ISO a Kinder, Gentler Strapless Bra

Windchime

Can anyone recommend a comfortable strapless bra for use under sleeveless tops and dresses? My strapless bras, which are the same size as my other bras, dig into my chest and actually leave red marks when I take them off at night. Not fun.

Most of my "regular" bras are NOT underwire; my strapless bras ARE underwire. Is underwire necessary in a strapless for it to do its job, given the absence of straps? I must confess I don't know. And I'm wondering if the underwire contributes to the discomfort.

I'd love to find kinder, gentler strapless bras...thanks!

8 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Colette

Veteran

I don't know about the underwire but this strapless bra was recommended to me by the forum and I love it. The sizing is different than what I'm used to so I had the SA at Nordstrom fit me for this bra. It's the best strapless I've ever owned but, it's still a strapless bra and they inherently are less comfy than a regular bra. I think there is another great strapless by Wacoal also at Nordstrom, but I'm sized out on the small end.

Nordstrom

'Celeste' Convertible Strapless Underwire Bra

$75.65

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Top Pick

8 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Ire come d that you go to a Nordstoms for a strapless bra fitting. I think I was advised to go up a band size and down a cup size in a strapless bra. The SA found a very comfortable one for me, but a few years ago. It is a Calvin Klein. My regular bra size is 30D and it was a 32C. The lingerie SA's can guide you.

8 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Yeah my strapless bra is a completely different size, unlike Joy, mines a band size down & a cup size up. I bought mine at specialty lingerie store. Honestly if you don't wear underwire normally, you're never going to find them comfortable. They need to be snug otherwise you'll be pulling it up all night.
There's always duct tape

8 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Wolford. I tried Wacoal, Simone Perele and one other prominent brand--can't recall--but they really cut the top part of my chest in half. I bought the Wolford one recently for a strapless formal gown and it was comfortable throughout the evening. It was in no danger of sliding down, either. Oh, and I wore the same size for it as I do for my other Wolford bras.

8 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

COLETTE--Thank you for the recommendation; that is a beautiful bra! It sounds like a fitting for a strapless is the way to go.

Thank you for your wise suggestion, JOY; I didn't realize a strapless fits differently than other bras.

ANNA--If I have to choose, I'd rather have my strapless too tight than have to pull it up all the time. And hey, you're right; if all else fails, there's always duct tape!

GRADFASHIONISTA--So Wolford worked for you in your regular bra size? That's interesting. Maybe I'll order one to try.

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for starting this thread, Windchime. I actually donated one of my dresses because I needed a strapless bra for it and could not find one to fit.

8 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

The lingerie manager at my Nordstrom recommends this one. It's full coverage and she says it stays put.

Nordstrom

'Red Carpet' Convertible Strapless Bra

$65.00

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8 years ago

Colette

Veteran

Marilyn posted the Wacoal bra I was talking about. The forum also recommended this one.

8 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I would also recommend a bra fitting at Nordie's. I got a Calvin Klein strapless there last winter, and it has been great.

8 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I think Gigi and I probably have the same Calvin Klein strapless. It was highly rated at a few of the online sites. Plus, it is really reasonably priced. I don't find it super comfortable, but I don't find it uncomfortable either. I did find, though, that it stayed up much better when I wore it on a looser set of hooks than on the tightest set. The tightest ones were actually counterproductive because they kept dragging the bra down my rib cage. With the looser hooks, the grabby, rubbery bits on the bra band do all the work of keeping it up. Lesson learned.

ETA: I checked and the name is "Naked Glamour". It's actually a convertible, rather than just a strapless. Nordstrom, Macy's and Zappos carry it, and it fits TTS. Plus it is only $42.

8 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I don't think there is such a thing... Sorta like a unicorn. I've heard they exist but have never seen one for myself.

8 years ago

Alix

Active Member

I'd second the Simone Perele Celeste! I have it and it really does stay put and I'm 100% satisfied. A note of caution / advice - bizarrely, the quality seems to not be uniform. I don't know if this is color specific or what... But my experience was - the white (which I have) is excellent. I tried on the same bra in the nude color and the bra cups were made of a different material that made loud foam or crinkly plastic like sounds when compressed. (Not ideal - imagine giving someone a hug and it sounds like your breasts are emitting foam padding type sounds!)

In terms of sizing - I'd recommend getting a bra sizing at Nordstrom. I'm sure other places do it well also. But not all bra shop SA's are the same! After going to Nordstrom, I discovered I had been wearing the wrong bra size my whole life... Now clothing looks so much better and bras are far more comfortable... (I do wear the same size bra for strapless as my other bras)

Good luck, you've got lots of good advice here!

8 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Yes, I think K. Period is correct about the CK style. I found it to run TTS also and did not have to order up a cup size, despite what Nordie's site says.

8 years ago

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