Why do women wear shirts that don’t cover their stomach, then pull them down
I read the entire thread and no one seems to have suggested that pulling the shirt down, tightens the fabric and accentuates the boobs.
It’s particularly effective when the woman has a magnificent rack.
Even better when she does it while looking you right in the eye.
Not that I do this, but speaking as a woman with boobs, if I wear loose-fitting shirts I look like a baby hippo. I do have a waist, too, but if I wore baggy tops you could never tell. I’ve almost entirely given up on wearing button-up blouses or just about any kind of shirt that isn’t a knit and/or doesn’t have a bit of stretch to it for this very reason.
If I want to buy a shirt that will fit me on the top, I generally have to buy a child’s shirt. I wear baggy shirts a lot too, but there are certain days I don’t want to hide under all that.
Those are the days when one of three things happens.
either:
I put on a shirt, knowing that it gaps at the bottom when I lift my arms and thinking, “don’t be stupid. Your stomach is plenty flat/concave enough to pull it off. It’s actually kind of flattering.” when I look in the mirror. Then I wal out of the house and am suddenly owner to the Amazing Growing Tummy which, when it sees sunlight, looks more and more pregnant and fat and disgusting until I finally can find a big sweatshirt to hide it. Then I spend the rest of the day miserably wishing I weren’t so fat and wondering how I could have possibly thought I wasn’t when I looked in the mirror this morning and, yes, pulling my shirt down.
or:
I put on a shirt and look in the mirror and it seems fine. Then I go to work or wherever and either my pants start sliding down or my shirt pulls up a bit every time I reach for something. This is the worst with shirts that have hoods because the hood pulls the neckline back and the bottom of the front up.
or: I buy a shirt that seems okay in the store and I bring it home and become fully aware that I can only wear that shirt if I bring a giant sweatshirt along or wear a leotard under it becuase my stomach WILL be visible in it. But I love the shirt so much that I want to wear it anyway. so occasionally, I do.
Usually it’s just a metter of “I think I’m more confident than I am.” where I leave the house feeling okay and then by the time I get where I’m going, I want to hide under the table and kick myself for thinking I’m attractive enough to pull that off. but hiding under the table crying isn’t socially acceptable, so I just try to hide as much of me as I can.
God… that sounds so hot! It’s like she has to forcibly restrain her bouncy breasts from wiggling around like playful puppies under her shirt. Why no chest pressers at my work? 
Yeah, I was under the impression that some women did it for this reason. Most women are alot more attractive than they give themselves credit for, but I see women do this all the time. If they have love handles or pale skin or some minor thing they pull their shirts down out of fear of being noticed, but then I’m thinking ‘why’d you buy a shirt that rides up if you don’t want people to see you’ and hence this post. All bullshit and e-flirting aside, I’m sure you’re more attractive than you give yourself credit for. The vast majority of women are.
It ain’t just women’s clothing that’s suffering from this. A while back I finally gave in to my wife’s requests to buy my jeans at one of the ‘hipper-than-thou’ boutiques she loves, and found a pair that was actually pretty good. When I went back a few months later to get a second pair, the fashions had changed and every pair in stock had the waistband about three inches above the crotch.
This subject veers dangerously close to one of my secret shames–I love the bare midriff look, even though it’s so “teenage girl”–but I couldn’t resist popping in to second the previously stated sentiment, that women really should relax about how they look. The vast majority of women look really good most of the time. (Not all–I’m a realist on the matter of looks.) You gals really should chill out about it. And if you’re wearing something that shows a little skin, so be it. We know you’ve got skin; everyone does. If you want to show it, go ahead. Most of us (men, at least) will applaud you for it.
I got several good chuckles the night I was at a high school basketball game and watched one of the cheerleaders frantically tugging her skirt down after every single jump she made.
I’ve never fully understood that either, and I’ve had more than one outraged friend complain that so and so is staring at her. I nod sympatheticially, but I’m also thinking “you dressed like that and didn’t expect stares?!” I dress modestly almost always, so it took me a while to formulate a theory - for some of the friends in question I’m pretty sure the reasoning went like this:* This outfit makes me look good, and I’d like [insert person or small group of persons] to think I look good too.* Which is fine until they realize that the clothes don’t have the magical power to attract only the attention of those she was hoping to appeal to - some outfits make everyone look, even the teenage bagger or that 50-something guy over there.
