From everyday T-shirt styles to special-occasion strapless.
Because it’s difficult to find a bra that supports without feeling unpleasant and that lifts and separates without seeming unnatural, bras have a terrible reputation. But as time has gone on, I’ve discovered more excellent bras, such as one dubbed “the unicorn of undergarments” and another that persuaded a “underwire cynic” to change her mind. I polled stylists, Strategist employees, lingerie store owners, and professional undergarment fitters about their favourite bras in order to compile this list of the greatest bras. After that, I put several of their suggestions to the test on my own, wearing them around, gauging how comfortable they are all day, and keeping tabs on how well they hold up after washing and wearing.
The ones I think are the best of the best are listed below, including one really attractive minimizer. We also have recommendations to the greatest wireless bras for big breasts and the best bras for small breasts if you’re seeking for even more options.
Natori Feathers Underwire Contour Bra
The Feathers by Natori come in a decent range of sizes (30A through 38DD, with some G-cup sizes); the larger sizes have longer straps to provide more support for people with larger breasts; the cups are contoured for a natural, rounded form; and the band is beautifully adorned with lace. These elements, together with my own wearing experience, persuaded me that the bra deserves to be named our “best overall.” For a 36D, I felt comfortably contained, even with its plunge that enhanced cleavage. The blend of sheer mesh and lace, which seems remarkably smooth beneath my clothes, provides me with a mild lift that isn’t as noticeable as a push-up but also doesn’t sag.
I can see why the Feathers are referred to as “the unicorn of undergarments” by author Molly Lamoureux. Feeling good about yourself is a huge aspect of buying for a bra, and this attractive bra gives me confidence in both my appearance and my breasts.
The fact that you may select from a variety of skin tone tints and vibrant hues like coral and lemon lime is another appealing feature. According to Lori Kaplan, the founder of Bra Tenders in New York City, the bra is a recurring favourite with Strategist readers and a best seller there as well. She frequently suggests it to clients who wear A through G cups. Additionally, it frequently goes on sale.
ThirdLove 24/7 Classic T-shirt Bra
The finest bra for little breasts is ThirdLove’s T-shirt bra, which comes in half-sizes A½ through E½ and has a smoothing design that is appropriate for everyday wear (though it also goes up to cup size H for individuals with larger breasts). Staff members with modest busts like senior writer Liza Corsillo, a 36B, who wears it because “it makes my boobs look equal and perky without overly drawing attention to them,” also love it.
I thought the lower-cut cups of the bra wouldn’t fit me because I’m a D-cup, but instead of feeling constricting or spilling out, they actually hit a little higher on my breasts than the ones on the Feathers. The cups are well rounded and provide some shape without appearing to have too much padding thanks to a little layer of memory foam. The business markets the bra’s pleated, “anti-slip” straps as one of its selling points, but individual results may differ. Strategist writer Lauren Ro discovered that while the pleats look good, they don’t really help to keep the straps in place.
Lane Bryant Cacique Smooth Lightly Lined Balconette Bra
JIBRI founder Jasmine Elder, food editor Alyse Whitney, and content producer Thamarr Guerrier of Musings of a Curvy Lady are among the fans of Lane Bryant’s intimates collection, Cacique. Its bras have seamless, non-pinching bands and broader straps. The balconette bra that Guerrier uses the most is the one that smooths out sufficiently to pass for an actual undergarment. Band sizes 32 through 56 and cup sizes A through K are available. It is also available in a size like 50B, which is a small-cup/large-band combination that is uncommon, even among some of the larger bra manufacturers who have a tendency to believe that a larger band always translates into a larger cup.
Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit, Lightly Lined, Memory-Touch T-shirt Bra
Lamoureux and Lauren Stephens, the co-founder of Dudley Stephens, are lovers of the Calvin Klein T-shirt bra because of its memory-foam cups that conform to the body and its lightweight microfiber lining. (Stephens tried the bra while she was a public relations specialist for Calvin Klein; years later, she is still praising the brand.) Its coverage will be comparable to that of Thirdlove’s T-shirt bra because of the memory foam and lighter lining. This Calvin Klein bra is less expensive, but it is only available in a smaller range of sizes than Thirdlove’s.
Third love 24/7 Second Skin Unlined Bra
An unlined bra is designed to highlight your breasts’ natural contours without adding any padding or pushing up. Although your nipples aren’t smoothed over like they would be with a conventional lined bra, you may feel as though your breasts are more on show with an unlined bra because there is less material in it. One of the better unlined bras I’ve experimented on is the Second Skin from ThirdLove. Because the bra’s cups are made of two layers of fabric, it seems opaque rather than sheer. However, because it is composed of breathable microfiber, it is still lightweight. I feel safe and supported even though it’s not the most elevating bra (if you want more of a boost, you’re better off with ThirdLove’s T-shirt bra).
