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Yeah, the clothes at Fashion Week were pretty and all, but let's talk about what the models weren't wearing this year: bras. From Marc Jacobs to Derek Lam, countless top designers sent their models down the catwalk with free and unfettered breasts.

In theory, this sounds like a totally embraceable trend -- what girl hasn't dreamed of wearing halters, tube tops and backless blouses, and never looking back (or forward)? In reality, however, going braless -- whether you're packing mosquito bites or a pair of double-Ds -- is easier said than done.

Who hasn't left her Vicky S boulder-holder at home, only to feel a sudden breeze work its Viagra-like powers over her nipples? And while having your nips in salute mode may be considered flirtatious in some corners, I prefer to leave my headlights off, thank you very much.

With that in mind, and with a closet full of bra-prohibitive tops on standby, I embarked on a survey of breast-containing techniques to determine how best to keep my 34B boobs and their buttons under wraps.

Click here to find out how Erin's experiment went.


Commando
First comes the control test: going commando. I may be a bra-burning hippie around the house, but out in the real world? Gulp. I throw on a black silk Only Hearts cami and head to my local convenience store to stock up on the essentials (read: Red Bull). My initial uneasiness starts to fade as I wander the aisles ... that is, until I clutch my purchases to my chest and feel the frosty shock of a straight-out-of-the-cooler Red Bull on my boob. Yeeeeeeeeow!

The only thing worse than this icy clamp is having to put the cans down on the counter and expose my at-attention nipples to the cashier. He looks at me, then keeps his eyes averted for the rest of the transaction. I sulk out with arms protectively crossed over my chest, where they remain for the rest of the day.

Low Beams
I'm admittedly dubious when I unwrap the Low Beams to find a pair of asterisk-shaped nipple-sticker shields (brought to us by Her Look, the fine folks behind Cleavage Cupcakes and Commandos). But when I peel off the backing strip and gently affix them to my breasts, I'm pleasantly surprised. The nude semi-sheer material blends right in with my skin tone (although women with darker complexions won't have that luxury), and I can't see any telltale outlines beneath my low-cut dress.

They feel lightweight and barely there, but the "ouch-less" center provides a nice, cushiony protective barrier over the nipple. I even put them to the Red Bull test, and my girls stay at half-mast. I'm sold. Just be careful when you're taking them off, as the sticker forms a strong grip on the skin and can be a little tricky to pull off.

Band-Aids
What girl hasn't resorted to Band-Aids or pieces of tape to hide those nipples in a pinch? I tape the poor woman's Low Beams onto each breast, giving me a distinct censored-by-the-FCC look.

Since the outline of the bandages shows through half the tops in my closet, I settle for a chocolate-brown halter that drapes in the front. The coverage is adequate but not great, and I yearn for the support of a bra. Another issue is that, like many gals (right?), my breasts aren't perfectly symmetrical, and the Band-Aids' resemblance to those elevating bars that Mario and Luigi must leap onto only emphasizes this fact.

When I finally, slooooooowly take the suckers off at night, I'm relieved that the pain is minimal. On the down side, I now have a black sticky residue on my boobs. Wonderful.

Erin Donnelly regularly writes about fashion for Lemondrop

Tell us: Do you ever leave the house without a bra? Any tips on the best way to contain your breasts?