I’m with all the women who complain their shirttails are too short. One of the looks I like best for everyday office wear is fitted dress blouses, most of which seem designed for B-cup-- but I have never found one yet with adequate shirttails. If a fitted blouse fits me just right, it’s more comfortable-- except for always having to pull the end back into place. I don’t like the shapeless way men’s shirts drape on me, but sometimes I wear them just for the coverage.
Good thing I drive to work, because when I get out of the car, I need to put my blouse back in place before walking in. It can usually last until I get to my desk. If I took the bus to work like Idlewild, I don’t know what I’d do.
You could be speaking for me, you speak for many of us, the majority of women who are neither fat nor skinny. Asian men suffer from Disappearing Penis Syndrome, American women suffer from Appearing Stomach Syndrome.
The OP situation is why bodysuits were invented. Shirts that snap under the crotch to fasten everything in place. Except that no one wants to wear them. You can’t even find them in stores.
Speaking of clothes for teenagers, notice the trend that’s been around since last year at least… those pretty tunic-like tops that reach way down to hip level. The design often looks inspired by Indian fashions like the kurta. The definition of kurta is basically a hip-length shirt. They also have a waist-length version called kurti; in Hindi they use the masculine ending -a for a bigger version of something, and the feminine ending -i for the smaller version of the same thing. If everyone wore kurta-style tops the OP would never have been written. I think the designs of these they make for teenagers nowadays are so chic it almost makes me with I could be a teenager again.
Speaking of short blouses and India, how about the sari blouses that end right under the bosom? You don’t see Indian women tugging those down. They’re comfortable showing their bellies. Recently, I have seen longline sari blouses that extend to the waist, supposedly more modest, but wait… if it almost reaches the waist, the urge to tug it all the way there is unbearable, like scratching an itch.
I think they had the right idea in the first place by leaving the blouse way short, up at the bosom, so everyone can just forget about tugging it to the waist. The choli ghagra outfits that are so fashionable in India these days make me uncomfortable just looking at them, because the choli (top) extends to just a half inch above the waist. When it’s that close, I would be too tempted to constantly tug it down. It would drive me crazy. But if blouse and waist are miles apart, it isn’t an issue.
Back to American clothes: For me personally, long skirts with elastic waistbands are the easiest, most comfortable things to wear that look good. Why, because you don’t have to worry about the skirt riding up, you can relax. And if the mountain won’t go to Mohammed, the skirt can always go higher to meet the blouse, if the blouse isn’t tucked in. There are all kinds of ways to get around this, but the simplest, easiest solution–make women’s shirts with adequate length–oh no, can’t do that, for some mysterious reason.
…and I just bought this:
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/application/prodDisplay/?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=UN-171099&page=1&cgname=OSCLOBLOVIL&rfnbr=2226 which has adequate tail length and is fitted. I adore it.
My shirts ride up. So I pull them back down. It has nothing to do with attracting men, or looking sexy, or anything like that, but I find it uncomfortable when my shirt isn’t down where it’s supposed to be. If I’m wearing a top that’s just short, I don’t pull it down as often, because it’s where it should be and thus is perfectly comfortable
Just checking in as another mystified male.
Got a wife and 2 teen daughters, none of whom are into exposing their midriffs, and all of whom are able to find comfortable and stylish clothes that avoid exposing more than they wish. Don’t know how they do it, but I have the credit card bills to attest to their success. Of course, none of the 3 are into form-fitting babydoll tees or camis unless they wear another shirt (or 2) under them, or micro-minis or low-rise jeans. And they have mastered the art of lifting their arms above their heads and such in front of a mirror at home to see if a particular shirt might ride up…
The 2 places I am most surprised/amused by clothes tugging are at HS events and in the workplace. If you are getting an award, or working in a professional environment, that might not be the best place to make a fashion statement, if you are unsure of the fit. IMO in such situations less-stylish but well fitting clothing will always look better than a fashionista tugging at her clothing.
Haven’t done an exhaustive study, but it seems that the women who tug most at their clothing are often the ones who didn’t figure out how to walk in their chosen shoes.
