Two years ago, I stopped buying bras from Third Love due to their refusal to address hostile work environment allegations levied by several employees. At the time, I had a healthy selection of bras in my drawer, so I assumed I had enough time to find a different go-to brand.
I found a few bras that I like. But I didn’t find any that I loved, until now.
I bought this Wacoal Comfort Intended Bra because I liked the flexible band. The one thing I hate at the end of a long day is being pinched by a bra band.
This t-shirt bra is comfortable. It’s lightly padded so it’s not revealing and provides a bit of lift. And the slightly is wider band is more comfortable and smoothing than other styles. I liked this style so much, that I also purchased Wacoal’s racerback style bra.
As for sizing the b.Tempted line from Wacoal runs 32B to 36DD, so not the widest range on the market. I also don’t love that the only colors that most of the bras come in are this pale beige and the black. (I appreciate when brands create more nude-to-you shades to choose from.) If you need a wider variety of skin tones, a friend swears by Skims bras, but I haven’t tried them yet.
I think this is one of those posts where the comments will be more helpful than the post itself, especially given how widely bra must-haves vary from woman to woman. So please leave your favorite daily-driver bra in the comments, you can choose to leave your go-to COVID bra or your “in the office” bra.
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Before COVID I was often layering Lively’s busty bralette with a True and Co bralette to smooth things out. Two layers may seem not ideal but it was the most comfortable for me as I try to minimize my 32DDs to fit into work clothes.
Curious to see what others have and like!
I have not yet found a great substitute for Third Love, either, though I did find a beautiful and comfortable Wacoal bra from Nordstrom Rack that I’ve put into heavy rotation.
For bra fit and style information as well as reviews, @MadisonAnneh on TikTok is incredible. She used to work at a lingerie store and has excellent tips on what to look for to fit *your* body. She’s also very body-positive (and generally positive!) and size-inclusive.
I live in various colors of the Elomi Amelia t-shirt bra. At a UK 36HH/US 36 L (yes, L…as in LORDY those are big), I cannot skip a bra. It’s painful to skip, and sweaty and messy and distacting.
…distracting, not distancing. Though, probably not enticing anyone to come near me haha
Thank you for this recommendation for larger sizes!
I love Natori bras. Great fit all around and have always found them extremely comfortable. Working from home, I have found two styles that I have been living in, both from Athleta. One is their Embrace bra. Amazing fit, super comfortable, and great support. Can leave on if I am doing a midday workout like barre or strength training. The other is actually a crop ribbed tank they have that I wear as a bra. Provides support when I don’t want to wear a real bra! I’m a 34 DD and wear a small.
34 DD–that must be a super hard bra size to find!
Any ladies have success with the larger band sizes? In pre-COVID times, I was a 38 C, but now looking to be more like 40 D (thanks COVID). I’m just sticking with cheapo Target brands for now during my never ending WFH, but would love better ideas for when we are released back into gen pop again.
Was that first sentence sarcasm? I know some bra sizes are harder to find than others, but the struggle for a good fitting/solid bra is real across the board… or should I say band?
Not sarcasm at all! I was thinking that the cup size/band size combo would legit be difficult to find.
Actually, 34DD is apparently the most common bra size in the US. I learned that in an online trivia game I was playing with friends and was surprised too!
https://www.healthline.com/health/average-breast-size#average-bra-size
Thanks for clarifying 🙂
I second Natori bras, and specifically the “feather” bra. So comfortable, very flattering, only issue is that the lace can show through as texture on super thin knit fabrics (think Madewell whisper cotton tee). Would love a rec for a similar fit with smooth finish. Would also love a rec for a strapless bra that comes up high at the sides- seems to be the only thing that prevents the dreaded armpit muffin top. Unfortunately a lot of my summer casual wardrobe is not conducive to a high apex bra.
I like Natori bras too. They used to make a very plain t-shirt bra, but it may be discontinued (bought my last one from Amazon I think). I usually try whatever style is on sale at the Nordstrom anniversary sale. I wear a 34C.
I third Natori bras! I love the front clasp feather option. It has become my go-to. I own it in 3 colors and am contemplating buying more. I’ve gotten them for a good price from Nordstrom Rack.
