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After further testing and consideration, we’ve moved two former picks, the Aerie Sunnie Wireless Lightly Lined Bra and the Journelle Anais Plunge Bra, to the “Other good bras” section. Flat 2x2 Rib
An under-performing bra is a terrible thing. It can be hard on your psyche, your silhouette, your posture—the list goes on. Any bra you wear should be comfortable and well constructed; it should make you feel confident and supported, in every sense of the word.
After researching hundreds of bras and testing 43 of them in person, we’ve found seven that suit a slew of moods, bodies, and style preferences. They include a versatile everyday bra that’s available in half cup sizes; a sleek, unlined underwire bra; a well-priced, full-coverage T-shirt bra; an indulgently comfortable wireless bralette; a more supportive adjustable wireless bralette for bigger busts; a barely there sheer mesh bralette; and a smoothing minimizer.
We chose popular bra styles with established track records that are likely to stick around for many years.
We sought out bras that come in at least sizes A to DDD with a 32- to 40-inch band and two shades of nude.
We considered bras in a wide assortment of styles—various cups, materials, and the like—that fit and flatter different shapes.
We preferred bras that buyers could return or exchange for free.
This crowd-pleaser—available in a wider range of sizes than any of our other picks, including, crucially, half cup sizes—offers outstanding comfort and a subtle push-up. It has small removable pads and a deep plunge, so it works with many different necklines.
The ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Uplift Plunge Bra is a top-drawer staple that all of our testers, ranging in bra sizes from 34A to 34F, loved. We reached for this unusually comfortable and versatile bra again and again. It comes in a wide range of sizes, including half cup sizes, improving your chances of a good fit. As one Wirecutter supervising editor put it: “This is the only bra I’ve ever worn that I don’t fling across the room as soon as I get home.”
It’s comfy and supportive. The 24/7 Classic Uplift bra offers support and a subtle lift without the unpleasant digging that often accompanies an underwire. (ThirdLove bills it as a push-up, but we’d describe its effect as more of a gentle boost.) Its adjustable straps and band feel silky-smooth, and its molded cups are made of a thin, lightweight memory foam that molds to the body without gaping.
It comes in half cup sizes. ThirdLove’s bra is the only one in our test group that offers half sizes (32D½, 36A½, and the like) for a better fit. Note that while the 24/7 Classic Uplift bra is available in band sizes 32 to 44 and cup sizes from A to H, the half-size options are more limited, extending from A½ to E½, with varying availability across band sizes 32 to 38.
The cups themselves are covered in a fine-mesh overlay, which helps curb minor gaping and spillage; our 34F tester marveled at how this bra smoothed her silhouette and prevented a “double bubble” bulge at the top of the cup. The 24/7 Classic Uplift bra fit our 34A, 34F, and 36D testers equally well, and they gave it ratings of four, five, and five (out of five), respectively.
The plunging neckline doesn’t peek out of tops. True to its name, the 24/7 Classic Uplift bra has a deep V-shape that remains incognito under low-cut tops. One of our testers, who typically wears a 34A, loved the 24/7 Classic Uplift’s “taller, more angular cups.”
It has removable pads. The 24/7 Classic Uplift bra comes with a pair of small oval pads that you can tuck into a slot in the lower portion of each cup for just a bit of extra oomph.
In theory, the pads could also help create symmetry if you have uneven breasts, since you can wear just one. How effective that actually is depends on lots of factors, including the size difference between your breasts and how your breast tissue is distributed. (It didn’t work particularly well for our size 36D lopsided tester, who ultimately preferred to forgo the pads altogether.)
This bra is so lightweight that you’ll probably forget you’re wearing it, yet its underwire band and wide straps provide plenty of support. The thin, silky material shows sweat easily, but it comes out in the wash.
Cuup’s The Scoop is an unpadded bra that delivers a natural look but with the support of underwire. All of our testers, who wear various sizes, found something to like about it. In choosing this bra, you get more lift and separation than you would wearing a bralette or going au naturel, yet it still feels as light as air.