And we haven’t touched upon the non-tuggers who blithely wear form-fitting clothing which exposes rolls of fat…
Oooh women who can’t walk in their shoe of choice! Now THAT is a damn near Pittable offense (ok, not really. But goddamn it bothers me).
First, walking in heels = not all that hard. Most people are AMAZED when they see me running around in 3 and 4 inch heels, but are even more amazed when I show them why I can. It’s a matter of walking properly- which is a good thing for two reasons: 1- you feel better and 2- you look a whole lot better. Nothing bothers me more than seeing a woman hobbling around with her feet all pointed out. Alright, fine. Child molesters bother me more, but not by much 
(kidding kidding)
How to walk in heels: shoulders back, shift your weight OFF of the balls of your feet and onto your heels, walk one foot in front of the other, and shift your hips (helps distribute the weight). The first few times it feels weird, but then you get used to it and it’s great!
I mastered this technique during high school debate tournaments where I insisted on wearing 3-4 inch heels for the 12 hour tournament. I was a stupid 17 year old. Well, I’m a stupid 20 year old, too. . . but that isn’t the point.
I have this problem as well. My shirt creepage problem has many causes. First off I have “Tig 'ol Bitties” and hips, the shirts like to creep up to the least taxing area, above my navel and just south of the girls. Also with my fluctuation weight, sometimes I am up 10lbs sometimes I am down … wait no just up… I never have a shirt that is the right size for me. I am 24 (or at least I will be tomorrow) and the clothes in the juniors section are usually to small and the clothes in the Misses section are usually made for older women.
My arms are also very long. Which makes any l/s shirt I buy 3/4 length on me. I really, really would like to find a company that makes cute l/s shirts with sleeves that reach my wrists after I wash them.
For pants I am currently in love with Aura Jeans by Wrangler. They have 3 different rises and 4 different inseams. They are vanity sized so I get to buy a size 12 instead of a 16! And even though I know its a trick it still makes me happy. They also have some stretch to them so they are super comfortable and they don’t look “western” so I can wear them anywhere with out having to think someone is wondering where I parked my horse. Check out the website here http://www.rods.com/xq/aspx/dept_id.203/display_id.1689/qx/Product.htm
Barrels
I have to agree with other people who’ve said that the shirt fits fine at home, and then when I start moving around it rides up. So I pull it down. I do this because my back gets cold, not because I’m trying to woo some man.
Trust me, when I’m trying to woo some man, you’ll know. Most likely I’ll be wearing a shirt cut down to my bippy and dropping my pen a lot.
I get really, really pissed off when women wear a low cut top and then bitch that men are looking at their tits. Guess what - I’m looking at your tits too, and I’m not into tits!! How the hell is some poor bastard that IS into tits supposed to help himself?
Usually it’s because I’ve bought a shirt that fit perfectly the first time I wore it. And then, in the wash, it shrank up some. But, dang it, shirts don’t grow on trees and it’s almost long enough if I just keep tugging on it which might stretch it out again too…
That is so right on, DiosaBellissima. I noticed this is true even in the flats I wear every day to work, with soles narrower than the shoes’ width. This taught me the key to walking in women’s shoes is that they were designed for someone who walks with the gait of a graceful woman. As you described. In classical Sanskrit literature, the highest praise given to feminine beauty is gaja gamini, ‘she who walks like an elephant’, referring to the hip action. I attribute my ease in walking in high heels to all those belly dance classes: in belly dance my hips are the most active part of me, my footwork is geotropic, my center of gravity low and balanced.
Of course, going barefoot on the grass is an even better pleasure. You can take the hippie chick out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the hippie chick.
Why yes…yes, it does. 
I would also like to add anything sheer or see through without the appropriate garment worn underneath to said monument. I love peasant shirts but I KNOW that I must wear a camisole under them or every little bump that I want to conceal will show.
Also, too short garments but not of the shirt type. I mean people who wear shorts that are too short. I remember a friend’s mother wearing short shorts with pantyhose on. It may have been marginally acceptable except the panty part of the pantyhose stuck out. I personally stopped wearing shorts when I hit my mid twenties. There is just a point where you need to dress like a woman and most shorts are not made for women (a few brands are)
