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2. CHOOSE A BRA THAT COMPENSATES FOR BREAST CHANGES. Women have always been very much in tune with their breasts’ sensitivity to bloating and weight gain or loss, so those 50-plus aren’t

surprised to notice that their breasts look different. Diminished estrogen levels, thinning skin and gravity all cause breast shape, size and texture changes with age. They may appear

softer, rounder, more pillowy or more shallow on top with all the fullness at the bottom. Your breasts may be saggy, and once-perky nipples may now point downward. The space between your

breasts may be wider. It’s all normal. As long as your breasts are healthy, that’s truly the most important thing (get your mammograms on schedule). However, the right bra can help restore a

shapelier duo and make all your clothes fit better. Here are four common breast shape situations and solutions: YOUR BREASTS ARE WIDE SET. They have a broad space between them and may even

point outward, rather than front and center, making your bust and torso look wider. Look for bras with a small center bridge (known as the gore) between the cups. A front-closure bra with

angled cups, like the PLAYTEX FRONT CLOSE NO POKE DREAMWIRE BRA ($46, herroom.com), or a moderate plunge bra with a smaller bridge, like the CHANTELLE NORAH CHIC PLUNGE T-SHIRT BRA ($84,

zappos.com), can nudge breast tissue inward for a more centered look. YOUR BREASTS ARE CLOSE SET. They sit together with little or no space between them. Look for bras with a narrower gore,

like the ELOMI LUCIE UNDERWIRE PLUNGE BRA ($72, zappos.com), so the center of the bra sits flat on your breastbone, not on top of the breast tissue or away from your body. If you wear a

bralette or sports bra, opt for encapsulated cups that define and hold each breast separately, like the ALL IN MOTION SCULPT HIGH SUPPORT EMBOSSED SPORTS BRA ($30, target.com), to avoid a

uni-boob look. YOUR BREASTS ARE VERY LARGE AND FULL. They take up more torso space and leave very little room between your bust and waist. Choose a full-coverage bra that totally encompasses

the breast, whether that’s a T-shirt style, like the AMBRIELLE EVERYDAY UNDERWIRE FULL COVERAGE BRA ($22, jcpenney.com), or an underwire bra, like the WACOAL SHAPE REVELATION FOR PENDULOUS

BREASTS UNDERWIRE 855387 ($76, zappos.com). You want a bra that lifts your breasts up and off your midriff and provides a high, firm, rounded shape and separation without feeling like you’re

wearing armor. To reduce the bust’s projection, try a minimizer bra, like the BALI BEAUTIFULLY YOU MINIMIZER UNDERWIRE BRA ($20, walmart.com), which gently manipulates and rearranges breast

tissue. YOUR BREASTS ARE TEARDROP SHAPED. They’re full at the bottom but shallow at the top. Avoid a full-coverage bra and choose a T-shirt bra with a slightly lower cup, like the CALVIN

KLEIN PERFECTLY FIT FULL COVERAGE T-SHIRT BRA F3837 ($49, macys.com), or a balconette, like the CACIQUE COMFORT BLISS LIGHTLY LINED BALCONETTE BRA ($49–$53, lanebryant.com), to gently nudge

the breasts up for volume. You don’t want a push-up bra — too much oomph and display! (Clockwise from left) Jockey Generation Seamfree Comfort Bralette in Black; Bali Lace Desire Wireless

Bra DF6591 in Black; True & Co. True Everybody V-Neck Bra in Gray; Wacoal Comfort First Wire-Free T-Shirt Bra in Sand Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Target (2); Kohl’s; Nordstrom) 3. WEAR

A WIRELESS BRA FEARLESSLY. Many women who have worn underwire bras for years think about going wire-free. Some try bralettes around the house but are cautious about wearing them in public.