I am a 34 DD or a 32 DDD (which I have only found at VS). My go to bra’s are still VS. Which I don’t love the brand per se, but I have a small ribcage but most other bras that fit the ribcage, do not contain the breasts well enough and I hate adjusting all day (which can still happen time to time but much less). That being said I go for the most full coverage and as little padding as possible. The downside is the cute, lacy ones are less common in this size. Target has a few in their new brand but the cups are almost cut to low….and again, you find your self readjusting all day. Anyone else a 34 DD or 32 DDD and ideas?
I am the same size and I really like Chantelle bras! They are a little pricier but you can usually find them on sale at Nordstrom Rack. They have a little more coverage on top, which I like.
Second Chelsea’s comment–I’m the same size, and Chantelle is my go-to. I have several from their line, but my favorite for every day is the Invisible Memory Foam t-shirt bra (https://www.nordstrom.com/s/chantelle-invisible-memory-foam-t-shirt-bra/3246244), and the Parisian Allure Unlined bras for when I want to feel a little sexy or am less worried about show-through.
Just found the Arie Real Free Full Coverage Lightly Lined. I have been wearing it for two weeks and I love it as my new everyday bra. I know this brand is for teenagers, but I am a year post nursing and my needs have changed. I have hunted down all kinds of brands the past year to find my new fit. This one is so comfortable with wide straps and sides. I am a 36C now but prefer a 38B for days that I am puffy.
I also love Aerie. So sad they discontinued their Sunnie Demi (non-push up) bra with the fully adjustable shoulder straps. It was my jam. Very much appreciate their no touch up policy and inclusivity as well.
I’ve been wearing the Aerie real free bralettes since early pandemic and they’ve held up really well! I took the pads out and wash them on cold then line dry. So far they don’t seem to have stretched out or degraded at all, which I’m happy about. I don’t think I’ve worn an underwire bra since the summer and honestly will probably stick with these for most everyday use.
I just got two Real Free Bralettes from Aerie and they are very comfortable. I am a little worried about how they will hold up. Time will tell!
I love the Aerie bralettes and have found them to hold up alright after several washings!
Speaking of DTC internet bra companies- I’ve had really great experiences with the Harper Wilde bras. A heads up that their pushups REALLY push up – but there are times in my life when I would appreciate that. They wear and wash like iron, and I’ve liked their varied color and size ranges.
I tried one of their bras in my 32DD and liked it, except the bra straps were SUPER long and the clasp that should hold them (mostly) in the length I wanted kept sliding out of place throughout the day. I reached out to customer service to do a return, and she told me to go to a tailor to get it fixed and they wouldn’t accept the return. I was pretty turned off by both the quality and the customer service comment. :-/
I have found that during these WFH times I can no longer stomach a bra with a wire in it. I too have found luck with Wacoal, particularly the How Perfect No-Wire Contour Bra. Light padding, and somewhat forgiving for COVID size fluctuations. b.tempted seems to make a similar version that’s less expensive, but I haven’t tried it. I’ve also ventured into bralette territory (which I recognize is only an option because I’m a 32C/34B) and like the Cosabella Never Say Never Sweetie Padded Bralette, although wish it had a hook and eye closure in the back rather than being pullover.
I am a 38HH(UK)/38JJ(US), and I cannot live without the Elomi Matilda bra.
Similar size, and I agree–this one is fabulous! The Cate is a real “lock and load” type, almost a minimizer, but this one is SO PRETTY.
Little bra company!
I always really liked Wacoal’s unlined bras, and so also went to them for WFH bras. I picked up a couple racerback pullover bralettes from Nordstrom’s that are really nice, and were fairly cheap, although don’t mimic an underwire silhouette at all. I have Wacoal unlined underwire in two sizes, and since they haven’t been worn much I will probably go back to those when I return to the office. I may be the only person who would take some occasional nipple over padding and an unnatural silhouette.
I second the Wacoal unlined bras! On a whim I tried their unlined “minimizer” bra and loved it. Very supportive, once I got past that minimizer was in the title.