It has a barely there look and feel. The Scoop’s silky, unlined cups are so lightweight that it almost feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. Testers with smaller bra sizes, in particular, praised its slinky, minimal design, and our 34A tester rated it a five out of five.
The Scoop disappears well under clothing. Its band is smooth and seamless, and its wide, thin straps lie flat on the shoulders; it’s especially good underneath tank tops or thin blouses. Plus, it comes in an inclusive range of six nude hues.
It’s light, but it doesn’t sacrifice support. Despite its airy feel, this Cuup bra has structure. Its adjustable band and sturdy underwire keep breasts lifted, separated, and supported, and its wide, adjustable straps add to its comfort.
Even testers with larger busts found it secure and supportive—our 34F tester rated it a four out of five. Another tester, who wears a 36D, marveled, “I rarely get to rock the more natural look, but I can with this bra, because of the well-built band and straps. The cups aren’t molded, but they still lift and shape in a really flattering way.”
It’s well constructed. The Scoop has a luxurious, high-quality feel. Most of the stitching is hidden on the underside of the bra, creating a sleek, smooth silhouette, and our testers didn’t find any loose threads or uneven stitching. Though this bra’s satiny, polyamide-blend material is thin—and showed sweat and deodorant stains easily—it retained its shape well and didn’t stretch out throughout the day, as unlined bras tend to do.
This budget-friendly bra creates a smooth, defined silhouette and comfortably supports breasts through whatever the day throws at you. The deep cups made it one of our favorite bras for larger busts, so it’s a bummer that the sizing doesn’t go beyond an F cup.
The Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra is a pleasure to wear all day long, especially if you have larger breasts or just prefer fuller coverage and more support. Our testers appreciated its sturdy construction, easy-to-adjust straps, and stylish criss-cross design. And it’s a bargain, to boot: This is one of our least expensive picks.
It’s supportive and pillowy soft. Wearing this bra feels like curling up in a favorite armchair—it’s made from a smooth microfiber fabric that’s supple and inviting, with lightly lined, molded cups that gently cradle breasts. The underwire supports without digging into skin, and the sleek, stretchy band lies perfectly flat.
Its deep cups are great for larger breasts. The Base bra’s full-coverage silhouette keeps you comfortably contained, with no spillage over the tops and sides of the cups. Our testers who wear sizes 34F and 42D rated it four and five (out of five), respectively.
It worked well for smaller sizes, too. Our 34A tester enjoyed wearing it on days when she wanted more coverage; she rated it a five.
Adjusting it is easy. Cleverly, the strap-adjustment sliders for the Base bra are located on the front rather than the back, so you can move them up and down without having to reach behind your back. (This design should be standard.)
A small hook on the back of the bra allows you to switch the slender straps into a racerback design to create extra support or to keep them from sliding down your shoulders.
Stylish details set it apart. The gore (the part of the bra that joins the two cups) has a unique, criss-cross design. It adds some visual flair but also helps to keep the band flat against the body and to keep the breasts separated and defined. Finally, though the Base bra is definitely full-coverage—no chance of a nip-slip here—its deep neckline and wide-set straps stay hidden under low-cut tops and allow for some airflow.
This pull-on, wire-free bralette is made for relaxing. It’s constructed of smooth, pleasantly stretchy material that gently swaddles the body and provides medium support—but it’s not adjustable, and it can have a boob-flattening effect.
For the ultimate in comfort and ease, nothing beats a bralette. The Harper Wilde Bliss Bralette offers the best combination of comfort, coverage, style, and quality that we’ve found. It’s ideal for lounging—or even sleeping—but it’s also supportive enough to wear when you’re out and about.
Since we first published this guide, Harper Wilde has come out with the Bliss Triangle Bralette, which is made from the same sumptuously soft fabric as the original Bliss but is cut in a deeper, flattering V-shape. We’ve begun testing the Bliss Triangle, and we already like it just as much as, if not more than, the classic Bliss style; it does a better job of defining and separating the breasts, and it has adjustable straps.
