The 10 Best Bras For Older Women
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Time marches on, but these bras will support you no matter what.
Wacoal / Natori / Maidenform
You can add retinol to your skincare routine, you can try red light therapy to boost collagen production—but there’s only so much you can do to counteract gravity’s effect on your chest. Not only does the simple passage of time affect the shape of your breasts (yup, we’re talking about sagging), but major life events like breastfeeding or undergoing cancer treatment can take a toll. Plus, you may find it’s a lot more difficult to hook or adjust your bra as you lose a little flexibility and mobility in your shoulder joints.
Long story short, older women may not feel comfortable or supported in barely-there bralettes or clasp-heavy bras, says Alice Kim, a former Victoria’s Secret Buyer, Wacoal fit model, and founder of PerfectDD. “Older women need greater support as skin loses elasticity with age,” she explains. “So, the best bras for older women are ones that are easy to put on and take off and bras that marry comfort and support.”
We spent hours researching the best bras for older women to help you feel confident and supported. Whether you’re looking for a little lift or searching for a comfortable yet supportive wireless bra, we’ve got a trusted and expert-vetted recommendation for you.
Related: The 10 Best Boob Tapes to Lift and Go Bra-Less
These are the best bras for older women to shop now:
Best Bra for Older Women Overall: Maidenform One Fab Fit® Everyday Modern Demi Underwire Bra
What We Love
It has an excellent color selection, including nudes and fun patterns.
What We Don’t Love
Offers a little more coverage than most demi cups.
Laura Tempesta, bra expert and founder of Bravolution, says, “as women age, they start to lose volume in the top of their breasts,” which she notes is called “top cup” in the industry. Because of this, she says that “full-coverage bras won’t work well for older women because the top of the bra cup will be hollow due to loss of volume.” She recommends looking for demi-cup or balconette styles for everyday bras because these types of cups do a great job of lifting and shaping breasts with shallow top cups.
Maidenform’s One Fab Fit is the original T-shirt bra, and it’s available in a demi underwire that checks a lot of boxes for older women. Designed with the brand’s SmartZone cup technology, the Everyday Modern Demi flexes to fit your breasts for better shaping and support. Pair that with an attractive price point, it’s a no fuss bra that’s still plenty sexy, and you won’t find yourself pulling and tugging at it throughout the day.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size Range: A - DD | Colors: 17 | Materials: Nylon, spandex
Best Splurge: Natori Feathers Bra - Basics
What We Love
It’s comfy enough for everyday wear but still plenty sexy.
What We Don’t Love
It runs a bit small.
For those looking for a lingerie splurge, Tempesta says the Natori Feathers bra is also great for a shallow top cup. At $72, it may be a bit pricey, but it's comfortable enough for everyday wear. The Feathers bra features the brand's signature Italian lace trim, a demi contour cup, a deep plunging neckline, and adjustable stretch straps. According to the website, the Feathers bra runs small, so if you're adding this to your shortlist, think about ordering one cup size up for a better fit.
Price at time of publish: $72
Size Range: A - DD | Colors: 9 | Materials: Nylon, lycra
Best Wireless: Simply Perfect by Warner's Women's Underarm Smoothing Seamless Wireless Bra
What We Love
The extra side panel beautifully smoothes underarm bulges.
What We Don’t Love
It offers coverage but no lift.
Underwire bras may not be the most comfortable clothing item in the world, and our guess is that women are just ready to ditch the discomfort at a certain age. But while tossing out anything with an underwire is totally applause-worthy, you still need to support the girls. So, to that end, the Simply Perfect bra by Warner's is an excellent wireless option for older women. This bra features easy sizing, so there's no worry about cup sizes and bands, an extra side panel minimizes underarm bulges, and it's comfortable enough for all-day wear. It doesn’t offer any lift, though, so be aware when you purchase.
Price at time of publish: $22
Size Range: S - XXL | Colors: 7 | Materials: Nylon, elastane
Related: The 10 Best Boob Tapes to Lift and Go Bra-Less
Best Sports Bra: SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra
What We Love
The front zip closure makes it easy to put on for anyone with limited mobility.
What We Don’t Love
The sizing is a bit confusing.
With wire-free, seamed cups for shaping and two-way stretch fabric that reduces bounce, this highly-rated sports bra by SheFit offers plenty of comfortable support. The crossback straps offer a bit of lift, while the full coverage bra itself will scoop everything in place. You can even remove the cups for a more customized fit. It features a front closure, so it’s also a great choice for those with limited mobility, whether those limitations are from age or an intense game of pickleball.
We find the sizing to be a bit confusing to understand off the bat, though. SheFit uses their own sizing, so we suggest using the handy size chart to make sure your measurements match up perfectly with the size you think will work best. It supports A-L cups, so you’re bound to find a size that fits you.
