The 8 Best Bralettes of 2024 That Don’t Skimp on Support, Tested & Reviewed
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Zero bra-changing is required as you go from couch to office.
InStyle / Reese Harrington
Bralettes are like the more relaxed, free-spirited, and easygoing sister to the standard bra or strapless bra Stylist and former InStyle fashion editor Samantha Sutton-Fetch explains that “the main benefit of a bralette is to provide a decent amount of support while still being comfortable and easy to wear.” Although they come with less structure, wires, and padding, we found many that matched Sutton-Fetch’s description by scouring the internet for the best-rated bralettes. We then sent 16 of them to our esteemed team of editors. Two people tested each piece, one with a smaller chest and one with a bigger chest. By evaluating how comfortable, supportive, and lifting each item was, we narrowed down our initial list to the 8 best bralettes.
While it was no surprise to find comfortable bralettes on petite chests, we were extra pleased to find some that were supportive of DDs as well. There were even bralettes so comfortable that we could sleep in them. So forget the old narrative that they are just dainty little pieces of fabric, intended to only cover the nips. Bralettes have evolved to serve multiple purposes, cover various chest sizes, and still be the less-structured, more laid-back sister to the wired bra.
Our Testing By The Numbers
Hours of Testing: 448
Type of Testing: Real world, with two testers for each bralette ranging in size from A–DD+
Factors Considered: Fit, support, quality, comfort, and adjustability
Ratings: The winning options had an average rating of at least 4.5
Experts Interviewed: 3
Best Overall: Commando Butter Soft Support Adjustable Bralette
What We Love: The material is so soft and comfortable that we actually fell asleep in it.
What We Don’t Love: The full-coverage bra would sometimes peek out from under clothes when worn under low-cut shirts.
For our best overall selection, we searched for something equal parts supportive, comfortable, and inclusive in size. The Commando Butter Soft-Support bralette lived up to its name, with a fabric that is so ridiculously soft, we even slept in it. This isn’t your traditional bralette, though — it comes with removable pads, a back hook closure, and adjustable straps.
The scoop-neck also offers more support than many triangle-shaped bralettes do, which is why we loved how it fit a larger chest size (DD+). The everyday bralette didn’t show any cleavage either because it didn’t scoop too low, which conversely made it difficult to wear low-cut shirts and spaghetti-strapped tops. Still, the thicker straps gave our chests a little lift without ever digging into our shoulders. The bra also layered under clothing very well, as our tops lay over the soft fabric perfectly. In the end, we felt as though this may be the only bralette with enough support to actually replace some of our standard bras.
Material: Modal, elastane | Size: XS–XL | Color: 4 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one has a cup size between A–D. She mainly wears bralettes, calling them her "go-to" because she works from home. She prefers full-coverage fits, but prioritizes comfort over everything. She tried this bralette in an M.
Tester Two
Tester two has a DD+ cup size. She doesn't typically wear bralettes because she describes her breasts as large and heavy and prefers the support of a regular bra. But she also puts comfort above everything. She tried this bralette in an XL.
Best for Small Breasts: Kalon Women’s 4-Pack Demi Padded Bralette Wireless Comfortable Bra
What We Love: It’s a low-cut style, which makes it easy to wear underneath all kinds of tops.
What We Don’t Love: The band portion begins to slide up after a few hours of wear.
Considering bralettes are the less supportive sister to the traditional bra, it makes sense that people with smaller breasts gravitate to the style more. We found the Kalon padded bralette to be quite minimalist in terms of coverage and shape, so it didn’t feel bulky. We felt like the bralette was doing the most with as little material as possible, which simply worked on small breasts because it fit our busts correctly (no gaping or excess fabric hanging around).
