A great question from Emily:
“I’ve just chucked three regular underwire bras because they hurt so much I was near homicidal by the end of the day. Post kids my boobs no longer need quite the same structural engineering they used to (a relief tbh), I’m wondering whether the bralet is an option.
Key issue though is shape. Are there bralets out there that give a decent shape rather than squashed? Could you feasibly wear one to work?”
I haven’t worn a proper bra for years and usually make do with something pink and stretchy from Gap. The market has caught up with me – non-underwired bras are doing an absolutely booming trade. This question has reminded me that I need to up my bralette game as mine have all seen better days. My particular problem is a bralette to wear with a shirt or something lower cut. But is there any more boring task than bra shopping?
NB this post has been updated from the original to include Spike suggestions.
I like the look of this “Zero Feel” bralette from Sloggi
Wacoal do very good non-underwired bras, and this looks promising
Might this work, from Gap?
Net a Porter has about a billion, like this one:
This one, for a party? Or am I just being silly.
Cake Bras, from Bravissimo, are plain but functional and very good for a bigger bust.
Good old Marks and Spencer has an entire section devoted to the bralette – this looks promising, although is the lace itchy?
Also love below the line for Uniqlo. I have been curious for a while about their seamless bras and also their Airism line.
This question will, I know, be incredibly enervating for anyone who has got too much boob to even consider something not constructed out of adamantium.
But how about you? Please leave any recommendations for great non-wired bras in the handy box below.
M and s have loads now and some are really pretty too
There’s even a special bra-lette range for the DD+ at Marks and Spencer. Don’t wear it to go jogging but if you find you have to run after an errant child or dog, you will be able to without having to prop everything up with your fore arm as you give chase.
I’ve got loads of bralettes, I feel like I’ve tried almost all of them as I hate the feel of under wire post kids. The best one I have is one that I chucked in my basket on a trip to Asda whilst away one weekend. It’s their moulded bralette and it gives such a lovely shape, is very comfy and doesn’t sag. They only ever seem to have it in lilac online but definitely worth a look if you have one nearby.
ASDA!!! who knew … I’m off seaching for that one today
Asda is also excellent for jersey boxers for rugby-thighed husbands, and check the chilled World Foods section for Polish keffir, and the frozen Asian ditto for frozen paratha.
Weekday is amazing. Lots of colours and styles – from sporty cropped top look to more lacey bralets. All very reasonably priced and wash well (in machine). I rarely wear a traditional bra now – post kids I went from a 30E to a 32B and I’m really enjoying the freedom tbh! Husband misses the old ones though 😉
X
I can attest to the brilliance of the M&S bralets. There’s even a whole section dedicated to them on the website. Great value, plain or pretty. Go!
Off there as well (as Asda) … it’ll be Bralette world here….I always buy too many of everything!
Seconded. They are comfortable, pretty and reasonably priced. But a warning: the Autograph one made me itch and gave me a bit of a rash, so maybe avoid if you’re prone to that sort of thing.
So- controversially, as a big boobed woman, I hate underwriting too. It used to be fine, but went through an agonising stage. I went to bravissimo in despair, and they pointed me towards Cake Bras. First designed as a maternity bra, they then ranged out into every day bras. there is nothing THAT sexy about them, but they are supportive, and a simple clean design without a ridiculous pricetag. And bloody comfy. Total godsend. Bought mine through bravissimo, but am sure it can be bought through their website.
Antonia thanks for this and for the direction to Bravissimo – Cake Bras look great x
Yes, i second Cake. i have 2 now. Some will try to persuade you that wires are comfortable if ‘properly fitted’. I dont think so.
Thank you for this post, and I look forward to reading the comments as I was literally trawling online for a non-underwired bra yesterday. I have a v comfy one from Triumph, which fits my C-cup like a glove, but is not super-sexy. Might try the ‘party bralette’ first off…
Esther – I’m pretty sure you are the person who first directed me to Victoria’s Secret bralets quite a few years ago. All I ever wear now, with other clothes obviously….
M and S do a brilliant one for anyone who needs a DD+. Very, comfy and a good shape. The bit underneath can ride up a bit but for for the price, this can be ignored. Link here: https://www.marksandspencer.com/louisa-lace-bralet-dd-/p/p60105434?prevPage=plp
This is super useful too for women who’ve had mastectomies and reconstructive surgery. Many (all?) can’t wear underwire afterwards, ever.
I have got some great bralettes from Tutti Rouge (I get them from ASOS). They size range is pretty impressive – can even accommodate my Rack Of Doom – and while I wouldn’t go jogging in them (who am I kidding, I’m not going jogging full stop) the support is decent, even for aforemention RoD.
Excellent topic! I’m currently 32 weeks pregnant and ALL BRAS ARE EVIL. But the only two I can just about handle for a few hours when my colleagues don’t want to see my nipples are the Sloggi Zero Feel and Passionata Georgia. Completely different ends of the spectrum; the Sloggi one is truly hideous on (at least in cream), the sizing is limited and if it peeks out of your clothes then you feel the need to apologise. But it is incredibly comfortable. The Passionata is gorgeous, fits wells and, in my current state, certainly makes me feel less whale-like.
“if it peeks out of your clothes then you feel the need to apologise” – one of the best sentences ever. I mean not a sentence but you get the drift
You’ve made my day / week / month / year there; that is quite the seal of approval! I’m here any time, aaaaaany time…
The Beauty Light wireless bar from Uniqlo is the most comfortable bra I have ever worn. You cant even tell you’re wearing one. Highly recommend. x
I might try that Wacoal one, as it has a back fastening. I can’t really be doing with anything I have to climb in and out of. I have the Gap one, and would say it is just OK. The wide band looks comfortable, but I find it rolls up which is less comfortable.
