Looking for a Lift

Adventures in Lingerieland

During a recent lunch with an old friend I couldn't stop complimenting her on how svelte and sculpted her figure looked. Her deadpan response: "It's the foundation." Whaaaa? Apparently her new bra had accomplished a feat of engineering that nature hadn't quite managed. Intrigued, I decided to do my own due diligence to find out how to get that gravity-defying look.

If you haven't bought a bra lately, remember the key word is "lift." I went straight to two experts who have been putting women of all ages in bras for a total of more than 50 years. They agree that fit is all-important. Here are some of their tips:

 If you can't make it to a professional fitter, Cyla Weiner who owns Sy-Lene's in Chevy Chase with her sister Helen, advises measuring tightly, under your armpit around the top of your chest; an even measure (34, 36) is your band size -- add one if you landed on an odd number. Then loosely measure around the center of your bust and subtract this number from the band size. Each inch denotes a cup size, so if you get one, you're an "A," two a "B," etc. "With the right bra and fit, your breasts should rest half way between your shoulders and elbows," says Weiner. Shirlee Blanken of Underwraps in Bethesda, says, "A bra should hit you mid-back and the straps should be tight enough for support but not too tight that they dig into you." Try it on with a tight T-shirt and make sure you get a seamless fit. Don't come into Blanken's store and tell her what size you are; she'll tell you you have to try it on. "You're not always a 34 C," Weiner concurs. Changes in life such as pregnancy, post-pregnancy, weight gain and loss all affect bra size.

The big thing in bras right now is the constructed look -- a light pad that covers the nipples, while adding lift not size. Natori's Underneath Sheer ($46) is a lightly lined contour bra with a see-through plastic center closure for extra-low shirts and dresses. It also features adjustable straps -- crisscross, racerback and halter to accommodate different tops.

If you prefer not to go strapless, an alternative is plastic straps that Blanken says are hard to distinguish. ( Full disclosure: I bought them and have yet to wear them.) For those times when only strapless will do --backless and low-back dresses, for example -- the newest option is the Featherlight Nu Bra ($35), two silicone cups with self-adhesives that link together in the front, creating cleavage while holding you in place.

For large-breasted women, minimizer bras can take you down a size. Blanken says they flatten you out by moving around breast tissue to change its shape. Chantelle's Volupte ($60) with its strong microfiber fabric offers both control and support.

An addendum to my bra investigation yielded information that there's a lingerie solution to almost every body woe. When it comes to fitting into some of today's fashions -- sheer tops, body-hugging sweater dresses, slinky cocktail wear and skinny pants -- the following offer alternatives to liposuction and tummy tucks: Bodywrap's High-Waist Long Leg Brief ($34) shapes, flattens and trims thighs, Spanx's Higher Power Panty ($34) eliminates visible panty lines and slims the body from the thighs up through the midriff, while Sassybax's Torso Trim ($68) eliminates bra bulges and lines. And for the mother of all body shapers, scoop up Lipo in a Box's new capri-length body suit ($84), which promises to create a toned look from head to toe.

And you thought lingerie was supposed to be sexy.