We also appreciated that this one comes with adjustable clasps in the back and adjustable straps as well, to help customize the fit. The fabric also stretched along our bodies and whipped back into its original shape after tossing it into the dryer.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XS–XXL | Color: 15 | Coverage: Mid
Tester One
Tester one only wears bralettes. She finds underwire bras too restrictive and because she has smaller breasts, she doesn't care too much about support. She tried this bralette in an M/L.
Tester Two
Tester two has larger breasts, but she does not like underwire bras because she finds them uncomfortable. She tried this bralette in a S/M and did not like how it fit, recommending it for those with smaller busts.
Best for Large Busts: Wacoal Soft Sense Bralette
What We Love: The double-lined mesh in the cups gave our girls a good amount of coverage.
What We Don’t Love: The lace tends to show from underneath your clothes.
Yes, supportive and cute bralettes exist for bigger busts as well. Sapna Palep, CEO of luxury lingerie brand Journelle, explains that the “key is to make sure you are in the proper size, as the support comes from the band, rather than the wires.” This bralette from Wacoal, made with larger breasts in mind, starts from a size small, which according to their size guide, reflects a bra size of 32D/DD.
Decked out in lace from the band to the straps, the bra looks as beautiful as it is functional. It covers the chest in a traditional bra shape (rather than a sports bra). We were quite pleased with how the double mesh lining in the cups created a supportive fit. On our large bust and small rib-caged body, the bra sizing fit miraculously well. Nothing ever dug, itched, or felt uncomfortable in any way while wearing this. The only thing we noticed was that the lace was not easy to hide. On any shirt with an open front, the lace poked out from the sides.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: S–2XL | Color: 5 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one wears bralettes almost always, unless her top calls for a more supportive option or she plans to attend a more formal function. She puts comfort above everything, but she also prefers to buy options that she can wear in public also, noting she dislikes when bralettes show through a top or are too revealing. She tried this bra in an S.
Tester Two
Tester two never wore a bralette before this one. She likes comfortable options, but typically goes for a sports bra or regular bra for the support they offer her larger chest. She tried this bralette in an XL.
InStyle
Best with Padding: Victoria's Secret Love Cloud Smooth Straight-Neck Lounge Bra
What We Love: There’s padding across the entire front of the bra, giving us extra support.
What We Don’t Love: The top slightly gapped on occasion.
Forget the wires with this bralette, which features a bandeau-style straight neck, lightly lined cups, and thin straps for additional support. The whole experience of wearing it felt smooth and seamless. There’s padding across the entirety of the front, which felt quite unique, but it gave the support we lusted after. Aside from the occasional gaping at the front, it hugged the chest quite well and kept our busts under control during bigger movements. The straight neck was also unlike traditional bralettes, but it made it possible to wear with a plethora of tops without any problems — maybe just not deep V-neck shirts, though.
However, both casual wear and more professional garments were layered on top of this bra and created a seamless silhouette. The sizing guide is a little unique here as well. For every size, be it small or medium, there’s a DD version. In other words, there is a “small” and a “small DD.” This makes it easy to match your sizing online and was a bonus missing in all other brands.
Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: XS–XL, DD versions | Color: 4 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one does not own a regular bra and exclusively wears bralettes. She likes bralettes that feel comfortable and supportive. She will toss a bralette if the straps fall down at any point, so she looks for security, too. She tried this bra in an M.
Tester Two
Tester two occasionally wears bralettes, but she prefers ones that still feel supportive on top of comfortable. She dislikes underwires typically, which is why she often chooses something wireless. She tried this bralette in an M.
InStyle
Best Plus-Size: Harper Wilde Bliss Bralette
What We Love: The bra provides ample amounts of support.
What We Don’t Love: It runs a little snug, which becomes slightly uncomfortable after a few hours.
There are two things this bra is great for: using it as a micro top to lounge around in and getting great support during light exercises. Because the wide band and straps held everything up nicely, it hugged our rather large chests into a reassuring embrace. We never worried about any accidental spillage or needing to adjust the bra midday.
