Story by Barbara De Witt Daily News Fashion Editor
Photos by Myung J. Chun Daily News

June is busting out all over.
     Literally.
     Yep, according to experts in the breast-enhancement industry, it's their best month of the year.
     Beth Higgins of Intimate Image in West Hills says, "It's the beginning of the swimsuit and wedding season. It's amazing, but brides want to look their best even if the groom knows it's not all her."
     Higgins adds that 1998 is doing better than ever, with the fashion trend to sheer, flimsy fabrics and light tank tops.
     The best customers? "Women who aren't quite brave or rich enough to get permanently larger breasts. They include actresses, models, teen-agers and also baby boomers who want to give their sagging bustline a boost," explains Higgins, who with her business partner Joan Mann, cater to breast-cancer survivors and the naturally less endowed.
     According to Higgins, "We sell both because the prosthesis companies discovered the silicone pads worked better than the polyester pads in traditional push-up bras like the WonderBra."
     So, after years of young women stuffing their bras with facial tissue, socks and their mother's foam-rubber shoulder pads (it was an '80s thing), there's finally a fab falsie that warms to body temperature, bounces when you walk, adds cleavage in a low-cut dress, can survive swimming laps, and also passes the hug test.
     But even among these silicone wonders that can boost you from an A to a D cup, there are, er, front runners.
     The one most folks see, whether they know it or not, is Curves, manufactured by Belmont-based Body Lines Inc. A mail-order company (they advertise in fashion magazines) created by homemaker Julie Sautrer in 1994, Curves has generated more than $50 million in retail sales.
     The hefty silicone enhancers are referred to as Hollywood's best-kept secret, according to company spokeswoman Rebecca Brooks. "More than 500,000 pairs have been sold, and they're worn by numerous actresses, including Amy Pietz of "Caroline in the City" and the cast members of such shows as 'Melrose Place,' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'ER' and 'Beverly Hills, 90210.'"
     And also "Baywatch."
     What? You thought all those babes' breasts were real? Or surgically enhanced?

TV shows whose stars use breast enhancers "Caroline in the City" "Baywatch" "ER" "Melrose Place" "Beverly Hills, 90210" "General Hospital" "Guiding Light" "One Life to Live" "Almost Perfect" "Sunset Beach" "Nash Bridges" "Clueless" "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

     According to the show's costume designer, Karen Braverman, "They're what you'd call an accessory in the industry..., and some actresses find it a nice option to plastic surgery."
     Even RuPau1 admitted on his radio show that he wears them when he's in drag, so we had to give them a try.
     To help America look better in a sweater, I tested Curves for two days. My husband loved the look, even though he knew they were fake.
     They quickly warm up to your body temperature, and they cling, so there's no fear of slippage, and feel very natural within a half-hour. In fact, I hardly knew I had them on (they're almost weightless) until I passed by a mirror.
     And they bounce like the real (or implanted) thing, because of the medical-grade silicone gel-filled pads. Best of all, they'll fill out a fitted sheath.
     Other details? They're ideal for a woman with an A or B cup who ants to be a C cup, and they fit best in an underwire bra. If you want to go up to a D cup, you may require a size-bigger bra.
     Yes, they do go swimming - in fact, Curves and other brands now offer their own swimsuits with special "envelopes" to keep the pads in place. But almost any suit with an underwire bra in it will do.
     However, don't dive or they'll slip out and float to the top... just like tissue.
     Curves deliver what they promise, but because they are costly - priced at $100 - I went on the trail of other tab fakes and gave several brands a try.
     At Intimate Image, I tried styles by Le Breast, Nearly Me and Amoena. Some were smaller than others, heavier, squishier and didn't always have a nipple. According to Mann, some women, especially more mature ones, think nipples are too sexy, so they offer a choice (and also a choice of flesh tones).
     Of the various styles offered at Intimate Image, my preference was the Intrigue model by Amoena because it was closest to Curves, and lower priced at $92. And for those who want the nude look under their evening gown, there's also a special adhesive so you don't need a bra.
     While there, I also tried on their old foam models, which felt fake, don't bounce and get heavy in water. But they're only $9 a pair.
     Scouting the mall, I found more silicone-styles: Robinsons-May sells Fashion Form Enhancers for $49.99 in the lingerie department; they're an OK fit if you've on a budget and need just a little boost. At Frederick's of Hollywood, there are several styles to choose from - from tiny booster pads to major coverage and cleavage. I tried the largest, and found them a good value at $60, but they don't come with a nipple... and they're a little too squishy. For more details, see our accompanying chart.
     After trying on falsies all day, I thought back to the '60s when Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon starred in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini."
     They had no idea...

R A T I N G    T H E    F A K E S
Product	Bounce	Comfort	Size/Fit	Boost	Nipple	Waterproof	Availability	Price	Overall Comments
1. Curves	A+	A	A	A	Yes	Yes	Mail order (800) 528-7837	$100	The "Baywatch" choice. Less natural, more projected, like implants. Heaviest of all the silicon styles, but gives the most bounce for your buck.
2. Intrigue by Amoena	A	A	A	B	Yes	Yes	Intimate Image (818) 999-9719	$92	Very lightweight, has the look of implants.
3. Le Breast	B+	B	C	B	Yes	Yes	Intimate Image (818) 999-9719	$60	Very lightweight, rather small, even though a C cup.
4. Le Breast Push-up	A	A	C	A-	No	Yes	Intimate Image (818) 999-9719	$59	Good value for the "implant" look, except no nipple.
5. Le Breast Enhancer	C+	A	A	B	No	Yes	Intimate Image (818) 999-9719	$59	Lightweight, natural appearance.
6. Frederick's of Hollywood	B	A	B	B+	No	Yes	Frederick's of Hollywood stores, catalog	$60	A little small, won't cover a C cup breast. Very squishy, lightweight.
7. Fashion Form Enhancers	C+	B	C	B	No	Yes	Robinson's-May	$49.99	Transparent instead of flesh-toned. Small, won't cover fuller breasts.
8. Saville Plus Foam Cups	F	C	C+	D	Yes	No	Intimate Image (818) 999-9719	$9	Has indentation for your own nipple, feels fake, like using a shoulder pad.
9. Kleenex brand facial tissues	F	C	A	F	No	No	Supermarkets	$2	The original swimsuit stuffer, and still the cheapest way to enhance your bust.