A bustline is an arbitrary line encircling the fullest part of the bust or body circumference at the bust.[1] It is a body measurement which measures the circumference of a woman's torso at the level of the breasts. It is measured by keeping a measuring tape horizontal and wrapping it around the body so that it goes over the nipples and under the arms.
In relation to a woman's garment, the bustline is the outline or shape of a woman's bust, or the part of the garment which covers the breasts, such as a dress with a fitted bustline.[2] The bustline is an important measure in women's clothing sizes.
A full bust is another term for the bustline measure but is also commonly used to refer to a breast with a cup size of at least C.
Other measures
These measures are usually taken when taking measurements for the bustline of a woman's garment, especially if the garment is to be form-fitting at the bust.
- A high bust is a measure of a woman's torso above her breasts.
- An under-bust is the measure below the breasts.
These measurements are typically taken by measuring the bust line of women's clothing[3][4], especially very tight-fitting garments.
See also
References
- Merriam-Webster
- Dictionary.com
- Stampler, Laura (2014-10-23). "When — And Why — We Started Measuring Women's Clothing". TIME. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- Mommy, Carly the (2025-08-14). "Fashion terminology and styles for women's clothing". Mommy on Purpose. Retrieved 2026-06-23.