Even small cups can floweth-over on National Cleavage Day in this Itty Bitty Bra
Today is National Cleavage Day in the UK.
Cue a “story” from The Sun, somewhat inappropriately illustrated by a picture of Kelly Brook’s baps (Brook is pregnant right now). The feature includes a slideshow of impressive chests like that of Christina Hendricks, whose name is barely mentioned these days without the prefix “busty”. Because that is after all the only thing of note about her (notwithstanding her facial beauty, stunning red hair and acting talent).
The un-enlightened could be forgiven for assuming that National Cleavage Day is one celebration that we small-busted ladies are forced to sit out. But, that’s definitely not the case. A raft of fantastic bras from superb small-bust specialists mean that even the gentlest of curves can be given the required oomph to create a very nice cleavage, thank you very much. We’re not talking in-your-face busoms, but we can achieve an eye-catching bit of contour and uplift.
So, here they are, some of the finest cleavage-enhancing bras for little-chested ladies:
Gracya Carmel bra, $39.99 (Sale Price), Lovestruck Lingerie: This underwire push-up bra combines femininity, versatility, great fit and comfort. In a light pink color with brown, grey and pink embroidery, it has adjustable straps that convert to criss-cross and halter-style. With removable pad inserts, this medium padded bra offers an enhanced push-up effect.
Removable pad bra in gold paisley, $60, Itty Bitty Bra: This stunning bra features a hidden underwire. It’s built to fit and flatter small-busted figures and the removable padded inserts offer great shaping and uplift.
Petite Embrace Lace Flamingo Push-Up Underwire Bra, $50/£31.06, Wacoal Petite at Freshpair: This bra, in a stunning flamingo pink colour, features beautiful sheer stretch-lace wings with contrast floral embroidery. Graduated foam contour push-up pads lift the bust and enhance the cleavage, while a plunging centre makes it ideal for wear with low-cut tops.
After Eden double gel plunge gel bra, £27, Max Cleavage: This lightweight gel bra has double the gel to give bustlines a boost, creating the best possible cleavage. The smooth moulded cups and lace wings makes this versatile bra simple but sexy.
Panache Atlantis Jerry balconett bra, £24, Perfectly Petite Lingerie: This gel bra in a pretty new floral/check design for Spring 2011 provides excellent lift and increases bust size by up to one cup size.
Bijou bra, $58, The Little Bra Company: This demi-cup, push-up smooth-cup bra is a great every day bra, beautifully made to enhance little curves. The straps are convertible and can be worn also like a traditional bra, racerback or halter.
Layla push-up bra, $60, Lula Lu Petites: This elegant two tone lace bra with double spaghetti straps is lightly padded and underwired, with removable push-up pads. The cups are proportioned to flatter AA and A cups beautifully.
2 Cup Sizes Bigger jacquard zebra push-up bra, £25, Marks & Spencer: Flattering and comfortable, this lightweight push-up bra is cleverly padded to create the appearance of a cleavage 2 cup sizes larger. For an extra boost, straps can be worn crossed at the back.
What ever happened to being comfortable with what we’ve got, and not feeling pressured to chase up the latest media hype about what is attractive? I realize that many women with small chests (or average, or above average) evidently feel more comfortable in an “enhancing bra” however, that is exactly the type of insecurity the garment business seeks to enhance and exploit. Why do the sizes for “padded” and “minimizing” bras overlap? Perhaps because lingerie companies can’t afford to miss out on anyone’s lingering insecurity, so they make sure to encompass them all?
I would prefer to see ‘flat-chested’ women celebrate the beauty of their natural endowment, rather than striving to fit into a figurative and literal mold of what attractiveness is “supposed to be.” If every woman deserves ‘feel good’ lingerie, why are you promoting lingerie engineered to “correct” so-called “flaws”? How does that make a woman feel better about her anatomy? What about wearing figure-altering clothing is meant to make a woman feel good? I’m saddened and disappointed to see that this site, which I have enjoyed and respected, is spreading the insidious propaganda of “small breasts are undesirable.”
I must say it makes me mad to read this comment, which couldn’t be further off the mark with regard to the motivation behind SBBH. Having spent best part of 18 months writing a blog that celebrates the beauty of small busts, I remain as true as ever to the principle that small-busted women enjoy the incredible advantage of being able to be chameleon-like: waif like in unstructured bras, cheekily bra-less, or with their gentle curves boosted by cleverly designed push-up bras. SBBH constantly drives home the joy of the choice that small-busted women have — and helps them find the lingerie and clothes to meet their needs, whatever their preference. It is not for one individual to determine what is “feel good” lingerie for the small-busted group as a whole. We are individuals — and some of us may find that going braless is the best fit for our comfort and style; others will enjoy creating a curvier shape with lingerie that fits that purpose. It is not insecurity that drives these choices just a confidence to do what makes us feel happy at any given time. I hope that my blog is diverse enough to give every small-busted woman a bit of what they fancy. The post about National Cleavage Day may not be for you, but you cannot claim it projects the idea “small busts are undesirable”… and you won’t find that message anywhere on the SBBH blog.