It offered medium compression and kept our chests packed in thanks to the double-lined fabric. We did find it a bit of a hassle to slip into, however, as it didn’t come with a back clasp like on the Commando piece. We had to pull it over our heads, and due to its tightness, made us perform the wiggle dance to get into it. It is the tiniest bit too snug if you follow their size guide, so it wouldn’t hurt to size up.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–4XL | Color: 11 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one typically goes braless because she has smaller breasts, but when she does want some support or nipple coverage, she'll pick a bralette. She tried this bralette in an XL.
Tester Two
Tester two has a DD+ cup size and rarely goes braless, yet she simultaneously hates bras. She prefers anything without an underwire and prioritizes comfort. She wore this bra in a M.
InStyle
Best Full-Coverage: Lively The Busty Bralette
What We Love: The bra allowed us to wear just about anything over it without peeking from underneath.
What We Don’t Love: The sizing is limited and the band can feel a bit too snug.
Finally, a triangle bra that also provides full coverage: the Lively Busty Bralette. Made specifically for women with larger breasts, the full cups prevent spillage, especially on our DD chests, thanks to its double-lined material that stretches over the entire breast and has an additional strap in the middle, connecting the two panels together.
The adjustable straps and three band lengths allowed us to adjust the snugness of the bra, too. We found the sizing to be a bit challenging to decipher, though, and wish it came in more than three choices for a more precise fit. On the other hand, washing didn’t cause it to stretch, shrink, or pill, which we were grateful for. Knowing we can rely on this bralette to maintain its shape at all times felt like a huge relief.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 1–3 | Color: 8 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one prefers regular bras and sports bras because she prioritizes support. She thinks bralettes are more comfortable than most bras and likes the style of bralettes, too. She wore a size 1.
Tester Two
Tester two never wore a bralette before she tried this one. She typically wears a regular bra or sports bra, if she wants something more comfortable and supportive. She wore a size 2.
InStyle
Best Seamless: Bombas Women's Ribbed Seamless Bralette
What We Love: The material is extremely stretchy and comfortable, molding around the body.
What We Don’t Love: It’s not extremely supportive.
For lounging around the house, we recommend this seamless, full-coverage bralette from Bombas, which we consider a cousin to the sports bra — only with less padding, seams, and a scoop neck. The ribbed material (which, by the way, never pilled in the wash) made it extra stretchy, molding around our bodies as we moved. But because there is no underwire, the only support comes from the full coverage and the straps, which we were able to adjust in sizing and crisscross into a racerback. It did make it harder to pair with going-out shirts unless we were in some athleisure like hoodies and leggings because it would easily show from underneath. While it didn’t give superb support, it did keep the ladies collected and fitted to run some errands around town.
When we followed the size guide, we found the recommended option to be a bit too large. Considering how stretchy the material is, it’s better to size it down. With the right size, we completely forgot it was on once we slipped into the top.
Material: Nylon modal blend | Size: XS/S–2XL | Color: 6 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one wears bralettes almost every day. She looks for comfort first and foremost with her bras and bralettes. She tried this bralette in a medium.
Tester Two
Tester two wears bralettes occasionally. She has a larger bust, so she prioritizes support over everything and tends to lean towards underwires and padding. She tried this bralette in a large.
Best Supportive: Calvin Klein Invisibles Comfort Lightly Lined Triangle Bralette
What We Love: The bralette gave us enough support to wear to the office as well.
What We Don’t Love: Throwing it in the dryer revealed some fraying around the stitchings.
“Support” and “bralettes” are usually not two words you find pieced together in a sentence. While a bralette might not fully replace a full-support bra, we did find that the Calvin Klein seamless triangle bralette was the next best thing.