Cuup The Plunge Bra
Many former and present Strategist employees, such as authors Chloe Anello, Latifah Miles, and Dominique Pariso, love the Cuup Plunge. For this one, Anello deviated from her “no-real-bras rule.” “It feels thin, but it actually provides a lot of support,” she explains. Because the Plunge is composed of mesh, which doesn’t give much room for interpretation, you have to be alright with sheerness.(Chose our best overall Feathers from Natori for a more plunging, covered look.) But that’s what makes it feel like a “French girl,” which is what persuaded Brooklyn restaurant general manager Amanda McMillan to give it a shot. According to McMillan, a previous “underwire cynic,” the bra feels almost undetectable and she appreciates that it doesn’t sag her chest. Another supporter and wearer of the Plunge as lingerie is Éva Goicochea, the founder of Maude. In addition, a variety of colours are available for the bra, ranging from “core” nude tones to more vibrant coral, chartreuse, and citrine tones.
Cuup The Balconette Bra
The same flexible, translucent mesh used in Cuup’s Plunge bra is also used in the Balconette bra. Instead of shaping your breasts, it brings out their natural contours; it has an effect similar to ThirdLove’s Second Skin bra, which is unlined. A prominent distinction between the Balconette and the Plunge is that the former features a taller, narrower gore (the strip of fabric between the cups) for closer-together cleavage and a darted centre seam at the bottom of each cup for some shape. The balconyette accomplishes its intended purpose of giving you a well-rounded appearance. The bra gave me a nice lift, and the cups highlighted my breasts beautifully. What Beverly Nguyen, the owner of Beverly, loves most about the Balconnette is its lower neckline, which provides the “perfect half-corset fit” and keeps her chest from sitting too high. It’s not the ideal idea to wear this bra over a T-shirt because it won’t be the smoothest because it’s designed to be flaunted, which it is.
Natori Bliss Perfection Underwire Contour Bra
A contour bra can be thought of as the relative of a push-up bra. This design uses cups that are precisely cut to contour the bust without adding the lumpy padding of a push-up. Wardrobe stylist Grace Thomas describes Natori’s Bliss as having the “subtle lift most of us are looking for in our bras.” It is shaped like a T-shirt and has a hint of padding. Because of its thoughtful embellishments, she even goes so far as to declare it an upgrade above our favourite bra, the Feathers bra.The band of the Bliss is easy to wear with tops that show a little more skin, and its scooped rear back makes it easy to wear the cups of the bra with a V-neck without worrying about the top of the bra peeking out. The band isn’t unduly small, Thomas notes; rather, it falls higher on the sides. She also like how the lace trim throughout the Bliss elevates the style of an everyday bra.
Wacoal Visual Effects Minimizer Bra
Experience has shown me that “minimising” bras can be extremely smooshy. One exception is Wacoal’s visual effects. It smoothes and minimises my breasts without causing any pain, so I don’t feel like they’re being pressed down. When I don’t want them to be too noticeable, I wear this bra underneath a tighter turtleneck. I never have to worry about spills or slides because the bra is positioned high enough on my chest. And even beneath the thinnest of T-shirts, it stays hidden. The best part is that I simply forget it’s on.
Another noteworthy aspect of the Visual Effects is that it doesn’t resemble anything your grandmother would have worn with a girdle. “Minimizers are known to be ugly,” as Linda Becker, often known as Linda the Bra Lady, puts it. However, this one looks a size smaller on you and is lacy and lovely. As a G-cup, Becker should know, having relied on it herself. “It does what it says it’s going to do, and it contains any side pooching,” Kaplan continues. It has good wide sides.
Warner’s No Side Effects Full Coverage Underwire Bra
With its trademark “No Side Effects” fit—that is, a band with larger and higher panels on either side of the cups—this Warners bra offers the extra support you sometimes need on the sides. I used to have a lot of spilling issues before Warners. I don’t want to feel like my chest is leaking out around the edges; flaunting my sideboob on purpose is one thing. This bra holds me in better than Wacoal’s minimizer since its side panels are positioned higher and closer to my armpits. Unexpectedly, it is cosy. There’s not an uncomfortable squeeze on my sides. Allie McKenna, a stylist, chooses the wireless version and claims it’s the only bra she doesn’t feel like pulling off after a demanding day.
Wacoal Red-Carpet Strapless Bra
The strapless style that has gained the most attention is the Wacoal Red Carpet, mainly because of its remarkable size range that extends up to an I cup. Kaplan commended its “phenomenal” support even in the absence of straps, and Becker told me that it is frequently the only strapless bra that her clients with G and H cups feel comfortable wearing. But it’s not limited to bra stores. Unlike other strapless bras, according to Strategist writer Nora Whelan, this one has a silicone strip at the top of each cup to assist it stay up, so it doesn’t slide down all the time. Whelan guarantees, “This bra will take you from perpetually terrified of popping out to secure and spillage-free.”
Negative Sieve Non-Wire Bra
The Sieve bra by Negative has been dubbed the quintessential wireless bra since it is comfy, loose-fitting, and supportive. One of our best wireless bras for small breasts is this one, therefore I think it belongs here as well. Its mesh construction is what blogger Frances Kwon finds appealing. According to photo producer Emily Eisen, it’s “a little sexy” and lightweight. During her two-week honeymoon, former Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler only brought one bra with her. Additionally, Anello claims that it provides adequate support for people with larger chests.
