I decided the perfect way to test my new Torso Trim ($68; sassybax.com)—an underwire-free bra-camisole hybrid made from microfiber nylon and Lycra—was to wear it underneath a body-hugging sweater that clings to every inch of my flabby flesh as if it were a BMI calculator. If the Torso Trim could slim me down and suck me in while offering supreme support, I’d be sold. And lo and behold, for the first time ever, my skintight sweater did what it was supposed to do: Rather than magnifying my, ahem, excess padding, it flatteringly grazed my figure, making me look slim and sleek. A few helpful hints: When putting on the Torso Trim, it’s best to step into it as if you were putting on a bathing suit or strapless dress. Once on, placing the hem of the cami over your underwear will prevent it from bunching and help keep it in place when you sit down.

As for the Bralette ($68; sassybax.com, shown)—a seamless number, also made from microfiber nylon and Lycra—I must admit, I was more skeptical. It looked like a cross between a sports bra and T-shirt bra, neither of which had ever successfully supported or flattered my shape in the past. Fortunately, I found that while the Bralette may resemble a sports bra, it certainly doesn’t perform like one. Sports bras tend to flatten my breasts like a pancake and create the uniboob effect, but the Bralette did just the opposite: It actually lifted and separated, giving me a fuller, firmer appearance! To test the Bralette’s “no VBL or bra-strap bulge” guarantee, I wore it underneath a tight, white T-shirt, and much to my surprise (and delight), it was totally indiscernible. But even better than Bralette’s curve-boosting and VBL-banishing abilities was the fact that it was actually comfortable. Without pinching clasps or skin-digging underwires, it provided serious support without the discomfort, skin irritation, and rigidity characteristic of standard bras. And as for my initial skepticism? Let’s just say this is one time I’m glad to have been proven wrong! —Marissa Kristal