The New York Timesexamines the perennial problem of the strapless bra that fails to do its job. But the newer bras -- made of silicone -- are making the dream of a strapless bra that actually works a reality.
From nipple covers that resemble baby jellyfish to stick-on bras that look like rubber yarmulkes, today's high-tech designs are reusable, lightweight and often more comfortable and natural looking than traditional strapless bras, particularly when worn under sheer or thin fabrics. But they are about as sexy as surgical bandages or, as more than one woman put it, chicken cutlets. Removing one in front of a lover conjures cooking with Paula Deen, not the romance of French lace.
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"Taking them off hurts," said Melissa Giresi, 22, a business analyst in Boston. "It's like a really bad eyebrow waxing job."
Caveats aside, there are several popular silicone options on the market. Two of the best selling on Figleaves.com are from Fashion Forms: the NuBra Divine Body Bra (a self-adhesive strapless style that resembles Mickey Mouse ears) and the Extreme Silicone Plunge Bra with underwire and clear silicone tabs that adhere to the torso. Mr. Koch singled out NuBra's Featherlite silicone strapless stick-on. "That has become the go-to product," he said.
This month, even more silicone choices were introduced. Premiere Line, created for Frederick's of Hollywood by Cristina Ehrlich and Estee Stanley, Los Angeles stylists whose clients include Demi Moore, Eva Mendes and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, has a kit that includes silicone cups, silicone gel pads to cover nipples, a backless strapless bra and fabric tape.
These products are a result of the stylists' efforts to support and conceal a variety of breast sizes in the most daring of fashions. In the past, they had to use a hodgepodge of household items.
"We've tried everything," Ms. Ehrlich said. "We've tried Band-Aids, we've cut up pantyhose, panty liners, gaffer's tape."
Even women who were not fashion magazine devotees became aware of such machinations after Jennifer Lopez slinked down the red carpet at the 2000 Grammy Awards in a translucent Versace dress with nary a wardrobe malfunction.
"It kind of blew the lid off the secret," said Jennifer Lowitz, a spokeswoman for Frederick's of Hollywood. "There was machinery. People became aware of tape and things stylists were using to get women dressed."
So, basically you strip down, make sure you have no oils, perfumes or lotions on your body, then you start applying the chicken cutlets, tape, booty-boosting panties etc. All we can say is, we hope that you're walking a red carpet and are going to disrobe later alone, because it's going to look like a sci-fi movie when you start removing all that silicone from various portions of your anatomy.
Pictured are the Premiere Shapers kits for the bustline (on the left) and for below the waist (on the right). The Premiere Shaper Top Kit retails for $125 and includes: two pairs of silicone gel petals (in small and medium) with travel case, Flex Body Bra, 48 pieces of Stuck Up Fashion Tape in two widths (24 straight and 24 curved) and two Cleavage Clasp adhesive bras. The Premiere Shaper Bottom Kit retails for $110 and includes: Includes TLC low rise short, Bottom Line Boy Short with silicone insert, Booty Booster Derriere Pads and Pick Me Up Derriere Bands. You can find both kits here.
The New York Times 
