Talk to Me About Bralettes, Please - YouLookFab Forum

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Talk to Me About Bralettes, Please

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Many of you wear them, apparently! At night, to sleep in, at home, on a casual day, or instead of a bra. Why is that, exactly? Comfort? Shape? The cut of a top or dress?

The last time I wore a bralette was in the late '80s, and with matching knickers. It looked sooooo pretty in the store in white. I had to have the set. But it was scratchy, uncomfortable, and had zero support. Did not feel fab. I wore it a few times and that was that.

Bralettes must have improved, and I'd like to hear more about them. I'd like to tell my clients and friends about the winners you wear. Please share your bra size with the bralette recommendation, because I suspect that will determine the type of bralette that works best.

I don't want to wear a bralette because I adore and am hopelessly devoted to wearing lacey underwire bras. Always been a bra gal, I guess. I have a regular size bust. Wear a 28D or 30D.

Talk to me about barrettes, please

Shopping

54 replies

Latest reply was from viva

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Bralettes are really the only bras I wear unless I'm going to be dressing more formally then I might use a slightly padded bra. I do have a hard time finding good bralettes as many are lacy and scratchy and that is a definite deal breaker for me. I want mostly cotton, double layer bralettes with the same 3 hook option in back as regular bras - which can be a HEWI. Everlane has some decent ones (for me) right now. I can't recall the other brand I have but will update if I get time. I don't really require much support but like the modesty of coverage.

Christina F.

Veteran

I use these bralettes at home for loungewear. I always I hated wearing a bra at home, but I got to a point in recent years where didn't feel supported enough with nothing. I don't sleep in these.

For context: I mainly wear loungewear at home. I have two beautiful cats to whom I am allergic, and though I have control of the allergy I don't want their dander leaving the house or coming to bed with me. I also am not comfortable in anything but soft lounge pants at home, to be honest.

Seamless Racerback Bralette

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like a bralette for wearing around the house, or for doing things like cleaning and gardening. My sports bras are quite engineered and fit very snugly, so not comfortable for lounging around, and they are overkill for house/home-based activities. And I don't like to get my everyday bras sweaty and gross. A bralette (if I can find one that works for me) allows me to have some small bit of coverage and support around the house. I don't find it physically or emotionally comfortable to go completely bra-less -- the jiggle factor is one reason, and also if I have to answer the door for a delivery or if someone drops by.

Ironically, I am a prime buyer for bralettes for this reason, but it's very hard to find ones that work for my figure type (32G size so a small ribcage and large cup size). I just learned of Cosabella on another thread recently, so I may order one of the ones they offer, as it seems they cater to this market -- however, their bralettes are awfully nice to wear for cleaning! I have a couple of old Gap bralettes (just like the one that Christina posted) that suffice for now -- the cups are barely adequate but they are better than nothing.

anchie

Veteran

Ok - I must ask, what are bralettes? Bras without wire, or bras without closure or something third?

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I wear this one for lounging or sleeping and especially like the front closure. I am size 32DD.

Bare Necessities

Glamorise Complete Comfort Front-Close Wire-Free Sleep Bra

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Ginger

Veteran

Ditto anchie's question. What makes a bralette? I know an underwire isn't considered a bralette, but surely there's some other criteria.

KikiG

Veteran

I will be able to contribute some product reviews when the ones I've ordered arrive.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, ladies.

Laura and Christina, good to know.

Tex and Janet, please provide links to the bralettes you wear when you have a moment.

Anchie and Ginger, a bra has about 50 components. I've seen them being manufactured at a factory many times. They are extremely structured. A bralette has far fewer components and is less structured. No tailoring. Cut more like a top and without cups.

Diana

Veteran

I wear them instead of bras sometimes because they’re more comfy. To me, it’s basically the same as a wireless bra. Not as supportive as an underwire obviously but perfectly fine for regular daily life. I also sometimes like the cleavage-minimizing aspect of it to be honest as I think a flatter, less cleavagey shape looks better under some clothes. I have a significantly bigger bust than I used to be when I was younger and thinner, and I miss the small busted look sometimes.

I also wear them as a combo bra/camisole when it’s very hot and I want to wear a top that is too low cut or sheer. I have bralettes that basically look like lacy (or plain) cropped camis so if they peek out it’s still appropriate for my (admittedly pretty casual) work. It’s really nice in hot weather not to have the additional layer.

Edit: I have lots of bralettes from Aerie. (I also like their regular bras.). Can’t do a find right now as I’m traveling w/o a computer but they always have a bunch of cute options. I always look for decent coverage and adjustable straps (I’m so short waisted that non adjustable straps are always too long.)

Anonymous

I'm 34C and just buy little inexpensive black lace bralettes from Target or Walmart. I wear them at home and for sleeping cause I don't want to stretch out my expensive bras (I used to sleep in regular bras-bad I know...). I've just never been comfortable being braless in any circumstance-and you never know...there could be an emergency in the middle of the night!

celia

Veteran

I have the same from GAP that Christina has.
I wear them outside especially in Summer because they are lighter and cooler than regular bras and I can just put them in the washer.
Also they seem to work better with sleeveless t-shirts.
The only thing is that to have some support they have to fit snug which changes your bust line completely.

Elle

Veteran

I wear bralettes regularly but I am small chested (34B or 36A) and very active. I like the way bralettes allow me to move freely - to bend and twist without thinking. I think the downside is that there is less support than a normal bra, sizing is limited (S/M/L) and the bra band eventually starts rolling up.

