I’ve regularly scoffed at those proclaiming they’ve given up bras for good due to the pandemic. As someone who often sleeps in a bra (I am DD+), I find it much more comfortable to have support. Despite my own personal views, however, I think it’s fair to say that there’s a revolution of sorts going on when it comes to lingerie, particularly when it comes to bras. Over the past year and a half, for obvious reasons, we’ve spent a lot more time assessing our comfort levels. Locked down at home, we have swathed ourselves in loose fabrics. Stretchy waistbands have replaced our jeans, and some really have forgone bras altogether. But there are plenty of us who aren’t ready to give up the jig quite yet, especially those of us who still require support of some sort.
Womanhood, a brilliant online lingerie retailer which stocks women-designed brands, revealed a couple of months ago that “over 60% of women said lockdown has changed the way they buy lingerie.” The brand says soft bralettes with no wiring have become the most popular styles. I reached out to Tanya Robertson, the founder of Womanhood, to find out what’s behind this change in attitude and which non-wired bralettes are the best for all kinds of sizes.
“There’s been a complete shift in how women view and buy underwear,” says Robertson. “Women are realising that they have more of a choice and are finding pieces that match their personality. Not only are people wanting to dress for themselves more, but they’re also able to identify what comfort means to them. With bralettes, there are so many different types of support, coverage, lift and feel.”. While some might be keen to ditch their bras altogether, it’s still worth bearing in mind that a little bit of support is still important. “We change our bra size, on average, nine times in our lives. Of course, this all depends on whether you have children, weight gain, weight loss and also menopause—it’s never one-size-fits-all. Ultimately, support is everything. From underneath to round the side and without support, there’s strain put on our surrounding area [of the breast], even if you don’t think you need it,” says Robertson. With that in mind, I asked Robertson to recommend the best non-wired bras for fuller busts, smaller cup sizes as well as everyday bras that suit everyone. Keep scrolling for her recommendations, then go on for more non-wired, soft-cup bras we love.
“Moons and Junes has a power mesh that moulds to your shape and different panellings inside the bra that support internally.”
“For smaller busts or for those that want something but are not concerned about loads of support, Rossell England has a fantastic ruching underband with a clasp to the left. Look out for Baserange and Love Stories, too.”
“For everyday wear, The Nude Label is brilliant, as it comes in organic cotton, so it’s also great for those thinking about sustainability.”
Next up, these are the biggest autumn/winter 2021 fashion trends to know.