The two adjustable straps that meet in a racerback gave our girls a nice, gentle lift. The full-coverage front forms a soft V, and there are removable pads to suit either preference. The microfiber felt super soft against the skin and molded around our natural shape. We never worried about slipping out over the top or any accidental sideboob action; the bralette kept everything nicely tucked in, even when we wore it for a full day at the office. After a long day’s wear, we threw the bra into the washer and dryer, just to find the beginnings of some fraying around the stitchings. To elongate its life, we recommend sticking to hand washing.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–XL | Color: 15 | Coverage: Full
Tester One
Tester one wears push-up bras regularly, swapping it out for a bralette when she wants something a bit more comfortable. She wears bralettes for style, too. She tried this bralette in a small.
Tester Two
Tester two wears a bralette nearly every day. While she cares most about comfort, support is a close second because she has larger breasts. She tried this bralette in a large.
InStyle
What to Keep in Mind
Material: The number one material needed to make a bralette comfortable? Elastane, otherwise known as spandex. The stretch that these components provide is vital in molding around the breasts comfortably. You’ll find that every single one of the bralettes mentioned has this material sewn into the fabric. Combined with a softer material, like polyester or nylon, you’ll get a smooth and flexible bralette, fit to keep you snug during your lounging sessions. If you wish for something a little sturdier, options with nylon are a great fit. Other options are made of a modal blend, which is buttery-soft, strong, and breathable.
Padding: Traditionally, bralettes come without padding. However, you’ll find a few options within this list where removable pads are pocketed inside the cups. These are there for added security, should you need them, but are optional pieces to be removed if you don’t. When we wanted a little more nipple coverage or needed something more supportive on bigger chests, these removable pads truly came in handy. This is a great option for those in need of more comfortable support as well.
Support: Bralettes are generally the less supportive cousins of a typical bra since the priority is placed on comfort. With that said, our testers, especially our large cup-size reviewers, did find some great options for additional support. The ones with a clasp back and adjustable straps offered the most support.
Your Questions, Answered
What are the benefits of a bralette?
Bralettes are more versatile than you might think, says Sutton-Fetch. The garment goes beyond just a piece of lingerie, as “many can be worn on their own in place of a top.”
“Bralettes are traditionally less supportive than a regular bra, they tend to be more of a fashion-over-function choice,” bra fit specialist Kimmay Caldwell explains. However, in our test, we did find a number of supportive bralettes.
When should I wear a bralette over a traditional bra?
Traditional bras are fantastic for adding some padded coverage, wired support, and all-day lift. But when you want something a little more lounge-worthy, Palep recommends bralettes for a more comfortable fit and feel. “Since bralettes do not have wires in the cups, they are less binding and constricting than underwire bras.” They also offer “the feeling of being supported and covered, but not squeezed.”
While you might prefer something more structured to go to the office, Palep prefers bralettes for traveling, sleeping, and low-intensity workouts, such as yoga. They’re a great option for expecting moms as well, as the fabric adjusts with the wearer’s growing body, Caldwell points out.
What kind of tops can I wear with a bralette?
There’s truly no limitation on the kind of tops you can wear with bralettes. Sutton-Fetch has paired them with T-shirts, button-downs, and sweaters. However, they also provide good coverage under sheer and see-through designs. “Layering a similar color bralette under a mesh top will give you the coverage you’re looking for, and come across as both intentional and subtle,” she explains.
Caldwell agrees that they’re great for showing off as part of your outfit: “You can showcase the funky style or beautiful lace of a bralette,” she says, by incorporating them into your look. The Wacoal Soft Sense Bralette, for example, paired beautifully with low V-cuts that allowed the lace to peek through from beneath the shirt.
Why Shop With Us
Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer covering fashion and beauty products. To write this article, she dove into the reviews and experiences of our fashion editors who tried on every single pair of the mentioned products. She then consulted the following stylists and bra experts to get a deeper understanding of what to look for when shopping for bralettes:
Samantha Sutton-Fetch is a stylist and former InStyle fashion editor.
Sapna Palep is the CEO of Journelle.
Kimmay Caldwell is a bra fit specialist.
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Read the original article on InStyle.
