Wearing non-nude bras under white - YouLookFab Forum

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Wearing non-nude bras under white

Gigi

Veteran

I recently came across a couple of online blog entries about French women wearing non-nude bras under white as a fashion statement. Red and black bras are apparently favorites, although white under a white shirt can be done as long as the bra is a beautiful one. Have any of you tried wearing non-nude bras under white and had luck with it looking intentional and not tacky?

Here are a couple of pages that I read:
https://simoneperele.wordpress.....omen-sexy/
https://cupofjo.com/2016/04/french-bra-styling/

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Lesley

Veteran

I have done it but only for casual looks, and I do feel like it has a bit of a punk-y edge (although one person's punk is another's tacky, right?). I still keep a nude bra around for if I have to look formal or professional. Still, that is news to me that a red bra would be invisible under white! Is that really possible?

Sal

Veteran

I don't wear a lot of white tops. I have two and one is completely opaque and the other I need to wear a cami underneath.

Casually I tend to wear dark bras under darker tops and light bras under lighter tops. I do have a red lingerie set but have only worn this under opaque dark clothes.

Flashes of bra don't phase me in social or casual settings. Obviously a flash of a lovely well fitting bra is more alluring/attractive than a flash of ragged or drab bra. However I don't choose clothes deliberately to show off my bra.

Since I only buy seamed bras for comfort and flattery they are more likely to show through than seam free or moulded bras. I just accept that as part of the deal.

Aurore

Veteran

I see that a lot in summer. There are tons of colored, embellished bras and bras with special back shapes (e.g. dainty lace racerbacks) in lingerie stores and the sales assistants explain they're meant to be seen, styled under white shirts.
IMO, to make such an outfit feature look intentional, the bra should be the ouftit hero and other items should be kept simple. For example, wearing a beautiful, detailed, original colored bra under a basic white tee with classic jeans.
I won't try it myself, though.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

It intrigues me that this is obviously a thing in France and that bras are being sold specifically to be shown in this way.I cannot speak for a whole nation but I have the feeling that it’s not really a general thing here and people from my generation would still regard it as a bit of a fashion faux pas if you could see your bra through your top.Not that it doesn’t happen but the look tends to be more accidental than intentional!I m not sure about white under white but a hint of a pretty bra on a young person is a delightful thing however no one wants to see my M an S numbers!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I haven’t done this and I don’t think I will (never say never). I have experimented with wearing a black cami/tank under a semi sheer white top. I wasn’t entirely happy with the result. I have done the reverse with better results - a white tank under a black lacey semi sheer top.
Are you thinking about test driving the look Gigi?

Sisi

Veteran

hehe, I remember doing this in the past not intentionally, but due to laundry bottleneck! Even when I was younger, a bra showing through a white top made me feel self conscious.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Years ago I used to think this looked tacky, but I don’t mind it so much now if it looks a bit intentional and the whole look supports it (ie, the wearer’s style is not overly classic or otherwise jarring with the look.

I have a bra in French blue that I sometimes wear under white and I don’t mind that at all, but my white tops are only slightly sheer. It depends on the whole outfit and vibe I’m going for, and where I’m going. My husband likes this look a lot, but he’s a big fan of bras in colors other than nude.

Staysfit

Veteran

DD does this. I think she can get away with it easily because it looks fresh and intentional on her. She’s 24. I’m almost 30 years older, and it just looks silly when I try to do the same.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I wear black bras under white or translucent tops quite often in summer. However they’re bras that are more like crop tops — thin straps, full coverage, or bandeau style. No lace.

Here’s an old photo of a fave outfit from last year. The top is very see-through though it’s hard to see from this angle; the bra is charcoal racerback.

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Anonymous

I sometimes wear a grey or blue color bra with a white blouse but only for casual and my blouses are not sheer.
I like it better than the time I tried it with a leopard print- lol. Won’t be doing that again! Amazing how strangers can be “ forward” and I was glad hubby was with me- oh-and I was also younger then.
I will not wear a floral print one either- it made it look like I spilled food because of floral showed through as “ spotty” if that makes sense.
I sometimes wear a nude bra but a color cami to give dimension too.
That’s about as racy as I get at my age.

