Style: beauty smarts

Help! My minimizer bra makes me look fat!

I love wearing thick, cozy sweaters, but I'm top-heavy as it is, and the extra bulk makes my bust look huge. I tried wearing a minimizer bra, but it actually made me look 20 pounds heavier! What should I do?

It's counterintuitive but true: Minimizer bras can make the body look larger. That's because their flattening action spreads breast volume under the arms as well as up and down the length of the torso, making the upper body appear thick and shapeless. You're better off with a bra that offers ample lift since raising the breasts makes the bustline appear narrower. Also, look for seamless heat-molded cups, which prevent breasts from sticking out too far while imparting a more natural, rounded shape. The overall effect: The bust looks smaller (and you look thinner) from the front and from the side. A style that earned top marks from online reviewers: the Fantasie 4510 Smoothing Molded T-Shirt Bra ($59, at Freshpair.com or call 866-373-7472), which is available in cup sizes up to G.