It’s soft and stretchy. The Bliss bralette’s silky-smooth nylon-elastane microfiber fits like a second skin. “It’s classy-looking and comfortable,” said one panelist, who wears a 36D. It comes in three shades of nude as well as black, so many people can find a shade to match their skin tone.
It offers medium support. Our testers, who wear sizes 34A, 34F, 36D, and 42D, all raved about the Bliss bralette’s performance, giving it overall scores of five, four, five, and five (out of five), respectively. The wide, stretchy band offers more support than you get from a typical bralette—though if you have heavy breasts, the Bliss bralette is probably better for loafing around than gallivanting.
The Bliss bralette is far less constricting than a sports bra, and its curvy seaming is flattering and creates less uniboob than other, similarly styled bralettes. But it does flatten breasts a bit, and it doesn’t define, separate, or enhance. One Wirecutter staffer who otherwise liked this bra attempted to troubleshoot the issue by wearing it with her own removable cups, to no avail—the ultra-slinky material caused the cups to keep shimmying their way out.
It has an elegant cut. The Bliss bralette offers full coverage, but its plunging neckline and back make it more wearable under low-cut tops than many other bralettes. It does peek out from wide or particularly deep necklines, however.
This is a pull-on style, so it doesn’t have any finicky hardware, and its under-bust seam provides a light lift.
It’s nicely made. The stitching on the Bliss bralette is straight and even, and the seams around the arm holes, neckline, and band lie flat and blend in fluidly with the rest of the material, so they’re barely visible through clothing. After multiple washes and wears in our tests, the Bliss bralette looked practically new.
This sultry, sophisticated wire-free bralette is made of a fine, peekaboo mesh that’s soft and stretchy. Unlike many bralettes, it has an adjustable band and straps that allow you to fine-tune the fit, but it provides only light support.
The Negative Sieve Non-Wire Bra is a sultry take on a lounge bralette that offers just a smidgen more lift than going braless. It’s an appealing option if you don’t need a ton of support but don’t want to ditch bras altogether. Plus, its sheer mesh and clean lines give it a sexy, modern look that’s pretty hard to resist.
It’s see-through and unlined. The Sieve bralette is constructed from a single layer of luxe-feeling fine mesh that reveals a hint of nipple. It has a gently V-shape neckline and is minimally structured, with no wires, pads, or lining. A thin seam down the center helps to define and separate breasts, and side seams add some subtle shaping.
It’s light and breathable. The mesh fabric is durable but delicate, slightly stretchy, and quite comfortable against the skin. One tester said this bralette reminded her of the barely there ballet bras she used to wear as a dancer. The seams around the arms, band, and neckline are cleanly stitched and lie flat, and the thin, ribbonlike straps are made from a sturdy, silky fabric.
It offers minimal support. The Sieve bralette provides a featherlight lift, making some small breasts look perky. Our 34A tester loved the fit and gave it a score of five out of five. Another Wirecutter staffer, who wears a 36A or 36B depending on the brand, had a different experience, as she found that this bralette’s lack of heft had the effect of gently smothering her breasts rather than boosting them, making them appear smaller and lower. The thin, stretchy band and ribbonlike straps don’t offer much lift for large boobs, and our 36D tester didn’t find the Sieve bralette supportive enough.
The straps are adjustable, and the band has four rows of hooks, so you can get a more customized fit than with some other bralettes we tested.
With sizes starting at 34C, this bra comes in larger options than any other wire-free bralette we tested, and its band and straps are adjustable for a customized fit. Because it’s so sturdy and structured, you may notice its pronounced seams under tighter clothing.
If you have large breasts, you might have given up on the quest to find a wire-free bralette that can give you enough coverage and support. But the Soma Embraceable Full Coverage Wireless Unlined Bra is that unicorn: soft, smooth, and blissfully underwire-free, with the sturdy construction and adjustability necessary to comfortably accommodate a bigger bust.
