Perhaps the famous photograph of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield says it all: Sometimes there is such a thing as too much cleavage. But how much is TOO much and when is it okay to take the plunge? In order to determine what is and isn’t appropriate, when it comes to showing it off, we asked some of our most fashionable members to share their opinions on when to push ‘em up and when to put ‘em away.

Viva Style Expert Keylee Sanders (Founder/Stylist, Style Studio): As with most things right and wrong the question of how much is too much depends on several factors; age, event, audience, size, and comfort level. Nothing is worse than a woman who is showing cleavage and you can tell she not comfortable, they are pushed up to her chin, or appear to be personal floatation devices. The other important rule of showing off the girls is to not show a lot of other assets. Wearing a mini skirt and show cleavage screams the wrong message. But if you got it flaunt it, just be tasteful about it !

Good: Latin actress Sofia Veraga is a great example, she is always showing the girls and she is VERY comfortable with it- it is sexy not trashy. Helen Mirren does a great job of tasteful cleavage.

Bad: Pam Anderson… not so much.

Peyton Cochran (Founder, EPiC Design): I think body types really determine “how low you should go” in terms of plunging necklines. I personally like to keep it classic and chic and not reveal too too much. A little hint of to give allure can be sexy but anything more can be borderline tasteless.

Good: Gisele at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala

Bad: LinLo stuffed into her dress

Emily Morse (Founder/Blogger/Radio Host, Sex With Emily): How much cleavage is too much cleavage can only be answered by the context in which you find yourself. Applying for a job at hooters? Let ‘em all hang out. Picking up a guy at a bar? Push ‘em up as far as you’d like. However, if you’re dressing for impressing, say for work, or a charity function, or would like to be recconized for your other, um, assets, less is far more. If you overdo it on the cleavage it might look like you’re trying to overcompensate for skills lacking in other areas. Sexy versus skanky is a fine line. Signs you might be showing too much: when your breasts enter the room before you do, when it appears no one is making eye contact with you and their gaze is cast downwards and finally when everyone appears to be talking to your chest rather than your face.

Good: I love the cleavage and sexiness of a wrap dress which accentuates the hourglass figure.

Bad: Jessica Simpson busting a rhyme.

Jean Larette (Founder/Interior Designer, Larette Design): Yes: if have are in your twenties, wear a size eight or under, would consider yourself “perky”, you have great posture, gorgeous skin, wear a very good bra or have an excellent surgeon; No: if you have been breast feeding either recently or twenty years ago and you are not quite so perky. Focus on your other attributes: your great legs, buff arms, in shape derriere. If all else is in need of a trip to the gym maybe you have gorgeous eyes, beautiful jewelry. If all else fails, bring a gorgeous man and cover that cleavage!

Photo courtesy of Flickr.