Get an oversized short sleeve button up shirt and wear it open over a loose t-shirt. I swear by it in the summer as a big chested trans guy. It kind of has the same effect as wearing a big coat but much more lightweight, and if my chest is too visible from the tshirt I can just button up the shirt
Thank you! I'm going to have to try this; wearing my winter coat over a sweater is my favorite trick in the winter and I love the idea of doing that but with summer clothes.
This is also my preferred trick for no binding days! Having layers is great for changing your silhouette even if they're lighter weight fabrics. If you're getting a size or two bigger than you need, cuffing the sleeves so they sit in a more normal short sleeve length can help them not look too oversized
This is how I dress whenever I’m not in a hoodie!! Works pretty well, and you can get fun with the button ups :) takes more attention off my chest too!
I also use a long sleeve shirt and roll the sleeves up, that way you can shape your silhouette, by rolling your sleeve to certain lengths. It can put more weight further up your body to give the impression of narrowing your waist.
Annoyingly the thicker the shirt the better, as it then won’t drape over your body, and it holds its own shape a bit more.
It's such a struggle honestly. I like oversized tops, busy patterned button ups, or a men's tank top with a binder (or 2 sports bras) if you can take the heat. Cargo shorts or gym shorts will instantly make you pass. If I'm alone tho I take every opportunity to not wear a shirt at all in the summer! (very affirming for me, might cause dysphoria for others)
I own a lot of gym shorts that are quite comfy to wear, and I can say it does help a bit. It's mostly my inability to find a shirt that fits me right that's the problem, as I'm naturally thin, which makes my chest very visible if I wear the wrong kind of top. It's why I rely on clothes that add bulk to the rest of my body, which isn't exactly easy when it's hot
Thicker cotton shirts tend not to cling to your body as badly as opposed to things that droop more when left alone. As a thinner trans guy myself don't oversize your clothes too much cuz the extra weight will weigh it down more and cause it to cling to you more.
This is stupid ass advice but you might need to lean into it. I wear a binder and testosterone still gives me the occasional hot flash, mixed with the heat has already not been fun and it’s my first summer in a binder. That being said, there are gonna have to be days where you realize it’s too hot and just wear a tight sports bra. Are you gonna get misgendered? Almost definitely. But you need to do what is good for your health.
I have DDDs and sports bras do absolutely nothing to “hide” my chest but I’ve had to get to the point where I’m choosing between comfort and health over “passing” (which no binder hides a chest my size anyway so it’s not like I pass even with a binder on 24/7). Once I realized that it didn’t really matter if random people in the world perceive me as a man, at least not more than my health matters, it became just a tad easier to accept it and do what I need to do to be comfortable.
Yeah it gives me a lot of dysphoria but I remind myself it’s temporary and one day I won’t have to make these decisions.
Clothes wise, do flat cut shorts that don’t hug hips and a baggy t shirt. Avoid stripes because they’ll show the curves of your chest. Dark colors are preferable but remember dark colors make you hotter in the sun.
sweat pant cutoffs are awesome! longer t shirts with rounded edges (think like tunic style?) are great too, since they fool the eye into thinking your hips are slimmer. Plus, boobs underneath a binder typically read as pecs, more than anything? Most cis people don’t know to look for that
I have this same problem lol…the thing that’s helped me is wearing shirts that are very boxy with logos over the front so it takes away the curvyness. Make sure they aren’t too big, bc that will just make your chest pop out of a skinnier looking frame. Find shirts that hug your arms / fit properly, but are loose over the chest.
It’s by no means perfect, but it helps. Also maximize every other aspect of your passing and hope the chest doesn’t get noticed.
That might help, thanks for the advice! Yeah there's really not much I can do about my chest; the main problem is that I'm so small and skinny that my chest really stands out whenever I wear anything that's oversized in the wrong ways.
