What is...
a Bralette?
Bralettes are taking the world by storm lately, especially in the fuller bust world where they’ve recently been introduced by numerous brands, but what is a bralette and what does it do?
How is a bralette different to a bra? We’ll tell all in this helpful guide to bralettes.
What is a bralette?
A bralette is a ‘little bra’. They are usually non-wired and non-padded, and can be anything from a cotton crop top to a more delicate lace triangle bra. A bralette is often clothes sized (e.g. small, medium, large) but some D+ cup bralettes can be cup sized to help you find the perfect fit.
Compared to a regular bra, bralettes are less structured and offer a more natural shape to your bust. Though bralettes often do not have an underwire, some can! But they’ll still have the lightweight appearance and structure, just with a little added support.
What does a bralette do?
Bralettes offer gentle support and shaping, with a focus on comfort. Perfect for relaxing and lounging at home or pottering around doing some chores, non-wired bralettes can also be used for sleeping as the soft structure will hold your breasts in place throughout the night.
Some bralettes can also be worn as a crop top, doubling up as both underwear and outwear – perfect for the rising underwear-as-outerwear trend or when it’s just too hot outside for ‘real’ clothes!
★★★★★
"Really comfy. Great as a sleep bra, or for just chilling out at home."
Curvy Kate Twice the Fun Reversible BraletteWho can wear a bralette?
Originally, bralettes were only accessible for those with smaller busts, however advancements in technology and garment design mean lots of fuller bust and DD+ cup brands have developed bralettes that work for bigger boobs too!
Brands like Curvy Kate and Flirtelle have introduced well-designed bralette options to their collections up to a JJ cup, which is pretty impressive! This makes bralettes more readily available for those with fuller busts so we can wear them comfortably.
Thanks to their less structured design, bralettes can make a great choice for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or going through other life events that can cause changes in your breasts. The wireless aspect means you can be a little more flexible with the size and fit, as you don’t have to worry about underwires digging in uncomfortably.
What are the benefits of a bralette?
Although they’re different to regular bras, bralettes have their own benefits:
- Less structured design allows for more flexibility in size and fit, perfect for those experiencing breast shape or size changes for any reason
- They can be worn while sleeping to keep your breasts comfortably in place
- Bralettes are fashion-forward and can often be styled as outerwear
- Some can be underwired for added support with all the style of a bralette
So for the days where you don’t want to deal with underwires, a bralette can be a real saving grace. Ideal for gentle support and shaping, just so you’ve still got something to keep you feeling comfortable!
Shop our collection of DD+ cup bralettes: