What are you supposed to do when you can’t seem to find a bra to work for your specific wardrobing needs? It’s pretty simple, actually: Don’t wear a bra at all.
Seriously. In the past, that might not have been an option, but there are so many options available now for those who don’t want to wear a bra but do want support or modesty. So give your bras a break and try a bra alternative instead.
Is It Better to Wear a Bra or Go Without?
Before you jump into learning what kinds of bra alternatives are out there, you might want to know more about the benefits of wearing a bra or going without one, and why everyone wears bras in the first place. The thing to remember is that bras exist for support, lift and shaping if you want and need those things. Everyone is different; that's why there are so many bra styles to choose from.
No matter your preference, there's something out there for you. We just need to find out what it is.
What Kind of Bra Alternative Do You Need?
When it comes to finding the best alternatives to bras for you, think about why you’d like a bra alternative at all. Usually, it comes down to support, modesty and functionality. If you don’t like the feel of a bra but still want the support it can give, if you don’t want to wear a bra but you’re uncomfortable with other people knowing you’re not wearing a bra, or if you’d actually like to wear a bra but can’t because the bras you have don’t work with the clothing you want to wear, you may want to consider a bra alternative option.
With so many ways to play it, you won’t ever feel compelled to wear a less-than-stellar bra ever again. Here are some of our favorite options for going braless:
Adhesive Bras
Adhesive bras are great bra alternatives that help you cover your nipples while also giving your chest a little lift and shape. Adhesive options come in a range of styles, sizes and support, which make them super inclusive to all bodies. They’re great for warmer weather because they make it easy to wear more revealing summer clothing...minus any bra lines.
If you’re not really looking for support and just want to make your nipples scarce, you’re probably going to love nipple concealer adhesives, formerly known as pasties, like these ones from B-Six. These nipple covers come in a range of shades designed to blend in with your skin tone and are water resilient, washable and reusable, making them a great choice for minimalist coverage that you can re-wear as you would a bra.
For a little more support, you’re probably going to be in the market for something closer to boob tape, an adhesive that comes in many colors to match your skin tone and offers lift and support wherever you need it. Because breast tapes come in a range of styles, they offer a lot of different benefits. Some give support from the bottom while others give support above the bust, making them useful to a range of outfit and individual needs. Options like the Brassybra Breast Tape and That Little Extra Breast Tape are excellent bra alternatives for large breasts.
Bralettes
Adhesive bras aren’t for everyone. If you're in the market for a bra that doesn’t feel like a bra, you might want to take a look at bralettes. Bralettes come in a bunch of cute styles, are designed to suit your most relaxed moments, don’t generally come with an underwire and can sometimes even be worn as a top. They’re great for getting both support and coverage without having to deal with adhesive, clips, snaps or a more structured bra.
Thanks to their increasing popularity over the past couple of years, bralettes went from being hard to find to coming in options in a range of sizes that caters to pretty much anyone and everyone. Bralettes like the Bali Comfort Revolution Easylite Seamless Bralette come in a variety of sizes and are super cute and super comfortable. Whether you’re looking for loungewear, easy-wearing lingerie or something in between, a bralette is a great alternative bra option.
Bandeaus
Bandeau bras are ideal for the times when you want to wear a bralette but need something strapless. A bandeau is a comfy strapless bra alternative that doesn’t have any clips or straps to keep it in place. All you have to do is pull this stretchy bra alternative over your head. What makes bandeaus even better is that they can have wires or be wireless. With bandeaus, you have the best bra alternatives for strapless dresses and tops. It’s a win all the way around and definitely a bra alternative you should add to your wardrobe.
Shapewear
Just because you don’t want to wear a bra doesn’t mean you don’t want all the benefits that can come from intimate apparel. That’s where shapewear comes in. Shapewear bras and tops are great bra alternatives for women who are looking for support, control and smoothing without wanting to hook themselves into a traditional bra. What puts shapewear in a league of its own, though, is that you can get much more from shapewear than you might with a conventional bra. Lifting, waist slimming, back shaping and more can be achieved with the right piece of shapewear.
Sports Bra
Perhaps one of the most surprisingly supportive, versatile bra alternatives is a sports bra. Sports bras aren’t just for working out; a good sports bra can take you through your entire day. Because of how supportive they are, sports bras are the perfect bra alternative for the days when you know you’re going to be active, running errands or keeping things casual.
The best part about choosing sports bras as your bra alternative of choice is that there are so many great styles out there. There’s no need to wear the most constricting sports bras on the market. Instead, choose the level of support you need and go from there. Unsure as to what levels of support sports bras come in? Here’s what to know:
High-Impact Sports Bras: These give you support for vigorous exercise and athletic activity. Sports bras like the Wacoal Simone Underwire Sports Bra are what you choose for intense workouts.
Medium-Impact Sports Bras: These sports bras offer comfortable support without being too constricting. Bras like the Panache Medium Control Wire-Free Sports Bra are a good idea when you’re going about day-to-day activities, and are a reliable bra alternative.
Low-Impact Sports Bras: This type of control gives you relaxed coverage and support. Low-impact sports bras are perfect for gentle movement like yoga...or hanging out around the house.