Shapewear Trick For Medium To Small Busts - YouLookFab Forum

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Shapewear Trick For Medium To Small Busts

krishnidoux

Veteran

Hi!
I haven't posted here in a while but I lurk and read you. Today I would like to share a little secret I discovered recently that has been changing the look of my outfits.

I'm trying out this new thing where I go bra-less (yes!) but, BUT, I wear a Spanx "Open bust" tank underneath - so the tank's super low neck rim of the garment sits underneath the breasts, slightly lifting them, containing them nicely in the center and preventing them from wobbling around too much - yet breasts are uncovered and not too constricted.

Breasts will sit slightly lower than they do with a bra (see last pics below). It allows you to unbutton shirts a bit lower without looking trashy. I think it works for me because my breasts are not very voluminous.

**I must report that I have been on two dates so far wearing this method under 100% opaque shirts, and one of the two admitted having dreamt the following night of my breasts, and "he didn't know why" (LOL!)**.

Here are some of the outfits I tried. I've added the names of my wigs in case you'd wonder why my hair changes from pic to pic.

Pic 1: A simple v-neck knit top from H&M. Wig: Raquel Welsh Show Stopper (which I do not recommend because expensive and too fragile).

Pic 2: Under a turtleneck. Hmmmm. Maybe if I'm extra daring. If I'm in a bad-assy-I-don't-care-I'm-French type of strange, rare mood... this one would be the equivalent for me of going topless on a St-Tropez beach. Wig: Ellen Wille Ivy acquired on sale.

Pic 3: Totally works with this flower print Talbots cotton top. I find that the fact the breasts sit slightly lower, attention is drawn to the shoulders. Wig: TWC's Summer Heat.

Pic 4: The best combo with this technique IMO: high-waisted very 1985-ish baggy jeans from Zara with an older Talbots chambray shirt (2016). Wig: RW's Tress (Viva the 80's!).

Pic 5: Perfect with a little cami, provided the fabric is thick enough to hide the bust's contours, and slack enough to let it breathe a little. Wig: TWC's Delectable.

Pic 6: Just to show again what it does with an open shirt. Similar to the ones I was wearing on the dates. Wig: TWC's Summer Heat.

Pic 7: Well, ok, here it's too much. I still need my bras!

Pic 8: Side view.

Thank you in advance for you thoughts and opinions. Please be brutally honest.

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Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

Jules

Veteran

Wow, I absolutely adore your outfit in #4! I thought it was a great jumpsuit at first glance. Way to combine items from different seasons, classic and trendy, to make a whole. You’ve got me thinking about the potential of ‘two piece jumpsuits’ - I love jumpsuits but so hard to fit.
It seems you want to go braless - for comfort? If so, I think you’ve got a good understanding of when this works and when it’s outside your comfort zone.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Good option! It does seem like people do this more and more these days (go without a bra, I mean) and I've been wondering how to make it work for me. Just going without is uncomfortable for me, but I bet I could figure out some workaround like this.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Nice to see you again!You are looking fab and still rocking those wigs.L ove outfit #3 and #7 especially on you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good to see you again, Krish. Thanks for sharing your new braless tip. I'm glad you're having fun with it, while feeling sensual, confident and comfortable. Good for you!

Perhaps you can provide a link to Spanx camisole you're loving?

Personally, I LOVE bras. The way they look, support and feel. So I'd rather showcase a bit of pretty lacey bra in a top than go without.

Teal is one of your best colours! #4 and #5 are my favourites from this bunch of outfits.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Hi Angie! Thank you for this feedback. The cami is this: https://www.spanx.com/shapewea.....-bust-cami

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I recently just bought that same shapewear (although it's a full open bust catsuit with slip shorts included), so thanks for the tip! I'm not big chested either but always feel like I 'need' to wear a padded bra because of the inevitable 'headlights'. I'd otherwise probably go braless all the time -especially during the sweltering subtropical summers here! Still on the lookout for nipple pasties that will hold up throughout the day, though... You don't seem to have that issue in your photos, though!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thank you Zaeobi! I think any body tape will do if all you want is cover the nipples (bandaids section).

Did you know you can also buy faux nipples, to make them extra perky under your clothes! It’s like orange juice. There is without pulp, and then you can buy extra pulp. Never got that either!

Style Fan

Veteran

Number 5 is my favourite. You look fabulous in these outfits. The Spanx trick is a great way to go braless.

elpgal

Veteran

This is a great tip to ‘support and showcase’ as opposed to ‘bind and contain’ which was my technique when I was smaller and could go bra-free.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Elpgal I love your wording!

Gigi

Veteran

Good for you for experimenting! I used to go braless a lot more than I do now (I too have a relatively small bust). The biggest problem with going braless for me is how the bust does sit lower, which isn't a good effect coupled with my short-waistedness. It sounds like this Spanx cami helps out in that department. I do try to buy shirts that work well for going braless in case I am so inclined! It can be tough sometimes.