I have recently started wearing the M&S DD+ bralets. As with most things for boobs over a D cup there is less choice in colour but £9.50 you can’t complain. I’m a 34E and I feel secure but not winched in. They look pretty and don’t create that sports bra mono boob. I have always been so jealous of anyone under a D cup not having to strap on architectural underpinnings just to leave the house. Hopefully more brands will catch on. X
I bought one of those M&S ones and I love it once on – but my GOD it’s torture trying to get it on. Am I doing something wrong? I have to ask someone to pull down the bottom bit for me as it rolls up painfully tight.
you have to ask *someone*? doesn’t sound like the right bra for you
lolz Yeah, random passers by…the window cleaner…
You need to step into it and pull up. Impossible to get over your head without becoming trapped…
Thank you Esther for posting my question and everyone for the helpful responses. Ive ordered the Gap one and will be checking the other options out ASAP! I like the look of the Gap one because it has quite a substantial band around your upper ribs to keep it in place. I tried a non underwired bra fromM&S and though comfortable and decent shape, without a sufficient band everything just looked… floppy :-/
The M&S lace bralette pictured is good (I have it) but does squash- it’s more a fancy crop top.
Although my bra size is still DD post kids, they’re just different and need less effort. I’m looking forward to freedom from the discomfort of underwire and rigid elastic.
Why did I not get the thing where my 32f boobs pre kids magically became 34c, or whatever. They’re still bloody massive 32fs, even after 2 kids. EVEN after breastfeeding the second one forever. It’s not fair! (Can you tell I spend a lot of time with toddlers? We all just take turns having tantrums all day!)
Might try a DD+ bralette, see how it goes. Elaine x
I have the Sloggi zero feel in black and absolutely love them. Wear them all the time and genuinely comfortable. Am off to check out M and S range now. Great suggestions- thank you!
I have Lara Wren bras in a variety of colours having searched for a wireless, slightly sexy bra for a while (yes I have a Sloggi one – very not sexy!). Anyway, these are great. Not the cheapest but made in the UK. I love them and am never going back to a wired bra:
https://laraintimates.com/products/wren-bra-black?variant=12662848290921
look lovely. have just ordered one. go from a 26 inch back!
Sainsburys are pretty good (and 25% off at the mo)… Their padded and non padded crop tops are super comfy and you can usually get white, black or nude…
I’ve got massive knockers and never imagined being able to wear anything non-wired again but the M&S bralets are game changers – good for work even under smart work wear. I thought they’d have no shape but they do and not having any support isn’t nearly as awful as I thought. They are a pain to get out of but its just like a sports bra really. My daughter is 12 and all the ‘young’ wear these days is bralets, noone wears a normal bra anymore as far as I can tell.
Oh God, I love you all so much. I’m off to buy a Cake bra or 2 – thanks for the rec.
As a big boobed person, the Marksies bralettes are great at home (lolling about on sofa reading, pootling about in the garden etc) but no good for a day at work; did try it but felt vaguely unsettled all day like I was wearing slippers not shoes.
Also have had some good bras from an incredibly functional looking German line Anita Rosa Faia. They have some wireless bras that are really comfortable and give a good shape, but they’re probably best if you’re quite tall as the shoulder straps are very long and I had to shorten them myself to hoist my tits up to a reasonably jaunty level.
Um, is there a reason why none of my comments get posted now? Yesterday, I wrote something specific about the bra which heads the post, and which I do possess. Not that I’m paranoid or anything…and have not posted much, but my last three comments haven’t appeared. lisaeveleigh@yahoo.co.uk
Hi Lisa – that’s weird… I don’t think they’ve been coming through. I would only not approve a comment if it was personally abusive or might start a fight below the line. I CAN HEAR YOU CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Oh my god, I went to Aalborg for work in January to visit some clients and my check-bag never made it to Denmark with me (lazy SoaB stayed in heathrow whilst I did all the grafting). Anyway whilst I was there I obviously had to do some flash shopping (new dresses, American Vintage jumper, tights, toiletries etc.). Then I came across this underwear shop called Femilet. Great bralets and knickers – really soft. Their stuff is really nice. I wish they were here in the UK.
Well, possibly I could now be persuaded out of my current (very limited) stock of underwired bras which hitherto I thought were the only garments to divide my boobs (34D and floppy) from my spare tyre. I just want something supportive, not padded or moulded, plain cotton in white/nude/black, with straps that don’t start at my armpit as I’m narrow shouldered too. In my next life I hope never to wear a bra again, except maybe a sweet little lacy number no bigger than 32B.
32ff here but in need of more support since pregnancy and BFing. The M&S non-wired bras have been a revelation, and not pricey at all. I also have one of the bravissimo ones and while it is very supportive, it still feels restrictive and uncomfortable as it’s so well-engineered. The material makes it quite sweaty too.
I’m a 36 H and I have found bralettes on Bravissimo, but have not yet ordered.
After a reduction about 20 years ago, (was off the scale, surgeon got me down to 36 dd, over the years hormones have kicked in and I’ve been steady at this size for quite a few years) I like to feel “rounded up” and secure, but the end of a rogue underwire has rubbed and left a sore spot, so I’m looking for something softer, but very firm and supportive…….not sure a bralette can deliver.
Inspired by this post, I hotfooted to M&S for a fitting and a tryout of non-wired bralets. Result! have bought two £16 crop-toppy type things, which support my 36DDs and are comfy, although I did have to go to a 36E for fit. And they do look much more modern that a fussy, lacy, engineered bra. So thank you Esther!