That particular bra may not go up in sizes, but Wacoal has lots of options for bigger chests. My daily bra is the Wacoal Visual Effects minimizer. I wear a 38G or 40DDD in this bra, and it goes up much higher in band size – maybe to 44? The Wacoal Red Carpet strapless is the best strapless bra for large cup sizes I have ever tried.
The second link for the racerback style goes to the same bra as the first link.
Bravado makes the best nursing and pumping bras hands down. Now that I’ve stopped breastfeeding I’m pretty small chested (A+, B- territory) and have been living in the everlane invisible bra. I love it. Makes me totally flat but I’m kind of leaning into the androgyny of that. When my outfit would look better with more shape, I love natori bras because the diameter on their smaller cup sizes is also smaller and fits me better. Girlfriend Collective Paloma bra, which is more of a crop top, is my go to workout bra top, doesn’t pinch at all and I love that they are made from recycled materials.
Oh man, I feel this. I had great boobs while nursing for what felt like a million years, but now I’m pretty small chested. I have a slightly wider rib cage though and 36a is what I’m wearing these days. None of my regular bras fit me like I like and 36a has not been the easiest for me to find so if I wear anything other than a sports bra these days (Very Infrequent), I wear a bralette. I just purchased a couple of the everyday bra from underbares. They are sexily understated. I will say, if you purchase, be patient with the band. It’s tight at first but stretches up to 2”. The customer service is also phenomenal. And for DC ladies, it’s local.
THANK YOU! This is news I can use. I also have a big rib cage and tiny boobs (like AA) so finding bras that fit is a nightmare.
I love the Mama Mia bra from Le Mystere. It’s technically a nursing bra, but I wear it as a normal bra. I find bra size is not a good indicator of what will be comfortable or flattering, it’s boob shape and position. I have pretty close set (?), full boobs and this bra is my forever bra. I wear a 38DD, I’d say if in doubt, size up.
For around the house, I love the arq sets. I wear an XL in their wide strap bra but could probably swing an L.
I recently discovered the Soma Signature Lace Perfect Coverage Racerback, which is comfortable and flattering. (Plus the price was right and BOGO 50% off!) I was getting sooo sick of other bra straps constantly falling down.
Wacoal was one of my favorite bras before I outgrew the style I liked post-baby. At now a 38H (US) 38G (UK), I am loving Freya (which I loved pre-baby in their lace styles with side support – currently have expression and starlight plunge) and the Fantasie seamless balconette.
For weekends and some WFH days I will wear the cosabella curvy sweetie or curvy ballet in the XL.
I second the UK brands suggestion. I am a 32FF and Fantasie, Freya, and Panache have been such a game changer. I find they are structured in a way that makes them even more supportive and flattering than the minimizers I used to wear by Wacoal. My everyday bra is the fantasie 4510 (smoothing tee shirt bra with molded cups). Panache is my go-to for high impact sports bras. The bonus of all 3 of these brands: they make bra-sized swimsuits, too.
The Lively All-Day Deep V No-Wire is my go-to. I love that I can convert it to a cross back so I’m not dealing with bra straps falling off of my sloped shoulders, and it’s so comfy. I’ve been going without underwire for so long during the pandemic that my tolerance for them is like 1 hour at this point. No-wire all the way for me now. I’m a 36B, but they
The Lively All-Day Deep V No-Wire is my go-to. I love that I can convert it to a cross back so I’m not dealing with bra straps falling off of my sloped shoulders, and it’s so comfy. I’ve been going without underwire for so long during the pandemic that my tolerance for them is like 1 hour at this point. No-wire all the way for me now. I’m a 36B, but they show models wearing it that look like D cups or bigger.
For any devotees of the Body by Victoria’s Secret bras, Target carries a very similar and much less expensive version that has become my daily-wear bra– the Simply Perfect by Warner’s Women’s Smooth Look Underwire Bra.
In Covid times I confess I’ve stopped wearing a bra at all some days… I wear an honest-to-goodness-correctly-measured 32A (or 30B if I want to really squeeze my ribcage, which I don’t) and when wearing a wool sweater on Zoom there’s no visual difference whether I wear a bra or not.