My faves are 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Haha I prefer my orange juice extra smooth! People here in HK often cover up the chest area (& are generally small chested so low cut tops don't look as scandalous on them anyway), so I'm very self conscious (my husband points out my headlights when we go outside, which doesn't help lol).

I haven't seen body tape in the drugstores around here, but would it hurt if you applied it over nips? Maybe not when you put it on, but I'm imagining having to rip it off like a plaster (bandaid) - ouch!

notsaf

Veteran

Zaeobi, this sorry if thing works well to cover headlights and I could see it working well with cupless support like the Spanx. https://m.shopbop.com/nippies-.....orId=10991

My problem is that when I'd like most to go braless with support (summer) is hate to wear a camisole. Any alternatives?

Bijou

Veteran

Krish, it is so lovely to see you post and you are looking gorgeous. I must be strange because I like wearing bras even though I have a small to medium size bust and could most definitely give this a try.

I love your outfits and wigs. Shame wig #1 is not recommended, as it is a beautiful colour and style on you. My favourite outfits (all are great - so this is just the best of the best) are 1, 3 & 4.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I agree about needing a bra for #7. Personally I would wear a bra with #2, although I see this look a lot. The rest seem great. Unfortunately I’m not a candidate for this tip.

Kate

Veteran

Thinking about you just the other night, Krish, and wondering how you were. So nice to see you again on the forum. You’re looking great as always and still rocking those wigs. Nice outfits all, but I just love #4 in particular, and #1.

I’m with notsaf in most wanting to go braless in our hot summers, but needing to wear as few clothes as possible, so shapewear would just give me heat prostration.

I’m small busted, so I could certainly do this in cooler weather, but I’m afraid I need the greater uplift a bra provides.

lyn67

Veteran

Great to see our Wig Queen, hi Krish! Do you have the cami in white or tan? (does not show up under whites-which is great!) Unfortiunatelly I'm not a contender either, but all look decent-only 7 is needing a bra or full cami- as you said it, too! Hah, poor guy, was it there a second date, or he vent to the dentist?:-)

rachylou

Veteran

If it works it works I rather like outfits 1&2.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@notsaf Looks tempting, but it's always difficult ordering nude-to-me shades online, being somewhere a lighter tanned colour but without a strong yellow undertone... will have to see!

Runcarla

Veteran

Lovely to see you you again and read your post. I find any constriction around the torso aggravates an irritable digestive system, and I’ve been going bra-less or wearing lightweight bralettes from time to time. I wonder if the spanx would be ‘squeezey ’ around the torso? I DO like the no bra look under a turtleneck sweater or the deep V of a button down, and a bit of nip is natural and normal. Nip-less Barbie doll smooth I am not IRL!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great to see you post and you look wonderful. I especially love the "jumpsuit" look -- those Zara jeans are fabulous on you! Such a fun look. I also love the flowered top.

Seems you have a really good sense of when the braless look feels good for you and when it doesn't. Rock on!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thank you for your warm greetings, all! It's so nice! Wow, so much love!
<3
Gigi, I was like you. I tried body tape with mixed results. Good ol' bras were much easier at the end of the day (and actually at the beginning mostly!). Anything bra-less will have to get us used to lower busts. For me, my breasts seem incredibly low in all those outfits.
Zaeobi, good point. When I think some women actually wear faux nipples to enhance the headlights effect! I'll never forget a very intellectual Parisian colleague in the French Studies Department on the West Coast wearing them while giving an important conference on postmodern literature. It was so left-field-ish, really.
Notsaf: Body tape? I wonder how I will do myself. Now it's winter so spanx is ok, but in the sweltering heat of the summer... I'm hoping by then my breast muscles will have re-grown enough to just forego everything. Well, er, not the top, of course, but I mean, everything underneath!
Bijou: Thank you so much! So sweet of you!
Barbara Diane: Agree. I'm a teacher, and today I pondered weather I would wear #2 to class. No chance. LOL!
Kate: Thanks! What a lovely welcome. You know, I read that actually bra-less partisans actually develop firmer breasts. So I'm tying to train my girls for the summer and maybe not needing the spanx then. Because like you and Notsaf, a cami is way too uncomfortable in higher temps for me.
Lyn67: Thank you! Cami is off white, from Zara. And re the guy: there was a second date and then there was no more dates. In the meantime, I met someone really nice. He did not comment my bralessness, but I feel so comfortable around him it is not a factor at all. Whcih is a good sign!
Runcarla, thank you! I chose my spanx one size bigger precisely for that reason. It's still tight though, but not to the point of giving me acid reflux. Nipless barbie doll LMAO!!!
Suz, thanks! I'm happy to find you back here too.