Anonymous

To the ladies who think they’re too old: I understand what you’re saying - and my initial reaction to this post was to think, “oh, but I’m too old for this look”. But I like to think about specifically why this wouldn’t work for me. The main issue for me is the see-through outer layer, which would expose abdominal flesh, with my bellybutton showing through.

However, some sort of torso-covering full-body Lacey cami I think would look quite nice. I would probably do it in a tonal look.

I see Jessiecams is looking great in bra-visible outfit!

Molly Mac

Veteran

Yesterday I wore a semi sheer plain white t shirt with a purple lace bra underneath and widelegged raw hemmed jeans. It is a look I like as it makes a plain tee a little more interesting.

Jane

Veteran

I went to the cinema yesterday evening, and watched Juliette Binoche in 'Let the sunshine in'. Set in Paris. Lots of black bra under white t shirt outfits for Juliette, who was playing an artist.

I don't think it is for me yet, but I'm not saying never!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Uh yeah, I’m turning 53 this year and happily wear my blue bra under a white tee, but to each her own!

Anonymous

I see it a lot on the East Coast. Truthfully, it doesn't even register with me anymore.

April

Veteran

Not a fan, just as I am not a fan of seeing non-nude-for-you panties beneath white pants.

Greyscale

Veteran

Yes. Black bra under a white button down or tee. But not to work, just around on weekends. It took me a while to get comfortable with it on myself but I really like the look on others. Jessikams’ photo is a great example!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Well I'm a big fan of
Juliette Binoche
---
so I think it's okay, provided it looks intentional. Says the one who recently ordered a new bra in deep blue because it was the only color available - and this happens quite often to me because I don't wear standard bras.

Gigi

Veteran

For those who feel they are too old for the look, I think the effect can be quite subtle, as in the pic of Clémence Poésy in my first link (I've attached the pic).

Jessikams, I love the outfit! Great inspiration.

Brooklyn, funny you should ask about test driving the idea... I had some appointments this morning and put on my nude bra because I was wearing a white button-down. But when I got home, I decided to experiment a bit.

So I am now wearing a J. Crew white cotton button-down with a red-purple Natori bra underneath. The button-down is pretty opaque but not totally so. You can't tell that the bra is red-purple; it just looks dark underneath the shirt. I'm wearing it with dark blue jeans, so the darkness of the jeans helps tie in the bra (I read that tip on one of the blog entries I found).

I don't think I would wear this to work if I worked in a professional setting, but I think it's fine for more casual outings. It's a little flirty but not overly so. I also have a quite sheer white shirt from Express, and the red-purple bra looked good with that too, although that would definitely be a date night look. I also tried out a lacy black demi, but that one clearly read date night due to the shape of the cups.

Overall, this was a fun experiment. I have yet to experiment with t-shirts.

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The Cat

Veteran

No. I don't want people to stare at my bra. And in general, I would prefer not having to see much of others' underwear.

Runcarla

Veteran

Currently I own 3 black bras and 3 nude bras. Black under dark and nude under light is my modus operandi. My most daring was to wear a black bra (rather than a cami) under a black lace shirt. I wore the shirt out, but if I still had it I would be tempted to wear a dark blue or purple bra under!

binkle

Veteran

There was a sort of mini trend here in SoCal for some young ladies to wear white t-shirt bras (the smooth, molded-cup type) under thinnish tight t-shirts, so that you could definitely see the bra. Like, the point wasn't modest coverage, but advertisement of the breasts underneath.

I think this would be a very tricky look to pull off, for "regular joes" like me! Makes me think of that line from Spinal Tap, "There's a fine line between clever and stupid."

cindysmith

Veteran

I don't even remember where I read the idea some years ago, but I do like to wear a nice black bra under my white tee. It feels rebellious to me, which I like (RATE is my middle name LOL). My mother would be absolutely horrified, but I think it's an interesting way to do a white tshirt.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Gigi, fun experiment I have a friend who is 46 and who I have seen wearing a semi sheer cashmere blush coloured jumper which shows the outline of a darker coloured bra underneath. As you say, the effect is quite subtle and flirty. Especially for a date night. She looks great.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm a purist when it comes to white. I wear a WHITE cami.