It’s simultaneously supportive and wire-free. The Embraceable bralette is structured enough to lift and shape bigger breasts without digging or discomfort. The support comes from its wide band and sturdily constructed straps. Unlike most bralettes, the Embraceable bralette has three rows of hooks on the band and sliders on the straps, so you can adjust it for a correct, secure fit. It’s available in cup sizes from C to H and band sizes from 34 to 44—a wider range of larger sizes than most of our picks.
Our testers, wearing sizes 34F and 42D, gave it scores of five and four (out of five), respectively. “I don’t do underwires, and this bra gives me great support without one,” said senior staff writer Rose Maura Lorre, who wears a size 38DD.
As the name promises, it feels like a soft hug. The Embraceable bralette is as comfy as any of our bralette picks—which is to say, very. Its breathable nylon-spandex material has the velvety texture of microsuede, and the wide, stretchy band is made from brushed elastic for extra softness.
It gives you a natural, streamlined silhouette. The neckline of the Embraceable bralette plunges into a deep V, which flows into a pronounced center seam that creates a bit of extra separation between the breasts. The seaming can be visible under some thinner clothing.
The cups, though fully opaque, are unlined and unmolded. “This bra gives my boobs a natural shape without making them look bigger,” said one Wirecutter staffer, who wears a 38DD. A thin sling of fabric sewn into the outer corner of each cup provides some side-boob shaping, while the full-coverage, leotard-style back helps to smooth out lumps and bulges.
This supportive, silky-feeling bra effectively flattens a full bust—which is the main point of a minimizer—and it’s more comfortable and less restrictive than other minimizers we tried. Plus, it’s a total bargain.
Minimizer bras are not known for their exquisite comfort. When it comes to this notoriously tough-to-shop category, we still aren’t convinced that a perfect choice exists, but the Bali Passion for Comfort Underwire Bra is the closest we’ve found. It provides a lot of hold, but it’s loads comfier than the other minimizers we tried. It’s also refreshingly inexpensive.
It’s the most comfortable minimizer we tested. Minimizers smooth the appearance of fuller busts by flattening and redistributing breast tissue rather than emphasizing cleavage. Overall, our panelists didn’t love wearing this type of bra—none of them wear minimizers in their daily lives. But of the styles in this category that we tried, the Passion for Comfort bra was by far the favorite.
Whereas many minimizers are restrictive, this one feels more like a regular bra while still fulfilling its purpose.
The Passion for Comfort bra has unpadded, lightly lined cups made from sleek, lustrous nylon-spandex fabric that’s soft and breathable against the skin, and its straps and band are pleasantly stretchy. Our testers, wearing sizes 34F, 36D, and 42D, gave it overall scores of four, three, and three (out of five), respectively.
It’s also the most attractive minimizer we found. A lot of minimizers look a tad old-fashioned, but the Passion for Comfort bra looks contemporary. Though it’s understated, it has a touch of lace detailing on the straps and gore.
The scooped neckline allows it to work well under most tops, and the under-bust seam is hidden inside the cups, so it stays smooth and is less visible through clothing.
This bra comes in more than a dozen colors and patterns—the most of any of our picks.
It’s sturdily constructed for a supportive fit. The bra’s encased underwire and extra-wide straps provide lots of support for larger busts, and its strong, strategically placed seams hold breasts firmly in place. Cup sizing starts at C. The band has three rows of hooks and is available in a wide range of sizes (from 34 to 44), and the straps are also adjustable for a secure fit.
As research for this guide, we interviewed Cora Harrington, author of In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie; Jaclyn Fredenburg, an instructor at Fashion Institute of Technology who specializes in undergarments; Dr. Andrea Madrigrano, a breast surgeon at Rush University Medical Center; and Holly Powell, owner of The Pencil Test, a lingerie store in Portland, Oregon.
We also spoke with Doug Farmer, an end-use research fellow at The Lycra Company at the time of our interview; Majid Sarmadi, PhD, a professor of materials science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Human Ecology; and Colleen Hill, a museum curator at FIT and author of Exposed: A History of Lingerie.