Catherine,
I started reading your blog DUE to the positive message I felt was inherent in the posts. I don’t have any criticism of your blog as a whole, and apologize if my comment came across that way. I did, however, feel this most recent post fell short of the very tone of acceptance which I had come to expect. Also, I appreciate that your willingness to publish my comment despite your feelings about it.
I am certainly not attempting to dictate what others aught to find “feel good” in their own lingerie choices. Rather I am asking why is it that when it’s declared ‘National Cleavage Day’ we should all leap to conform? I agree, everyone is permitted their own choice in personal attire. A response to a day devoted to something that, by definition, ‘flat’ women don’t possess – with list of only products designed to ameliorate that condition, does not appear to promote choice-making. Since this is so far and away from all other posts I have read, I was quite surprised. Perhaps it isn’t how you meant it to come across, but by generating a list consisting solely of ‘cleavage boosting’ and ’2 cup sizes up’ products, it does appear as though you are implying that one would not want to be without cleavage on cleavage day. Based on previous posts of yours, I was honestly expecting a lively mixture of small-size friendly products for those who wish to play the cleavage game, and some for those who don’t choose to play the cleavage game.
Again, I’m not posting in order to criticize your work, but I do think its worth examining why we, as human beings of any shape and size, feel compelled to adapt our physical being to some externally defined ideal. I would ask you to reflect on the possible responses to a day celebrating a physical feature in which one does not have in abundance. As I see it, the options revolve around variants of three main themes: rejection of self with no attempt to alter, rejection of self with attempt to alter, and acceptance of self. My opinion is that acceptance implies no desire to alter. Perhaps your way of viewing it is that there exists a state of acceptance of self in which one still desires to alter oneself? I don’t believe that either is the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to view the situation, and would be genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts.
I think the idea of National Cleavage Day is that you can participate if you want, ignore if you don’t. My post was just aimed at those who might fancy dabbling with creating a fuller bustline. In the context of the SBBH blog as a whole, this is one choice among many other “looks” I have explored. There are plenty of references to my own reaction to lingerie manufacturers assuming that AA-cup women would automatically want a “boost” — I have been quite vocal about how ridiculous and shortsighted I think that preconception is (so we’re agreed on that). But, while push-up and padded bras aren’t necessarily my choice, I understand why it might on occasion be fun to seek that effect… and I am delighted to help anyone who is interested to find the best lingerie available. I think your own acceptance of your body’s natural shape is really admirable — and I have always wanted my blog to help others come to the same acceptance. But I don’t necessarily think it has to be all or nothing. I think there’s something to be said for the “play” that lingerie offers — and the versatility of the looks we small-busted ladies can create simply by opting for different lingerie. I see each blog post as an opportunity to present a different “story” — in this instance, the story was National Cleavage Day, so it stands to reason that all the bras there were about creating a more curvy look… yes, by figure-altering, in a fun way (if that’s what you enjoy personally). I hope this helps explain my position… and I hope you’ll stay tuned for posts that are more in line with your viewpoint.
Where can I get bras like those here in the U.S.?
Catherine, where can I get bras like the ones shown in your bloghere in the the U.S.? In what retailers? Like for an A34 , for instance. Please reply back, thank you.
I really enjoyed reading this thread. I agree that there is so much pressure in our society to look a certain way and the effect that this can have on a woman’s self-esteem can be damaging. This blog encourages smaller busted women to feel great about their bodies without feeling the need to change in any way, which is fantastic.
I do agree that part of the allure of lingerie is that it doesn’t have to be simply practical, because there is a playful side to it as Kate said. The many options out there, even for smaller busted women, allow us to try different styles depending upon our mood, the day, the event, etc. Opting one day for a cleavage-enhancing bra does not mean we’re trying to conform to a certain ideal, but rather that we are enjoying the freedom of exploring the many different options available to us now as small-busted women.
Kate, you had asked where you can find such styles in the U.S. and I’d like to provide a source. I am the owner of LoveStruck Lingerie, available on the web at http://www.lovestrucklingerie.com. Our store offers lingerie for petite busted women with bra cup sizes AA-B and clothing sizes XS-M. We have everything from wireless, lightly padded and unpadded bralettes to cleavage-enhancing bras, etc. from brands such as Itty Bitty Bra, The Little Bra Company, Panache, Biatta and more. I hope this helps!
Hi Caroline
Just to say that you have the Jerry Balconett bra available from us at Perfectly Petite Lingerie at £24.00 – whilst we have the sale on your readers can buy this for only £19.00.
Kind regards