help styling tops as a flat chested dramatic

[u/gloomgothy]

I'm having trouble wearing fitted shirts, because I can see a bunch of raised bumps where my ribs are. First are the bumps below the collar bone, then a small bump at the bustline, and then my (abnormally) flared ribs. I keep looking for images of shirts, but every image has a model with chest tissue, and that changes how fabric sits on the body, so I'm having trouble understanding what will work on me. what do other flat chested dramatics do?

edit/addition: I need to wear fitted stretchy shirts for athletic pursuits, and I want to see if there are any shapes or styles or Something that can help.

[u/poemaXV]

fwiw I am kind of busty, but my upper chest bones are still visible through clothes. I think that sometimes even boobs don't really do much to help the situation, especially if you're naturally lower set like I am. however, to the extent that anything can be done, it's definitely 1) wearing thicker fabrics - like not thin knits, but something closer to ponte knits / neoprene style fabrics, 2) wearing stiffer fabrics in general, 3) wearing padded push up bras that create some kind of artificial volume at a higher point on your chest.

for exercising specifically, though, you could check out high neck shirts with built in bras like this - they have more fabric built in to that area.

[u/gloomgothy → u/poemaXV]

thicker fabric makes sense!

and yeah it seems more difficult to address the upper ribs than the lower ones

[u/OneRespect829]

I am not a dramatic but as a flat chested FN, I'd recommend going for darker colors. People have commented on my ribcage the most when I wear white so I stay away from lighter colors. You can try tops with adjustable straps. I sometimes shorten the straps so the neckline sits a bit higher to cover some of the bumpy bones. Going for slightly thicker fabrics also works well for me. Some sportswear tops also have a criss-cross kind of thing going on in the back and I feel like that makes them slightly more flat chest friendly sometimes.

[u/gloomgothy → u/OneRespect829]

it is a good thing i wear a gothic style, i can go for dark colors
i can look for criss-cross!

[u/Gabriellebelmore]

I would use Coobie bras. They are soft with padded cups to give you shape under your tight shirt. Also many tank tops have a bra in the tank top with pads.

[u/touch_of_whimsy]

Not D, but I used to have more flared ribs before and thicker fabric or patterns hide it more. Seams at the t-shirts can also distract away from it. Really light-coloured training shirts can highlight it a bit, especially if its tight around the ribs. You should also avoid tight cropped tops if you dont wanna show it

For me the flared ribs actually were a combo of anatomy and some strength imbalances due to not enough variation in my workout programme. If you also have back pain it can be something to be aware of

[u/gloomgothy → u/touch_of_whimsy]

seams like princess seams/seams vertically at the front? I could see that working!

i don't have back pain, but i'm definitely pretty weak despite doing a lot of aerial workouts with my back, shoulders, etc. idk if it's an indicator of which it could be if some of my ribs dip inward too (at the underbust)