A great bra can make you feel more confident and comfortable. If your current bra is less supportive than it used to be, or your size has changed, it’s time for a new one.
Jaclyn Fredenburg, an FIT instructor who specializes in undergarments, told us that a bra can help with posture, back pain, and even breathing. “For large-busted women, the right bra will help get the weight of the breast tissue off of the rib cage,” said Fredenburg.
Bras also help prevent sweat from accumulating beneath the bust, which can cause rashes or sores, noted breast surgeon Dr. Andrea Madrigrano. And, of course, bras play an aesthetic role, accentuating curves and providing nipple coverage.
In addition to the bras we recommend here, we have separate guides to the best sports bras, nursing bras, and pumping bras. For chest binders, Reviewed, Bustle, and The Lingerie Addict offer some good suggestions, and you can check out options for trans-friendly or gender-neutral bras, limited-mobility adaptive bras, or mastectomy bras.
We began by considering hundreds of bras, pitting industry titans such as Bali and Wacoal against startups like Cuup and Harper Wilde.
To narrow the field, we interviewed seven experts, pored over retailer websites, and scoured online reviews and forums, including the passionate A Bra That Fits subreddit.
We concluded that our bra picks should tick the following boxes:
Because no two boobs are alike—even your own—we recruited a panel of Wirecutter staffers to help with testing. Our main panelists wore sizes 34A, 34F, 36D, and 42D; at least two of our four testers tried on each bra, wearing it for at least an hour. They assessed factors such as comfort, fit, support, construction, and style, and they gave each bra an overall rating from one to five, with five being the highest.
Since we first published this guide, we have continued to test bras and solicit feedback from Wirecutter staffers.
If you want an affordable, smoothing bra that comes in lots of colors: The Aerie Smoothez Full Coverage Lightly Lined Bra is made of a soft, nylon-elastane material with smooth, barely visible seams. It has supportive underwire and an adjustable band, and it comes in cup sizes from A to DDD, band sizes from 32 to 42 inches, and more than a dozen colors.
If you want a sexy, splurgy lace bra: The Journelle Anais Plunge Bra is a pricey, exquisitely beautiful bra wrapped in fine Leavers lace (one of the most expensive types of lace). It has a kitten-soft velveteen lining, and it’s as supportive as it is beautiful, though it can get a little itchy. This bra used to be an official pick, but it comes in a limited range of band sizes, from 30 to 36, and although its cup sizing goes up to a G, the largest cup size available with a 36-inch band is a D. We also found that it runs small.
If you want a sheer mesh bra with support: Like our Negative Sieve Non-Wire Bra pick, the Negative Sieve Demi Bra is made from fine, airy mesh material—but this version offers the extra lift of an underwire. Though we preferred the ease of the wire-free version, the Sieve Demi Bra is still stretchy and surprisingly comfortable. It flattered a variety of breast shapes in our testing, but its sizing (B to G cup, 32- to 40-inch band) is a little limited.
If you want to stock up on everyday bras from a favorite brand: We liked every bra that we tested from ThirdLove, maker of our ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Uplift Plunge Bra pick. The ThirdLove 24/7 Perfect Coverage Bra is a full-coverage bra with wide, sturdy straps, while the ThirdLove 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra is a lightweight, everyday bra with pleated straps. Neither felt quite as versatile as the 24/7 Classic Uplift bra, but they’re both well-made, supportive, soft, and comfortable. They’re available in a wide range of sizes: The Perfect Coverage bra comes in B to H cup sizes and a 32- to 44-inch band, while the Classic T-Shirt bra ranges from A to H cup and from 32 to 44 inches.
