How to Accentuate Cleavage

Co-authored by Jordan Stolch

Last Updated: July 14, 2021 References

Looking to add a bit of feminine pizzazz to your appearance? Accentuating your cleavage might be that additional flare you've been searching for. Utilizing your cleavage as an accessory is a great way to spice up your day-to-day or night out ensembles. Acquiring the desired effect is as easy as bronzing, donning an appropriate bra, or throwing on your favorite plunging neckline.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing Accentuating Undergarments

1
Find the right size. Use a cloth measuring tape to measure your band size (under your bust, across your ribcage, and under your arms) and your bust size (the fullest part of your breasts). To deduce your cup size, subtract your band size from your bust size and use the total difference to refer to a standard cup sizing chart, such as https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing/shopping-guide/how-to-measure-bra-size/calculate-your-cup-size.
- You can also drop by or schedule a bra fitting at any lingerie boutique or department store. The clerk will measure your band size, bust size, and determine your cup size. ^{[1]
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2
Make an adhesive bra if you have a very petite bust. Adhesive bras are stretchy, sticky strips of rayon that provide backless support. Cut the adhesive bra one to two inches from the bottom and remove the backing on the remaining piece. While pressing your breasts together with one hand, apply the sticky side of the adhesive strip against the outer edge of one breast (close to the areola), run it on the underside of both breasts, and around the edge of the second areola. ^{[2]
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- If you don't plan to wear a cloth bra over the adhesive bra you can wear pasties (nipple stickers).
3
Wear a balconette bra if you have a small to medium bust. This is a type of demi bra, also referred to as an unlined bra, that supports your bust from beneath without showing harsh lines through your top. The balconette provides ample push, but lacks the restraining security for larger bust sizes. ^{[3]
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4
Wear a bra with an underwire if you have a medium to large bust. Underwire bras not only help avoid the dreaded droop that bustier women struggle with, but they also provide an extra “boost and press” that accentuates your natural cleavage curve.
5
Wear a push up bra for dramatic cleavage. Push up bras come in various amplification sizes that offer a simple yet effective way to accentuate cleavage for any bust size. They are designed to lift and press your breasts together to create the desired double arch effect, but provide more security than a balconette or adhesive bra.
6
Wear a bustier for both figure and cleavage accentuation. A bustier is an undergarment that gently draws in your mid-section and upper torso via a stretch satin or rayon material, while providing cupped support for your bust. These undergarments are designed to accentuate your bust by tightening your mid-section and pressing your breasts upwards. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing Accentuating Clothing

1
Wear plunging necklines. Purchase tops and dresses with V shaped and deep necklines that expose your cleavage area. Make sure to choose an appropriate neckline for your specific bust size. Women with larger busts should consider a supported V neck, while smaller busts are complemented by support and depth effects. ^{[5]
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- A V-neck neckline with a lace bralette underneath creates weight there, but also makes the visual of some cleavage.^{[6]
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  Jordan Stolch
  Image Consultant & Style Advisor
  Expert Interview. 25 September 2020.}
2
Try a crop top to enhance bust size. Crop tops instantly draw the eye upward to the bust. The design of the crop top provides a natural drape over the breasts, which accentuates a smaller bust and makes it appear larger.
- A high-necked crop top will accentuate breast size rather than cleavage. If you wear a crop top make sure to incorporate a low neckline.
3
Go with horizontal stripes. Horizontal stripes have an effect of widening areas of the body. Wearing a top that has horizontal stripes exclusively across the bust area will create a more voluminous look.
- If you don't have a striped shirt, try choosing a top with ruffles or a pocket on top that creates the illusion of more weight and volume with fabric.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jordan Stolch
  Image Consultant & Style Advisor
  Expert Interview. 25 September 2020.}
4
Wear bottoms with high waists and figure hugging dresses. A plunging neckline isn't the only garment style that draws attention to cleavage. Pants and skirts with chic and flattering high waists and dresses that cling to the mid-section draw the eye inward and upward. They also emphasize an hour glass figure, which naturally accentuates the bust.
5
Try styling your hair out of the frame. Hair is a great accessory, yet can be distracting. Styling your hair away from your face and neckline, such as a bun, pony tail, or twist, will help cleavage stand out as a central asset.
6
Wear a bold necklace or pendant. Just as a plunging neckline attracts the eye, necklaces with bright colors, large pendants, or beautiful designs naturally draw the interest of onlookers. Placement of your jewelry is key. Make sure that the pendant or necklace swoop lays strategically at the crest of your cleavage or along the upper curve of your breast.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Highlighting Cleavage

1
Use a bronzer to highlight your bust line. Dark bronzer across the top of the breast will define your breast shape, while a lighter, slightly gold hue dusted between your breasts will create depth. ^{[8]
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- Put on your bra before applying makeup. If possible, get completely dressed and protect clothing in the area where you'll be applying the makeup with some facial tissue or toilet paper.
2
Use a self-tanning lotion for the summer months. Use a powder puff to apply a light layer of self-tanner to the area below your collar bone and over your bust. Next, use a makeup applicator pad to apply a second layer of self-tanner directly to the collar bone, breast arch, and cleavage crevice. This layer will dye your skin darker in key areas creating the illusion of rounder, larger breasts. After blending harsh lines with a clean makeup brush, use a hair dryer set on cool to quickly set and dry the tanner. ^{[9]
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- With the powder puff, draw crescent moons along the natural curve of each breast as you are blending the first layer of self-tanner.
- After the second application, dab baby powder in the middle of your breasts to slow the darkening process.
3
Go to a tanning salon for professional contour tanning. Professional tanning salons are now offering specialized contouring services. Using spray tanner, the spray tan artist will highlight your nature curves with lines of bronze, which create depth. ^{[10]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I show more cleavage?

Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor
Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).

Jordan Stolch

Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you want to accentuate your cleavage, you can create the illusion of more weight by wearing tops with ruffles, pockets, or anything that's heavier because of fabric. A V-neck neckline with a little tank top or bralette beneath also adds the illusion of having a bigger bust.
Question

I have an AA cup size and I am 16. How can I grow my breasts larger before graduation?

Community Answer

Your body matures into its natural shape on its own, but you can try contouring with makeup to make your breasts appear larger.

Warnings

Make sure to keep horizontal stripped clothing restricted to your bust area. The widening affect may have an undesired affect on skirts, pants, or mid drift.

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When using bronzer to enhance cleavage, don't use too much and also be wary of over doing the shimmer and shine. This will give your cleavage an unnatural look.

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When using self-tanner make sure to choose the right tone for your natural skin color. Buy a few different tanners and apply to a quarter size section on indiscreet parts of your body.

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