« Of roommates, quirks, and breathing room | Home | Fabulous! Festival status »
The case against tube tops
By Meg | May 31, 2008
I am not a fan of tube tops. I’m just not. I’m fairly open-minded when it comes to style, but tube tops are among my worst pet peeves.
I know there are plenty of wonderful, beautiful people that wear them. I won’t hold it against them. However, I just feel that they’re at best a very unflattering choice, and very often trashy/cheap looking.
Now, I’ve had a couple guys protest that on the right body, they’re really sexy. Of course, I can’t help but wonder if these same guys would be just as happy if those women went around in nothing but undies (or less). I could be wrong, but I believe that tube tops are more about showing skin than style, though I will add that there are classier ways to show just about the same amount of skin — like a top that hangs sweetly off the shoulders instead of clinging under the armpits.
And that leads me to another objection. I will go ahead and say that generally dislike under arm tops. Sometimes you can get them to work. However, most tops that go under the armpits will highlight any armpit fat you may have. Heck, I’ve seen them create armpit fat on girls who don’t seem to have any fat on their bodies at all! But tube tops are the worst since they shift around, and often down. So even if you start with a tube top that conceals armpit fat, you’ll likely be fidgeting with it all day as it slips lower and cuts across armpit fat and your chest.
Speaking of, who is supposed to wear tube tops? If you have a decent-sized chest, the top likely cuts across them in an unflattering way. If you’re rather large, it’s unlikely that you can get away with wearing a strapless bra combined with such an unsupportive top. And pleeeeeeaaaaaaaze, don’t go bra-less in a tube top no matter how big or small you are. I’ve seen this look in Florida on more than a few occasions and it’s not a pretty sight, especially as people start moving. But even with a small chest and a supportive bra, tube tops aren’t flattering. The women I’ve seen wearing them who are really skinny have all looked unproportionally flat, even when they looked fine in other tops. One such gal actually wore a tube top dress to work in an office. And no, that gal wasn’t wearing it under a jacket or other covering.
I hope it doesn’t need explaining why tube tops (or tube dresses) aren’t business appropriate. But when are they ever appropriate? They’re thin, clingy, and show a lot of skin, including tan lines. They’re not appropriate for school. And personally, I don’t think they’re even appropriate even for going shopping. I know people like clubbing in them, along with other outfits that are pretty trashy (I say that admitting to having worn quite a few interesting numbers to clubs). But really, if you’re going to go dancing, wear something that’s more supportive.
Frankly, I don’t know who should wear these things or when. Sure, there’s always a few exceptions where someone looks alright in one. However, in every case I can think of something a lot more appropriate and flattering.
But I do try to be open-minded. So, if you like tube tops, please try to convince me to change my mind.
Tags: Fashion, Style
Related Posts:
May 31st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
They only look great on girls with boobs, but then they don’t support those boobs AND it creates fat where there isnt any
May 31st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I think it’d make me look fat. Whereas a tight single color t-shirt would make me look hot. I like that t-shirts don’t cut off anywhere that makes the skin wrinkle, they just cover it.
Of course, tight t-shirts make me look hot so I don’t wear them to work or anything (especially with the pervy guys at the library). But they’re great for a casual night out. Tube tops? Never.
June 1st, 2008 at 6:01 am
Eww! I’m with you on this one, Meg. Tube tops have to be one of the most unflattering garments ever created. Some may disagree, but the droopy uniboob is not a look I intentionally go for. Not to mention that they are a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
Jennifer Skinner
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
i have to concur that tube tops have very limited purpose in fashion. as a lady with an ample chest i avoid them at all costs.
just curious, what’s your position on strapless dresses - both casual and formal?
love your blog!
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
What, no tube top defenders? LOL!
In fact, just yesterday, my husband and I were walking down the street when he said, “Wow, there’s another gal that THINKS she looks good in a tube top.” He’s not a fan, either.
@tv-addict
I have seen some nice strapless dresses. It depends on the material, the neckline, the fit, et cetera — but few strike me as being in the same class as tube tops.
Even the best ones can be hard to wear, though. Plus, they tend to be either very formal, or very casual. I wore one at graduation, but with a cardigan when I didn’t have my robe on. I recently sold it because it was just too much of a hassle to wear. I much prefer dresses with some straps to keep things from shifting too much.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
The most unflattering part of the look is the tube-top tug. Even if you look cute in one, the cuteness changes to fussy the minute you reach up to yank it up on top or down on the bottom as it starts to ride towards your waist.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I happen to be able to pull off formal strapless dresses quite well despite my ample bosom. If they have boning inside, I can get away even with the poor performance of my strapless bras. One thing to remember with strapless dresses, though, is that they shouldn’t be kept up by your chest. The waist should be tailored to your natural waist and that way your curves will hold it up!
Tube dresses, though, never look good on ANYONE. Without the internal support to keep it up, they usually look slouchy/too tight.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Well said, Stepho! I hate fussy clothes in general. I still remember seeing this one tween girl years ago at an Easter church service. She came in a midriff and biker shorts, which would have been bad enough had she worn them confidently, but she spent the entire time squirming uncomfortably as if it had just occurred to her that maybe that outfit wasn’t appropriate after all.
Sarah,
Great point! Dresses like that can definitely work, particularly with good boning. It’s a shame that they can be so hard to find, though, since there’s such an emphasis on cheap, disposable clothing.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Hmm, as someone with one or two “tube top” type tops in my wardrobe I can say they are really only suitable for one thing, and that is the sort of vacation where one intends to sit at an outdoor cafe reading and drinking (tea…or drinks), or riding around in a carriage for a tour, or similar. They are not activity tops, and further, they are really only for the rather small-chested (myself included). A top with some structure (mine have it) can be a godsend.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I’m a fan of tube tops. I think it is important to find the right size and fit. They look gross if they are too tight and too short - then underarm fat is created and back fat spills over. The ones I buy are tighter around the chest and a bit looser around the stomach. They look really cute! I always wear them with a bra. I either wear a bra with clear straps or a bra that is the exact same colour as the tube top itself.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Hmmm…. I’ll take your word for it but I don’t really care for showing bra-straps either, even if they’re clear (though those may work sometimes under shear clothing). At the very least, make sure to only wear them for very casual occasions.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 am
[…] more casual than others. However, at a recent college audition one of the gals auditioning wore a tube top. Braless. In a cold […]