New bras that make you look 10 pounds thinner

It’s frustrating when pesky bulges of skin near the underarms ruin the appearance of a pretty sleeveless top. The likely culprit? Wearing a bra with a thin band that’s probably too tight. “It squeezes breast tissue so it spills over the sides of a bra,” says Jené Luciani, bra expert and author of The Bra Book. Her two-part remedy: First, go up one band size. Then pick a bra with side panels that are at least 3" in height (to contain more breast tissue) and made of layered mesh (for varying degrees of both light and firm compression along the sides) to smooth out any protruding skin, eradicating lumps.

“This bra’s comfortable yet supportive crisscross mesh sides work like magic to smooth my bulges,” attests Lori.

One to try: Wacoal,

$68 (Ultimate Side

Smoother Underwire

Bra, WacoalAmerica.com;

30C–42DDD)

“My bra creates armpit rolls that make my underarms appear bulky, especially in sleeveless tops”