As someone who often sleeps in a bra (I am DD+), I find it much more comfortable to have support at all times. Despite my own personal views, however, I think it’s fair to say that there has been a revolution of sorts going on when it comes to lingerie, particularly when it comes to bras. Comfort has been key for the past few years, and a lot of us are still embracing it. That often means going braless at any given opportunity. But there are plenty of us (aka, me) who will always require support of some sort.
Womanhood, a brilliant online lingerie retailer which stocks female-designed brands, revealed that “over 60% of women changed the way they buy lingerie after lockdown.” The brand says soft bralettes with no wiring have become the most popular styles. I reached out to Tanya Robertson, the founder of Womanhood, to find out what’s behind this change in attitude and which non-wired bralettes are the best for all kinds of sizes. And if you’re not even sure of your size now, we’ve got a handy bra size calculator you can use first.
“There’s been a complete shift in how women view and buy underwear,” says Robertson. “Women have been realising that they have more of a choice and are finding pieces that match their personality. Not only are people wanting to dress for themselves more, but they’re also able to identify what comfort means to them. With bralettes, there are so many different types of support, coverage, lift and feel.”. While some might be keen to ditch their bras altogether, it’s still worth bearing in mind that a little bit of support is still important. “We change our bra size, on average, nine times in our lives. Of course, this all depends on whether you have children, weight gain, weight loss and also menopause—it’s never one-size-fits-all. Ultimately, support is everything. From underneath to round the side and without support, there’s strain put on our surrounding area [of the breast], even if you don’t think you need it,” says Robertson. With that in mind, I asked Robertson to recommend the best non-wired bras for fuller busts, smaller cup sizes as well as everyday bras that suit everyone. Keep scrolling for her recommendations, then go on for more non-wired, soft-cup bras we love.
“Moons and Junes has a power mesh that moulds to your shape and different panellings inside the bra that support internally.”
“For smaller busts or for those that want something but are not concerned about loads of support, Rossell England has a fantastic ruching underband with a clasp to the left. Look out for Baserange and Love Stories, too.”
“For everyday wear, The Pam is brilliant, as it’s dyed using vegetables, so it’s also great for those thinking about sustainability.”
You can adjust the straps depending on the support you need.
So fun to have flashing out of a white shirt.
SKIMS is so inclusive for skin tones and sizing.
So pretty (and it’s made from recycled materials.)
A cashmere bra for autumn? Yes please. And there’s a matching cardigan.
Sporty logo styles are everywhere on Instagram.
French lingerie is always such good quality.
The longline underband gives extra support.
Ideal if you like a bit of lift.
We all know once you find a great bra, you end up buying it twice. This duo will save you the hassle.
So comfy.
Simone Pérèle is the destination for gorgeous lingerie.
A bralette so good, you can shop it in 20 colours!
Yes, it also comes in black.
This seamless style will go unnoticed under your clothes.
Available in sup size A-E.
Dora Larsen’s colour combinations are so joyful.
Great for smaller boobs.
The wide back band with no clasp makes it extra comfy.
A sheer bra will be the perfect addition to add to your collection.
