Small bust, big heart

Wacoal Petites bra: Proof that a nude-coloured bra doesn't equal "Granny chic"

The sun’s out, the sky’s blue and Lambing Live was on the box last night. It’s still brass monkeys out there, but Spring is on its way.

Which means it’s time for a seasonal wardrobe review. As you start stalking the new trends in the shops, don’t forget to update your lingerie. Woe betide the freshly-bared shoulder adorned with a grey bra strap. Or the Winter white cleavage sporting a visible “cosy” cotton bra.

If there’s one way to ruin your new Spring look, it’s by teaming your clothes with the wrong lingerie… and giving a public viewing to what should be under wraps.

The right bra provides uplift and hidden support under skimpy Spring and Summer tops and dresses. It should be seen only if it plays a role in the ensemble, adding a sexy glimpse of lace or satin, or a complementary touch of colour.

To help you get it right, I’ve picked the best AA-cup bras on sale in the UK for Spring looks:

• HALTERNECK BRA: Show off strap-free shoulders in halterneck tops with the incredibly versatile multiway bra at Little Women.  With smooth, seam-free cups, this underwired, balcony-style bra can be worn with straps, strapless, or as a halterneck. Available in AA-cup and A-cup sizes.
• RACERBACK BRA: Give impressive lift to small busts in racerback tops with the Atlantis strapless gel bra by Panache at Know Knockers.  Gel-filled, ultra-padded cups and multiway straps give revealing tops and dresses a bit more “filling”. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes.
• BRA-TO-BARE: The Wacoal Petites push-up bra is too pretty to keep under wraps.  Team it with a sheer top to reveal its decorative lace and ribbon detailing. The underwired cups and removable padding give the bust-line a gentle boost. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes at Freshpair.com.
• NEARLY NUDE BRA: Loving the nude & pastel shades for Spring? You need a skin tone bra to blend in with light-coloured tops. The lightly padded Wacoal Petite lace-up contour bra at Figleaves is just the ticket. And stylish too, with corset style detail and seamless, underwired cups. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes.
• COLOUR FLASH: The Limited Collection padded plunge bra from Marks and Spencer is begging to play peekaboo. A glimpse of coral pink strap, a flash of colour beneath a denim shirt… this bra will add a totally tropical twist to a Spring outfit. Available in sizes AA-cup to DD-cup.

Tags: 30AA, 32A, 32AA, 36A, 36AA, AA-cup, gel bra, halterneck bra, multiway bra, padded bra, push-up bra, racerback bra, strapless bra, underwired bra

I’ve just read a fantastic set of lenses on Squidoo, written by prolific blogger, author of the Itty Bitty Bra Guide and self-proclaimed “flat-chested fashion fiend” Amanda Sage.

I strongly recommend a thumb through of What to Wear to Enhance a Small Bust — a lens that sets a positive note from the start: “Everyone tells me that I am lucky to be blessed with such small breasts,” says Sage.

Let's celebrate! With the a little know-how, AA-cup bodies are perfection

With oodles of fashion and lingerie tips, Sage tells you what to wear and what to avoid like it’s got the pox. After reading, you can’t help but share her celebratory viewpoint. It’s easy to see how having an AA-cup size can be considered a ‘blessing’, rather than a reason to resort to cosmetic surgery.

Not only can you go bra-less if you choose, but given the right approach to dressing, you can enhance your assets, play down your flaws — and enjoy what nature has given you.

Sage, a proud 32AA cup, shares hard-earned experience… we all know that dressing to maximise small curves is an art after all. You can’t just lift ideas from a fashion magazine and dress head-to-toe in the latest trends that tickle your fancy.

It’s harsh but true that some of them give you the allure of an ironing board. Others make you attractively waif-like. We have to learn the rules and play by them.

Reading Sage’s advice is like learning from the Master (or Mistress). Her finely-honed manifesto includes ideas on: Fashion styles that visually amplify the bustline, padded bras that boost your bust size, and necklines and dresses that flatter small-breasted body shapes.

Sage never utters a negative word about being small-busted. She’s of the cup half-full mentality and I couldn’t agree more. What’s your take on your small-busted body shape? I’d love to hear…

Tags: 32AA, 34AA, AA-cup, bra-less, cosmetic surgery, padded bra, small bust, small-busted