Black bra required in every woman's wardrobe?

Anonymous

I recently read somewhere (sorry I don't remember where), that every woman should have at least:
-1 nude bra
-1 black bra

I understand the nude requirement, but why do you need a black bra?

I wonder if I'm missing something here.

7 years ago

Dressing

62 replies

Latest reply was from Jane

Anonymous

You're kidding , right? What do you wear under black and navy sweaters , t's , blouses etc ? Not trying to be cheeky - really. I wear pretty much ONLY black bras - with nude in a definite second place.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

A black bra is required in mine, especially if it has decorative, non bra- like straps, because I wear lots of tops in hot weather where a bra strap might show. I hate the look of nude straps showing. They look too much like underwear to me and not a polished look. Of course, any bra strap showing is not polished, but black looks better to me. A color would be better than nude. I also like sheer black blouses as not as deeply black as opaque and therefore a more flattering color. I wear a cami under them, but straps can still show through the sheer fabric, so I wear a black bra.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Agreeing with lisap.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I just wear a nude bra or nude cami under black or navy...
I guess I'll be doing some double checking tonight.

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Lisa. My husband actually kind of hates nude bras so I only wear them when I'm wearing a thin white top. Or when he isn't around.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I guess my rationale is, if it's the same colour as my skin, then it shouldn't show, regardless of the colour of the top.

7 years ago

Summer

Veteran

It depends what colours you are likely to wear on top, but both nude and black are staples for me: nude under white or very light colours, and black under dark.

7 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Nude and black are the only colours currently in my lingerie drawer. Black for under black and navy garments.

Also different bras for different types of clothing. I actually wear a minimizer under button downs. This reduces gaping where the shirt buttons.

7 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

I'm with you, smittie. I only had a black bra once in my life and I don't miss it. I've got colors and patterns and a few nude bras (which I'm itching to upgrade) and absolutely zero need for black. We're apparently in the tiny minority, though I'm still not understanding why.

7 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

With Lisa. I used to have only a white or nude bra but, in the past 2 decades, I find that I need a dark/black bra much more often. So I keep a supply of both.

7 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

Smittie, I agree that a bra that matches your skin tone works under anything. However, I don't love the look on me (even if only I and my family sees it), so I have black bras because they are so pretty against my pale skin (whereas the nude bras make me look pasty).

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

I always wear a dark (black or violet) bra under a dark top. (And I have a couple of dark sweaters and tops where it actually matters -- the lightness of a nude shows through the dark as lightness, which destroys the look.) Plus, I just love how a deeply colored bra looks. I have nude bras but I don't find them especially lovely.

7 years ago

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I only buy nude bras and underwear that closely match my skin tone. I think it presents the least opportunity to be seen in ANY situation other than those in which the bra is meant to be seen--like black under a semi-sheer black blouse.

Although, one time, a bra sales person said something to me that I'd never considered--she said that one should always wear white bras under white tee shirts and implied that the bra should show in order to...somehow?...provide evidence that you are wearing a bra? It just seemed so weird that I went around asking other bra sales people about it and, eventually, the comment was debunked.

7 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I hate "everyone must own" rules, although I admit a nude bra does seem useful with a lot of outfits. And I also prefer black to nude if the straps will show (...surprising no one, I'm sure).

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I have pretty much never found a nude bra that both fits and matches my skin tone and so-called "nude" bras often will show oddly (or sometimes they're just too shiny or something) under dark items. (Weirdly, a purplish-taupe is the color that is most invisible on me, although it's definitely not nude.).

Plus I think black (and colored) bras are so much prettier than nude ones.

7 years ago

Penny

Veteran

My preference is black, so all my bras and panties are black, and I finally ditched my last "you-should-have-one" nude bra, which I hadn't worn in years. I think you should wear what works with your wardrobe and personal preference and not worry about lacking a black bra if you don't want or need one.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I don't own a black bra.

7 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I have both black and nude. I think nude bras show through black/dark colored tops and are much more obvious than a black one. I know it seems like if it's skin colored, it won't show, but I don't find that to be true. The way that fabrics fit over the bust makes a nude bra more conspicuous than a black bra.

7 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Another who, like Diana, finds taupe works better than beige for a "nude" bra. My skin is light (true Winter) so I find most beige bras have too much yellow to be invisible under my white tops.

My bra wardrobe is a light greyed taupe, that purplish taupe Diana mentions, navy, black, creamy white, turquoise, and red--and one lonely beige bra pushed to the rear of the drawer. I'm also an outlier in that I prefer the shaping of a seamed bra under my clothes instead of the mounded look of a molded bra. The lace bits and seams of my high quality bras don't show under my knits and T-shirts--plus the bras are so much prettier!

7 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have a few different colours including black and nude (and blue, polka dot, coral, navy)

I quite like my black ones and from a practical perspective find it pleasing to mix and match different bra and pantie sets. I have moved away from traditional nude to a blush pink and find this slightly prettier and still works under light tops.

However since discovering last year (via a great link someone posted here thanks) that a seamed bra works so much better than a moulded bra on me, I largely either accept some "show through", wear a camisole, or choose darker/thicker tops. No more moulded cup bras for me!!

7 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

I prefer everything to match but do not want to put any effort into doing so, so I only buy black and nude undies and bras. Occasionally a black/nude pattern like leopard or something. But mostly black. It just looks the most attractive (and hides stains).

7 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Most of my bras are black followed by color/prints. I like the way they look better than nude bras. I do have nude and I consider them essential but I don't love the way they look.

7 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Nude bras can sometimes look like headlights under dark knits, so I wear a black or charcoal bra underneath. With white or lighter colored and lightweight knits and fabrics, I wear so-called nude. And I haven't worn a white bra in decades and decades.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Coming back to say that at last years NAS I bought a light grey bra and undies. This pale grey is my new favorite "nude" and so much nicer than the usual nude color. The hard part will be finding that color in the future.

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

High five, Gaylene! I prefer seamed, unpadded lace bras best too. They're a much better fit for my shape and much prettier IMO. I have a couple of molded bras for wearing under very fitted smooth tees, but most of my tops are fine with the seamed bras.

7 years ago

minimalist

Veteran

I'm saving beige bras for if I ever decide to enter a convent. But if you love them, nobody should tell you to own another color.

My skin is pale, but undergarments in cool deep reds and dark pinks work well as no-show under whites.

Like Liz, I very much prefer things to match.

7 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Also a fan of unlined seamed lace, Diana! I've been happy to see more of those in stores the past few years. Maybe goes along with the bralette trend - I still prefer underwire but either way the more natural look is popular at the moment.

7 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I only own black and nude bras, but I feel a need for them both. I especially like black when straps might show, or to camouflage slightly large armholes in black tops. I don't mind a peek of black bra, but the nudes always feels rather...industrial...when it peeps out.

7 years ago

Author Linda

Veteran

Black and nude here also. I like black for under black or navy tops. Lacy is nice when something might show.

7 years ago

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