Aww, you’re not alone. In fact, we have an old thread on this topic:
http://forum.purseblog.com/the-ward...-of-itty-bitty-titty-committee-315285-12.html. Maybe mods will want to merge these threads. Anyway, here’s what I want to share.
I’m about a ten years older than you and it took me a long time to embrace my shape. Since my teens, I was self-conscious about my small chest and was envious of girls who were better endowed. I thought they were more attractive, more feminine, etc. and of course, the images shown in the media didn’t help. The only thing that helped me feel a little better is that I’m from an ethnic group whose women are generally more petite and smaller busted. This is generally speaking, of course, because there are exceptions. So I didn’t feel the added pressure that you, being Italian, feel right now.
Here are some of my guidelines on how I enhance my small bust and still feel comfortable.
Necklines – Whether it’s a top or a dress, I find that a higher neckline looks more flattering on a small bust. In a nutshell, I wear necklines that Audrey Hepburn wore: crew neck, boat neck, square neck, and modest scoop neck. If you google images of Audrey, you rarely see her in top with a plunging neckline. Sure, she wore strapless gowns but she looked far more elegant than a large busted lady would.
I would never wear a v-neck or low scoop because I feel they look best on women who can “fill them up” and show a teeny bit of cleavage. But on me, that low or plunging neckline only flattens me even more and accentuates what I don’t have.
Re: DVF wrap dress. I have a couple but rarely wear them because I too find the skirt a bit finicky (I feel like I need boy shorts underneath to avoid inadvertently flashing the world). But back to my rule about not wearing v-neck -- my trick is to wear a light cami under to de-emphasize the v-neckline.
Swimwear – Padded halter or triangle tops are my best friend. I know you said you don’t like padded but what about tops that have removable pads that speed up drying? I go into a pool every week for my toddler’s swimming lessons and have built up a big collection of padded halter tops, like these ones by Roxy:
http://www.roxy.com/sun-bleached-shorts/rxyusarjbs00061#selectedColor=kvj0&type=2
http://www.roxy.com/sun-kissed-angel-halter-bikini-top/rxyusarjx300027#selectedColor=wbb3&type=2
For years, I wore sporty one-pieces and hated how they flattened my chest visually. But I assumed, how could I possible wear a bikini without ample breasts? But the right bikini with lightly padded cups adds shape and definition to a small bust, creating the illusion of fullness.
As for swimwear bottoms, I wear boy shorts in black and navy. The extra coverage and dark colours help to minimize the size of my butt. Like these by Seafolly:
http://www.seafolly.com/swimwear/bottom-styles/boyleg/goddess-dd-cup-halter-and-roll-top-boyleg.html
I hope this helps. I realize not everyone will agree, but this is what has worked for me personally.
Believe me, I hated my small bust for years, but now that I’m older, I’ve learned to embrace my shape and to recognize the advantages of being small – for one, my girls will remain perky!