Price at time of publish: $75
Size Range: XS - 6Luxe | Colors: 8 | Materials: Liner: Nylon, spandex; Shell: Polyester; PowerMesh: Nylon, spandex
Related: The 8 Best Wireless Bras That Are Equal Parts Supportive and Comfortable, Tested and Reviewed
Best for Sagging: Wacoal La Femme Underwire T-Shirt Bra
What We Love
Deep plunge and embroidered frame.
What We Don’t Love
Limited color selection.
Sagging breasts are par for the course of aging. Whether your breasts are pendulous (a longer drop with more of the weight sitting closer to the nipple) or they have a shallow top and full bottom, a good bra can keep the girls looking high and tight. In either case, full coverage bras or t-shirt bras with contour cups are best.
For shallow top/full bottom breasts, try Wacoal’s La Femme Underwire T-Shirt Bra. The seamless foam cups lift your bust and give you a rounded shape, while the plunging neckline and embroidered frame keep it super sexy. The wire will get underneath the breast and keep it lifted. For more pendulous breasts, try the similar Elevated Allure Underwire Bra because it provides just a touch more lift. We only wish these two bras came in more colors.
Price at time of publish: $62
Size Range: B- H | Colors: 4 | Materials: Nylon, spandex, polyester
Best for Plus-Size: Chantelle Rive Gauche Full Coverage Unlined Bra
What We Love
It’s full-coverage but still sexy.
What We Don’t Love
The straps might be too thin for some.
Chantelle’s Rive Gauche Full Coverage Unlined Bra is an ultra-light, full-coverage bra with soft stretch that adjusts to your shape. Angled seaming on the cups supports your breasts and provides plenty of lift; plus, it centers the breast tissue (up to an I cup), ultimately creating the look of a longer, thinner waist. If that weren’t enough, the Rive Gauche bra also features a double-lined mesh band that smooths out your back and underarm bulges. Beyond that, the leotard (or U-shaped) back does the heavy-lifting to take the weight off your shoulders — a common complaint for many plus-size women. Some reviewers complain that the straps are a bit too thin. But support doesn’t come from the straps, so that comes down to personal preference.
Price at time of publish: $88
Size Range: D - I | Colors: 7 | Materials: 69% Polyamide, 29% Elastane, 2% Polyester
Related: 8 Types of Bras Every Woman Should Own
Best Strapless: Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Underwire Bra
What We Love
Because it’s designed to stay in place, the bra feels comfortable all day while addressing pain points like bulging and sagging.
What We Don’t Love
We wish it had a larger neutral shade range.
If you’re headed out for the night or enjoying the Summer sun in something strapless, Alice Kim recommends the Wacoal Red Carpet strapless bra. “The Red Carpet strapless has padded support on the center gore and the frame for superior comfort and no digging, the Silicone strip along the inside perimeter, while designed to stay put, it’s not sticky or painful, and the wings have boning on the side seam and back band for added support, so it doesn’t collapse,” says Kim. If that weren’t plenty, the band and sides are designed to minimize any bulging.
While the Red Carpet bra is strapless, it’s comfortable enough for everyday use, and should you decide to wear it as such, it comes with straps that convert it to a traditional bra, a halter, crisscross, and one-shoulder styles. Kim also notes that the Red Carpet, strapless, tends to run big, so you could size down by one cup size — we suggest trying it on in store first to figure out the best size for you.
We wish that the brand would expand their nude color options to be more inclusive.
Price at time of publish: $72
Size Range: B - I | Colors: 4 | Materials: Nylon, spandex
Best Front Closure: Spanx Bra-llelujah! Lightly Lined Full-Coverage Bra
What We Love: The front closure clasp makes it easy to get this bra on and off.
What We Don’t Love: The shoulder straps aren’t adjustable.
Taking your bra off shouldn’t feel like an Olympic sport, especially as you get older. Enter: front closure bras, like this one from Spanx. This bra is a cinch to put on and take off, no acrobatics or extra stretching required. We’re also impressed by the thought put into the back design of this bra; it’s made completely out of hosiery for a smoothing effect (read: no visible lines through your shirt), and there are even added “support” zones in the back to help prevent boob-induced back pain. Our only complaint is that the shoulder straps aren’t adjustable (although the “Smart Stretch” fabric claims to be self-adjusting); double-check your measurements and the size guide before order.
Price at time of publish: $68
Size Range: A - DD | Colors: 6 | Materials: Nylon, elastane
Best for Large Chests: Knix WingWoman Contour Bra
What We Love: This wireless bra doesn’t skimp on support.
What We Don’t Love: The sizing guide is confusing for first-time buyers.