I’ve also made good use of my unstructured bralette collection — the Lively Long Lined Lace Bralette is my go-to for comfort. If I actually need a molded cup, I wear Natori Feathers or Flora (the Flora is a newer style that fits similarly to the Feathers but with smoother lace, hallelujah). The Feathers bra is one of those cult favorites that is amazing for shallow shapes *no matter* what size your boobs are; I size up to a 32B but I have tons of large-boobed friends who rave about the same bra.
Between the pandemic and having a baby, I don’t know that I ever want to wear underwire ever again. So I ordered this triangle bra from Organic Basics and fell in love. It has a ton of support (my breasts went from 34C to 36DD yikes!) and is super comfortable! I also love the company’s mission.
https://us.organicbasics.com/products/womens-organic-cotton-triangle-bra?variant=32250847428719
I am firmly anti-wire. More so now in the WFH era. True & Co are my go tos. Enough support but nothing to pinch, poke, or slip.
This is perfect timing. I’m in the same bra boat at the moment. My Third Love bras are way too old now and I need new normal bras and more at home bras.
Instagram has a million ads for bras without wires that look sexier than the sportsbra-esq bralettes that I’ve been wearing for a year. Anybody have a favorite?
As for bra shopping, if you’re new to measuring yourself and finding the fight fit and style, I recommend checking out all of the resources in this subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/
I love Harper Wilde’s bras! I have their basic t-shirt ones, and they come in a bunch of colors and fit true to size and the straps are easily adjusted.
Hi, any recommendations for a 28/30 band and DD/E cup? I tried cosabella curvy. Band fit but was overall to big and non-curvy line was not a good fit. Thank you in advance.
For my small chested ladies- I am a 32B and have decided in the pandemic I am done with underwire of any kind. I honestly would like to wear a sports bra every day but feel like I need something with a little bit of shape. I am happy with these Amazon bralettes with have removal cups. Will they last forever? No, but I wash them with delicates and hang dry and they are inexpensive.
INIBUD Bralette for Women Triangle Cups Removable Padded Wire Free Pull On Closure https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M5Z1Y48/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ECYK695174KHRN6TKCQ7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Another vote for Wacoal. I wear 38DDD/38F. I wore Wacoal La Femme (underwire) bras exclusively for years (at least since 2014, and I pretty sure well before then). I can’t say enough good things about them. Since March, when Instarted WFH I switch to Wacoal’s B Smooth Seamless and Flawless Comfort bras(both wire free as wearing well). Having progressed from a 34DD when I fist started wearing Wacoal to a 38DDD, with several size changes along the way, I have always been very happy with Wacoal’s size availability and fit.
I’ve fully switched over to the CUUP balconette and I love it.
I’m a fan of the Natori Flora bra. The lace is a little less obvious than the feathers. It’s lightweight and breathable yet provides medium support and nip coverage. It comes in a fairly wide range of sizes. Friends who range from a 30C-34F swear by it as an every day, pretty bra.
On a trip to Japan I realized needed a more comfortable bra for the long flight home so I bought a wireless one at Uniqlo for the long flight home. It was so comfortable I bought 3 more when I got home. https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women-3d-hold-wireless-bra-432849.html?dwvar_432849_color=COL15&cgid=
I found the SOMA EMBRACEABLE Full Coverage Wireless Unlined Bra and have worn it daily. The lift from the wireless is unbelievable. It doesn’t look particularly pretty, but it looks so great on under clothes. (Typically a 40DD, but wearing a 42C in this).
Marks and Spencer forever and ever. I have a stockpile of underwear and bras from there. They run smaller than US sizes IMHO. (34B there v A in most US brands)
I literally just found a great nude tshirt bra so I can finally wear white tees without layering a cami and I’m so happy! It’s been a looong search. I always thought the issue was the tshirt but it’s the bra! My solution is the Natori Bliss Perfection Contour bra. I got mine at Nordstrom: https://www.nordstrom.com/s/natori-bliss-perfection-underwire-contour-bra/4654017
For work, Maidenform Fabulous Fit racerback bras, FOREVER. The racerback keeps the straps from falling off my narrow/sloped shoulders, the wire is unobtrusive, and they go on sale pretty frequently. I think I have 8 of them?
For weekends and more casual occasions, the Gap racerback bralettes are pretty comfy and supportive enough to hike in (but not run). I’m 34B for reference.