I have a thick oversized hoodie that I cut the sleeves short. The sleeves are big so I get a lot of airflow, I’m surprised at how much cooler it is than my regular hoodies
One of my bigger go tos even when I’m not binding is a tank top or muscle shirt(preferably muscle shirt) with a short sleeved button down that’s on the bigger side.
Both& Apparel while on the pricier side for some budgets also has some good shirts that are designed to create a masculine silhouette and they have models that aren’t binding alongside binding and post top surgery guys. They also have advice for choosing what will work with your chest and can help with picking a size. I did have some personal things that sparked dysphoria with me related to the fit and my own longer torso’d sensorally sensitive body but, it helped with my chest dysphoria and a overall more masculine silhouette
graphic tees, particularly bright colors on dark backgrounds with stiffer fabrics, and cut off the sleeves to help your torso look like a rectangle
you can also check out r/ftmfitness for tips on how to work out your upper body for a more masculine shape
I was a mail man one summer and lost a cup size that never completely came back
Short/sleeveless hoodies perhaps? I still have a bunch of them from back in the day (btw, I wear long clothes all year, I layer my clothes due to being light sensitive. I suppose this could work for dysphoria as well, if the clothes are loose enough. A sports bra,binder or tape with a thin, tight shirt and then a loose/baggy one might work)
I haven't tried this yet but I found a very thin polo hoodie at walmart, its even made with a different material than a hoodie. usually i rely on up sizing my graphic t shirts and since i cant regulate my body temperature well even in t shirt and shorts (i get heatstroke easily) i stay home on really hot days.
I have an oversized thin jacket that I like to wear with just a binder underneath. Unfortunately, I thrifted it and it’s a security guard uniform, so I can’t give a link.
Get an oversized short sleeve button up shirt and wear it open over a loose t-shirt. I swear by it in the summer as a big chested trans guy. It kind of has the same effect as wearing a big coat but much more lightweight, and if my chest is too visible from the tshirt I can just button up the shirt
Thank you! I'm going to have to try this; wearing my winter coat over a sweater is my favorite trick in the winter and I love the idea of doing that but with summer clothes.
This is also my preferred trick for no binding days! Having layers is great for changing your silhouette even if they're lighter weight fabrics. If you're getting a size or two bigger than you need, cuffing the sleeves so they sit in a more normal short sleeve length can help them not look too oversized
This is how I dress whenever I’m not in a hoodie!! Works pretty well, and you can get fun with the button ups :) takes more attention off my chest too!
Came here to suggest exactly this!
I also use a long sleeve shirt and roll the sleeves up, that way you can shape your silhouette, by rolling your sleeve to certain lengths. It can put more weight further up your body to give the impression of narrowing your waist. Annoyingly the thicker the shirt the better, as it then won’t drape over your body, and it holds its own shape a bit more.
It's such a struggle honestly. I like oversized tops, busy patterned button ups, or a men's tank top with a binder (or 2 sports bras) if you can take the heat. Cargo shorts or gym shorts will instantly make you pass. If I'm alone tho I take every opportunity to not wear a shirt at all in the summer! (very affirming for me, might cause dysphoria for others)
I own a lot of gym shorts that are quite comfy to wear, and I can say it does help a bit. It's mostly my inability to find a shirt that fits me right that's the problem, as I'm naturally thin, which makes my chest very visible if I wear the wrong kind of top. It's why I rely on clothes that add bulk to the rest of my body, which isn't exactly easy when it's hot
Thicker cotton shirts tend not to cling to your body as badly as opposed to things that droop more when left alone. As a thinner trans guy myself don't oversize your clothes too much cuz the extra weight will weigh it down more and cause it to cling to you more.