If you want a pull-on T-shirt bra that offers light shaping: The Aerie Sunnie Wireless Lightly Lined Bra delivers the shaping and definition of a more structured bra but feels more like a bralette. Without an underwire, hooks, or visible seams, it lies flat and doesn’t show under formfitting clothing. This bra was a former pick, but in subsequent tests we’ve found that it’s not supportive enough for large breasts, and the non-adjustable and not particularly stretchy band can feel tight and uncomfortable. It comes in four colors (including only one light shade of nude), cup sizes from A to DDD, and band sizes from 30 to 40 inches.
If you want a selection of basic, comfortable, and inexpensive wire-free bras: The stretchy, unstructured Bali Comfort Revolution ComfortFlex Fit Wirefree Bra, the pull-on Bali Comfort Revolution Easylite Seamless Bralette (also called the Easylite Wirefree Bra), and the softly shaping Bali Double Support Soft Touch Back Smoothing Wirefree Bra, which has adjustable straps, are the height of comfort. They’re supple and soft, so they’re perfect for lounging, and they come in many colors and sizes. However, they’re a bit dowdy compared with our wire-free picks.
If you want a cute and comfy lace bralette that comes in a wide range of sizes: The Cosabella Never Say Never Sweetie Bralette comes in petite, curvy, and extended sizes (to fit cup sizes A to L and band sizes 28 to 42 inches) and myriad colors, and it is one of the most comfortable lace bras we tested. Although the band is wire-free and non-adjustable, the bralette’s broader-than-average straps provide a surprising amount of support. We preferred the shapes of our bralette picks, which provide more lift, but this one remains a solid option.
If you want an adjustable bralette with a deep plunge: The Everlane Invisible Bra is made from a smooth, stretchy material similar to that of our Harper Wilde Bliss Bralette pick. The Invisible bralette has a supportive, 2-inch-wide band and provides plenty of coverage despite its deep-plunging V neckline. Unlike the Bliss bralette, it has pleasantly sturdy, adjustable straps—a nice feature. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive. Our main complaint is its limited selection of colors (four) and sizes (from XXS to XXL, roughly equivalent to 30AA to 40D).
If you want a smoothing, adjustable bra with gently molded cups: Put on the Natori Bliss Perfection Contour Soft Cup Bra, and you’ll forget you’re wearing it—it’s terrific. Across the board, our testers enjoyed this bra’s smoothing double-layered fabric, ballet back, and gently contoured cups, which produced a flattering silhouette. Alas, the lace wasn’t attached securely enough to the band; during testing, we noticed that it started to pull away from the bra. This bra is available in 10 colors, but its sizing (A to DDD cup, 30- to 38-inch band) is fairly limited.
If you want a stretchy, seamless bralette with removable padding: The True & Co. True Body Lift Scoop Neck Bra has a shape that flatters numerous body types, as well as removable padding in the cups, but we wish it had an adjustable band and straps. It’s made of a stretchy, liquid-like fabric that has few seams, making it especially comfortable to wear.
If you want an ultrasoft, gently boosting push-up bra (that’s inexplicably headed for extinction): The True & Co. True Body Wirefree Push Up Bra was a previous pick for the best push-up bra. Unfortunately, it’s being phased out, but it’s still available on Amazon at this writing. (So get to steppin’.) This comfortable, wire-free push-up doesn’t create dramatic cleavage, but it lifts and highlights curves without feeling corset-like. Its padded cups are pillowy soft, and its silky-smooth material conforms seamlessly to the body. It comes in cup sizes from A to DDD and band sizes from 32 to 40.
The Cacique Smooth Boost Plunge Bra and the Cacique Smooth Lightly Lined Balconette Bra both come in a truly impressive range of sizes, as the Plunge is available in B to G and 34 to 50 inches while the Balconette comes in B to K and 34 to 54 inches. However, the fabrics on both felt rigid to our testers.
The Cosabella Soire Confidence Molded Underwire Bra is available in a dazzling array of 17 colors, but our 36D tester found its material to be scratchy and its shape unflattering.
The sheer mesh fabric of Cuup’s The Balconette bra felt slightly rough, and most of our testers didn’t find the shape sufficiently flattering.