You may think that “large chest” and “wireless bra” can’t co-exist, especially when your goal is to find a bra that lifts, separates, and supports. We’re thrilled to say the Knix WingWoman Contour Bra is one of the best bras for older women who have ample assets. It truly is the best of everything: low-cut but full-coverage, wireless but supportive, and comfortable yet modling. In particular, we loved that there was plenty of side coverage (no spilling over the cups), and the lined, molded cups guarded us from any nipple protrusion. The final effect looked elegant, smooth, and shapely. A word to the wise: Knix has a unique sizing system that can confuse new shoppers. You can, however, book a virtual fitting for expert advice.
Price at time of publish: $64
Size Range: A - G | Colors: 20 | Materials: Nylon, spandex
Best for Asymmetrical Breasts: ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Uplift Plunge Bra
What We Love: The removable pads help even out asymmetrical breasts due to breastfeeding or mastectomy.
What We Don’t Love: The cup lining is pretty thin.
As you get older, your breasts are more likely to be a bit uneven—especially if you’ve breastfed in the past or undergone a mastectomy. Of course, you can rock your asymmetrical look au natural, but if you’re self-conscious about it, the Third Love 24/7 Classic Uplift Plunge Bra offers an innovative solution. The removable pads (almost like what you’d find in a sports bra) help you adjust your cleavage until you’ve got your desired look. Third Love is also known for their half-sizes, giving you even more assistance in finding the perfect fit. Heads up, though: The cup lining is pretty thin, so a few things might poke through, if you follow.
Price at time of publish: $72
Size Range: AA - H | Colors: 13 | Materials: Nylon, spandex
What to Keep in Mind
Cup Size
Caitlyn Parish, co-founder and CDO of Cicinia says, “The first thing to consider when picking a new bra for an older woman is their size. She may have been wearing a 34C in her youth, but now she’s probably wearing a 32DD or 32E. A good rule of thumb is that you should never buy a smaller size than your current measurements. While this may make you appear more youthful, it also puts you at risk of suffering from poor posture and back pain when wearing the smaller size.”
Underband
Tempesta also suggests keeping an eye on the band of the bra. “If it’s riding up in the back, or you can pull it out away from your back more than three inches, the bra is likely too big,” she says. “Another sign of a band that’s too big is that you consistently hook it on the tightest hook. A band that’s too small is obvious to most wearers because it is on the loosest hook and uncomfortably snug.”
Elastics get stretchier with age. To improve longevity, Tempesta advises hooking the band on the loosest setting when you fit the bra. If you start on the loosest setting, you can move on to the middle hooks and eventually to the tightest setting as the bra ages.
Shoulder Straps
According to Tempesta, one of the most overlooked areas in bra fitting is a shoulder slope and shoulder width evaluation. She says, “If you have narrow and/or sloping shoulders, you should opt for racerback or X back styles because straight straps will likely fall off your shoulders.”
She goes on to say, “Your straps shouldn’t be adjusted the same on both sides. Most people have one shoulder higher than another. Adjusting them the same on both sides, if one shoulder is higher than another, means one strap will always be falling off your shoulder.”
Your Questions, Answered
What are the best materials to look for in a bra made for an older woman?
“Fabrications on bras are essential when it comes to selecting a bra,” says Gabrielle Richards. “If you’re looking for comfort and smoothing components, then bras with a polyester-elastane blend may be ideal as they will give you stretch and feel soft to touch. However, if you want bras with more intricate detailing like lace, then the percentage of nylon may be higher.”
Does my breast size change as I get older?
Your breasts change throughout your lifetime. Where they ultimately end up as you age is anyone’s guess. It’s not uncommon for women to find that the bra size they wore in their 30s doesn’t work for them in their 50s and 60s. Common factors that affect your breast size and shape are pregnancy, breastfeeding, pre-menopause, and menopause.
What size should I buy if my breasts are different sizes now?
Jenette Goldstein, founder and CEO of Jenette Bras, says, “Everybody’s [breasts are different sizes], but if the difference is significant, that does present a challenge. You’ll want to split the difference on the cup size and look for a slightly stretchy lace on the upper part of the cup that will lie flat on the smaller breast while expanding to hold the larger one.”
Why Shop With Us
Sharon Brandwein is a freelance writer and SEO specialist. She has vast experience reporting on lingerie and undergarments, having written numerous articles for InStyle already about undergarments. In addition to her own experience, she also interviewed a select group of experts — including Jenette Goldstein, founder and CEO of Jenette Bras, Caitlyn Parish, co-founder and CDO of Cicinia, Laura Tempesta, bra expert and founder of Bravolution, Gabrielle Richards, Sr. Brand Manager of Shapermint, and Alice Kim founder of PerfectDD — who shared their advice on how to select bras for your needs.
Related: The 12 Best (And Actually Supportive) Backless Bras That Will Stay in Place
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