I wear the GAP bralette listed above, Target bralettes, and some Elita bras

https://www.herroom.com/elita-.....-bra.shtml

Ginger

Veteran

It was an honest question, I was not trying to be funny. No cups? So basically a short camisole or bandeau sports bra. I loathe fighting those over my head and hair and shoulders. That, in combination with the assumption that busts come in S/M/L means I don't bother. I'm rather amazed they do work for so many people.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The lacy ones tend to look more like bras than like workhout bras, but that's the idea, Ginger. They can be useful for those who have sloped breasts (who can't fill out the upper part of regular bra cups) or for people whose breast spacing is wider. Typically they're a lot easier to get into and out of than a real workout bra because they are not designed for compression. I wore one sometimes in high school. But I found it didn't provide enough support for me.

anchie

Veteran

I don’t think there is a word for it in my language, that is why I am confused.

Marilyn

Veteran

I was actually just looking at bralettes because there is a somewhat sheer top I'm contemplating and I'd want more modesty/coverage than a regular bra.

Re the no cups dialogue above.....some of them do have cups. Jockey has one with molded cups and another with soft lined cups. Bralettes vary from very unstructured to lightly structured. I haven't checked this out yet so can't comment on how much support it offers.

Example....

Jockey Natural Beauty Moulded Cups Bralette

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crst

For those of you who wear the Gap ones that Christina posted - how does the sizing really work? Their size guide makes no sense. I wear a 32dd. I know I can’t wear an XL. Thinking a medium maybe??

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I can't seem to get everlane Finds to work but here's the bralette from them:

https://www.everlane.com/produ.....-underwear

taylor

Veteran

They have such pretty lacy Bralettes , and I wear them at night.
I mentioned on the blog I started wearing them when my sons friends seemed to make our home the “place “ to hang out and work on cars , meet for sports events etc.
I am more comfortable wearing one at night now. I am about your size Angie and I honestly believe wearing something at night has kept “the girls” right where they should be . So, yeah I’m small on top but they are in great shape at my age , so I continue to support at night !

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, ladies. You're fab. PLEASE post links or Finds of the bralettes when you have a moment.

I guess you're either a bra person or not. I love bras - but don't like sports bras.

Marilyn, that's quite the hybrid!

Suz, makes a good point about "lack of compression" to describe bralettes.

Ginger and Anchie, hope that helps.

Taylor, which do you wear? High five to your bra size.

taylor

Veteran

I get mine at Costco . They come in a 2 pack. 2 different colors and very lacy and pretty . I have tried others , but these are the prettiest:)

Lucy

Even though this is technically a bra, I guess, it functions like a bralette for me. Light and comfortable with just a little support. No wires, no lace and no uni-boob! If I'm doing yard work or have to run a quick errand on the weekend, its enough support that I don't feel "exposed".
I'm a 34C/32DD and the medium fits well.

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/h.....%20peacoat

Christina F.

Veteran

crst- I followed the size chart for my cup size. I saw that further down you can do it by band size. I imgagine at your size, it may take some trial and error (my band size and cup size are a bit closer together, so to speak - I'm a 32D or 36C depending on the bra.) You could just order the size you'd order in a tank top, maybe.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

The best bralette I have ever found came from M And S.It is pretty and supportive probably because it’s lightly padded.l dont normally like regular bralettes because I m very small busted and find that they don’t give me the silhouette under clothes that I like.Im a 32B and normally wear underwired,lightly padded bras.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

https://www.marksandspencer.co.....evPage=plp
Here’s a link to M and S.Not the bralet I have but pretty none the less.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I bet it's a lot easier to love bras when you are regular or smaller breasted! Even though my bras fit properly, I have dents in my shoulders from years of bra straps. Bralettes are a less structured option to give myself a little break at home without going totally braless. I'm not sure if other larger-boobed ladies feel the same, but this is true for me. As much as I truly love my breasts, I confess a little envy of the wider options of cute bras (and braless options!) available to smaller-breasted ladies.

crst, my Gap bra is a M. It's a little roomy in the ribcage, but a little small in the boob coverage department. It's a compromise until I find something better.

Sal

Veteran

Janet- I also have dents which I realised when I tried the off the shoulder look.

I prefer seamed bras rather than one piece bras but I do have both. I do have sports crop tops that I sometimes wear at home for comfort.

Certainly there seems to be a swing to softer bra styles - and less push-up styles in general with the cool lingerie labels here.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I have been adviced in lingerie stores on sizing many times, and I still find ‘proper fitting’ bras pretty uncomfortable. They are very tight across the ribcage and the underwire often stings uncomfortably if only when moving around. Therefore I prefer to go braless (at home) or wear a light sports bra or bralette. Currently I own only one real bralette from local brand sloggi. It’s not wonderful: comfort trumps non-existent esthetics here and even comfort could be improved. Size xs is almost too big on my B80 size (larger ribcage when compared too small bust size).
http://be.sloggi.com/nl/bh-zon.....0SH_Cognac

When I get the courage again I may try to find the hewi comfortable (not scratchy), perfectly fitted and pretty bralette...

nemosmom

Veteran

Another vote for the aerie ones. I'm smaller chested (30C) and prefer padding of some sort, and the aerie ones fit nicely. I should mention that I usually only wear them at home; I like underwire bras with lift so I don't look too flat. Especially under sweaters...

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