OK, it’s truth-telling time. There’s no denying the value of an underwire bra, whether a classic underwire or a T-shirt bra with a wire. They provide the ultimate structure and lift. On the

other hand, many wire-free bras, like the WACOAL COMFORT FIRST WIRE-FREE T-SHIRT BRA ($68, nordstrom.com) and BALI LACE DESIRE WIRELESS BRA DF6591 ($44, kohls.com), and some bralettes, like

the JOCKEY GENERATION SEAMFREE COMFORT BRALETTE ($18, target.com), have contoured foam lining that shapes and supports the breasts. Be selective when choosing a bralette. They are typically

a soft, casual, comfy alternative that’s great for a Netflix binge. Look for a wide, smooth band at the back and under the breasts, so even those with larger chests get a feeling of

structure and containment. Styles that come with removable pads, like the TRUE & CO. TRUE EVERYBODY V-NECK BRA ($23, target.com), can help create a more balanced effect for those with

slightly asymmetrical breasts or those who just want a boost. (Clockwise from bottom left) Natori Comfort Evolution Full Fit T-Shirt Bra in Buff; Vanity Fair Beauty Back Everyday Full Figure

Bra 76384 in Damask Neutral; ThirdLove Second Skin Unlined Bra in Mocha; Soma Sensuous Lace Unlined Bra in Earl Gray Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: HerRoom; Bloomingdale’s; Thirdlove; Soma)

4. CHOOSE A T-SHIRT BRA OR CLASSIC UNDERWIRE FOR REAL SUPPORT. If you haven’t tried a T-shirt bra since the early 2000s and passed on it as too spongy or padded, look for a style like the

VANITY FAIR BEAUTY BACK EVERYDAY FULL FIGURE BRA 76384 ($50, herroom.com) or NATORI COMFORT EVOLUTION FULL FIT T-SHIRT BRA ($74, bloomingdales.com). The smooth seamless cups (a signature

feature of many T-shirt bras) are now often lined with superlight memory foam that uses your body heat to mold to your curves for a natural look. Don’t worry: The foam-lined cups do not add

volume, but they do give everything you wear — especially tees, knits, ribbed or form-fitting sweaters, and silky blouses — a more flattering fit, with no nipples showing through. Regular

underwire bras are still thriving. They work for women who don’t want even the barest hint of foam and prefer smooth unlined cups with a sheer mesh or opaque stretch fabric, like the

THIRDLOVE SECOND SKIN UNLINED BRA ($72, thirdlove.com), or lacier bras, like the SOMA SENSUOUS LACE UNLINED BRA ($29, soma.com), for a feminine look. (Clockwise from bottom left) Glamorise

Full Figure Plus Size Wonderwire Front-Closure Posture Back Underwire Bra 9265 in Cafe; Bali One Smooth U Posture Boost Bra DF3450 in Black; Warners No Side Effects Underarm and

Back-Smoothing Comfort Wireless Lift T-Shirt Bra RN2231A in Blush; Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra in Black Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Kohl’s; Macy’s; JCPenney; Harper Wilde) 5. CHECK OUT

THE BACK AND SIDES OF A BRA AS MUCH AS THE FRONT. For many women, the front of a bra is the selling point. But how about the back and the area under your arm, where overflow is often a

problem? As we age, back tissue sometimes gets softer or flabbier, and some women are prone to back fat or underarm flab (let’s just call it what it is — no judgment). Here’s what helps

immediately: contemporary-looking bras with front closures, like the BALI ONE SMOOTH U POSTURE BOOST BRA DF3450 ($48, kohls.com) and GLAMORISE FULL FIGURE PLUS SIZE WONDERWIRE FRONT-CLOSURE

POSTURE BACK UNDERWIRE BRA 9265 ($59, macys.com), and sleek backs to keep your own bulge-free. Try a bra with side control panels, like the WARNERS NO SIDE EFFECTS UNDERARM AND

BACK-SMOOTHING COMFORT WIRELESS LIFT T-SHIRT BRA RN2231A ($46, barenecessities.com), to eliminate underarm spillage. In addition, know that many bras in every style have a U-shaped back,

referred to as a ballet back or leotard back, along with wide over-the-shoulder straps that meet more closely at the rear, giving your back a smoother line, reducing shoulder strain and

improving your posture. Some bras, like the HARPER WILDE BASE T-SHIRT BRA ($45, harperwilde.com), feature front-adjusting straps, which make last-minute alterations easier and keep the backs

of your tees, bodysuits and fitted sweaters unmarked by clasps.