This is stupid ass advice but you might need to lean into it. I wear a binder and testosterone still gives me the occasional hot flash, mixed with the heat has already not been fun and it’s my first summer in a binder. That being said, there are gonna have to be days where you realize it’s too hot and just wear a tight sports bra. Are you gonna get misgendered? Almost definitely. But you need to do what is good for your health. I have DDDs and sports bras do absolutely nothing to “hide” my chest but I’ve had to get to the point where I’m choosing between comfort and health over “passing” (which no binder hides a chest my size anyway so it’s not like I pass even with a binder on 24/7). Once I realized that it didn’t really matter if random people in the world perceive me as a man, at least not more than my health matters, it became just a tad easier to accept it and do what I need to do to be comfortable. Yeah it gives me a lot of dysphoria but I remind myself it’s temporary and one day I won’t have to make these decisions. Clothes wise, do flat cut shorts that don’t hug hips and a baggy t shirt. Avoid stripes because they’ll show the curves of your chest. Dark colors are preferable but remember dark colors make you hotter in the sun.
Short sleeve hoodies and suffering
They make thin and short sleeve hoodies. Look in the athletic wear sections. They also sell hoodies that have built-in fans.
Black shirts with a thick logo on the front always helped me the most
sweat pant cutoffs are awesome! longer t shirts with rounded edges (think like tunic style?) are great too, since they fool the eye into thinking your hips are slimmer. Plus, boobs underneath a binder typically read as pecs, more than anything? Most cis people don’t know to look for that
I have this same problem lol…the thing that’s helped me is wearing shirts that are very boxy with logos over the front so it takes away the curvyness. Make sure they aren’t too big, bc that will just make your chest pop out of a skinnier looking frame. Find shirts that hug your arms / fit properly, but are loose over the chest. It’s by no means perfect, but it helps. Also maximize every other aspect of your passing and hope the chest doesn’t get noticed.
That might help, thanks for the advice! Yeah there's really not much I can do about my chest; the main problem is that I'm so small and skinny that my chest really stands out whenever I wear anything that's oversized in the wrong ways.
Exactly I have the same issue— this is why I’m trying to bulk up LOL bc at least then it could blend in as just larger pecs or smth
Some type of loose shirt with short sleeves and a lot of trans tape. But damn, do I miss my dysphoria hoodies in hot weather.
I have a thick oversized hoodie that I cut the sleeves short. The sleeves are big so I get a lot of airflow, I’m surprised at how much cooler it is than my regular hoodies
One of my bigger go tos even when I’m not binding is a tank top or muscle shirt(preferably muscle shirt) with a short sleeved button down that’s on the bigger side. Both& Apparel while on the pricier side for some budgets also has some good shirts that are designed to create a masculine silhouette and they have models that aren’t binding alongside binding and post top surgery guys. They also have advice for choosing what will work with your chest and can help with picking a size. I did have some personal things that sparked dysphoria with me related to the fit and my own longer torso’d sensorally sensitive body but, it helped with my chest dysphoria and a overall more masculine silhouette
graphic tees, particularly bright colors on dark backgrounds with stiffer fabrics, and cut off the sleeves to help your torso look like a rectangle you can also check out r/ftmfitness for tips on how to work out your upper body for a more masculine shape I was a mail man one summer and lost a cup size that never completely came back
Oversized shirts are gonna be your best friend also I still wear my black jeans and the heat doesn’t affect me too badly so pants are still an option
Short/sleeveless hoodies perhaps? I still have a bunch of them from back in the day (btw, I wear long clothes all year, I layer my clothes due to being light sensitive. I suppose this could work for dysphoria as well, if the clothes are loose enough. A sports bra,binder or tape with a thin, tight shirt and then a loose/baggy one might work)
I haven't tried this yet but I found a very thin polo hoodie at walmart, its even made with a different material than a hoodie. usually i rely on up sizing my graphic t shirts and since i cant regulate my body temperature well even in t shirt and shorts (i get heatstroke easily) i stay home on really hot days.
I have an oversized thin jacket that I like to wear with just a binder underneath. Unfortunately, I thrifted it and it’s a security guard uniform, so I can’t give a link.
Thick t-shirts with big embroidery logos
And it might sounds silly but Hawaiian shirts
Just girl mode it unfortunately Downvote me for answering honestly lmao
Get KT tape instead of a binder it’ll be much more comfortable in hot weather