We tried two unlined lace styles from Journelle: the Leavers lace Isabel Balconette Bra and the Helanca lace Romy Demi Bra. They’re lovely, but they aren’t as comfortable as the Journelle Anais Plunge Bra, and they come in limited sizes (A to G cup; 30- to 36-inch band for the Isabel and 30- to 38-inch band for the Romy).
Our testers gave the Lively T-Shirt Bra an average score of one out of five overall, noting that it was constricting and uncomfortable to wear.
The Soma Vanishing 360 Perfect Coverage Bra comes in a wide variety of sizes (cup sizes A to G, 32- to 42-inch band) and 10 colors, but in our tests the cups showed through tops more obviously than those of other full-coverage bras, and the materials felt bulky and inexpensive.
The Cosabella Soire Confidence Bralette and the Cosabella Soire Confidence Curvy Bralette are available in a wide range of colors (17 and 15, respectively) and sizes. But their fabrics were among the roughest we encountered, and their triangular cups were unflattering.
The Hanky Panky Supima Cotton Padded Bralette comes in a narrow range of colors and sizes, topping out at a size medium (approximately 36B). Plus, its thin straps and band provided hardly any support: A representative for the company told us that even the large size bras were not supportive enough for people who wear anything above a B cup.
We didn’t like how the seams on the front of the Lively Mesh Trim Bralette and the Lively Busty Bra showed through most tops. Still, most of our testers found them comfortable and easy to wear, and between the two variations you have plenty of size options to choose from.
The Soma Enbliss Racerback Bralette is especially comfy, and its fabric is soft and stretchy; we also liked its removable pads. However, its high-cut neckline was strangely ill-fitting on all of our testers, and the sizing ran very small.
The Victoria’s Secret Lightly Lined Wireless Bra comes in a fairly wide range of sizes (A to G cup, 32- to 44-inch band) and more than 60 colors and prints. But our testers gave it a relatively low overall average score of three (out of five), reporting fit and flattening issues.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter.
The experts we consulted recommend owning a minimum of three everyday bras. That way, you have one to wear, one to let rest—allowing the elastic to recover—and one to launder.
Beyond those staples, consider other additions according to your lifestyle and budget. If you attend lots of formal events, a strapless style may be in order. If you’re a runner, you need sports bras.
A bra’s longevity depends on multiple factors, including how you launder it and how often you wear it. That said, you can expect to replace your bras about every six to 12 months.
Beyond that, if your size has changed, if your bra is stretched out, frayed, or dingy, or if it feels less supportive than it used to be, you’re probably better off investing in a new one.
Yes, like-new or gently used bras can be donated; check to see if your local women’s shelters or other charitable organizations accept them. The Bra Recyclers and Free the Girls offer drop-off locations across the US.
If your bras are threadbare, stretched out, or no longer wearable, consider a bra recycling program. Harper Wilde, which makes two of our picks in this guide, offers a bra recycling program that you can utilize even if you haven’t bought anything from the company, and it accepts any brand’s bras or underwear.
Cora Harrington, author of “In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie” and founder of The Lingerie Addict blog, phone interview, May 8, 2020
Holly Powell, owner of The Pencil Test lingerie shop, phone interview, May 15, 2020
Jaclyn Fredenburg, Fashion Institute of Technology instructor, phone interview, May 18, 2020
Colleen Hill, Fashion Institute of Technology museum curator and author of “Exposed: A History of Lingerie”, phone interview, May 20, 2020
Dr. Andrea Madrigrano, breast surgeon at Rush University Medical Center, phone interview, June 12, 2020
Doug Farmer, The Lycra Company end-use research fellow, email interview, January 27, 2021
Majid Sarmadi, PhD, University of Wisconsin School of Human Ecology professor, phone interview, January 27, 2021
Zoe Vanderweide is a staff writer reporting on style and accessories at Wirecutter. She has been wearing things for over three decades, and she has spent years covering streetwear, luxury, art, and design. Off the clock, you can find her painting the town rainbow with her (devastatingly stylish) daughter.
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