSH wrote: »

I don't wear shirts, usually sweater tops with skirts or dresses with or without sleeves
Summer time is usually sleeveless dresses and tops with skirts
Usually anything non stretchy is too tight on my arms.

You could have just stopped there.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Bespoke.

Chieflrg

Have a larger one tailored?

sammyliftsandeats

Chieflrg wrote: »

Have a larger one tailored?

Been wavering on that option because I normally don't buy very expensive clothing.

I'll be frank - I do most of my shopping at places like H&M and Forever 21, so I don't see myself spending money to get things from there tailored.

But then again, if I do spend more money on the clothing, I could get more use out of it. I want to say that with all my heart, that's what I'll do but I have a feeling that the chances of this happening are very slim.

leggup

I wear cotton fitted tshirts instead of button ups. Things with different necklines like from the basics section of target. Throw on a necklace, boom, business casual.

ew_david

I don't wear button-ups. I have yet to find one that's comfortable and fits right. All of my tops must be stretchy.

In the winter, I wear sweaters. In the summer, I wear a sleeveless top with a cardigan/wrap-type sweater over it because my office is 50 below regardless of the time of year.

LeanButNotMean44

Although I live in a climate with 4 very distinct seasons (and freeze in my office during all of them), I do my best to wear stretchy tops, sweaters, and sleeveless tops with a buttoned shirt (I too am small-chested) or flyaway cardigan. In the Summer, I echo what another poster mentioned about wearing dresses. Other than being completely naked, dresses offer the best air circulation on hot days.

FYI - I've torn the backs of TWO coats (a wool winter pea coat and a trench coat) because of my broad back. Kinda' cool, kinda' not.

lilawolf

sammyliftsandeats wrote: »

Chieflrg wrote: »

Have a larger one tailored?

Been wavering on that option because I normally don't buy very expensive clothing.

I'll be frank - I do most of my shopping at places like H&M and Forever 21, so I don't see myself spending money to get things from there tailored.

But then again, if I do spend more money on the clothing, I could get more use out of it. I want to say that with all my heart, that's what I'll do but I have a feeling that the chances of this happening are very slim.

Maybe try different shops... I have NEVER found something at forever 21 that fits me. Talk about tiny arms!!! Most of the time I wear short sleeves and then have a scarf/shawl, light jacket, or open sweater/cardigan thingy. My shoulders are too broad and my biceps are too big for fitted tops especially compared to my small chest. I was a naughty schoolgirl for halloween and had to cut the sleeves up to almost my armpits! (I was so proud :P)

Kinda have the same problem with small waist compared to broad hips: I always wear low rise....which means my tops have to be long enough too! I'm 5'9 so a lot of them, specially stretchy clingy ones want to migrate to my belly button and leave 4 inches of skin hanging out.

Getting things tailored is actually way cheaper than you'd think. Yes, you should get better quality, but they'll last a long time and be there when you need them.

lilawolf

leggup wrote: »

I wear cotton fitted tshirts instead of button ups. Things with different necklines like from the basics section of target. Throw on a necklace, boom, business casual.

I like how your pic also looks like your saying "boom, business casual", but the dress threw me off lol.

For all of those "dresses in the office" ladies... what do you wear as shoes? Flats always seem to be uncomfortable and/or make my heels bleed. And where TF do you put your phone/wallet? Leave it at your desk during the day and then purse out?

amyinthetardis1231

Forever21 and, to a lesser extent, H&M, are both geared toward figures that are more waif-like or straight up and down. Forever 21 has a curvy section now, but they don't really cater to womanly figures so much as late adolescent ones. Maybe a store that has a larger range of misses would be better? I buy from Kohls and Target a lot. They have a decent selection of office-appropriate stuff that is affordable and made for women's bodies after age 21.

sammyliftsandeats

amyinthetardis1231 wrote: »

Forever21 and, to a lesser extent, H&M, are both geared toward figures that are more waif-like or straight up and down. Forever 21 has a curvy section now, but they don't really cater to womanly figures so much as late adolescent ones. Maybe a store that has a larger range of misses would be better? I buy from Kohls and Target a lot. They have a decent selection of office-appropriate stuff that is affordable and made for women's bodies after age 21.

You're probably right.

I'm turning 29 tomorrow...BUT I WANT TO BE FOREVER 21!!!! *sad face*

I am going to try and broaden my horizons when it comes to stores.

CJ_Holmes

It seems pants, shirts, and sleeves don't fit me well. I basically dress exclusively in Calvin Klein office dresses I buy for 39 dollars at Ross or TJ Maxx, and a stretchy blazer or sweater on top. CK dresses usually stretch, are sleeveless yet professional, and seem to fit the gainz perfectly.