Whether you like your lingerie to feel sexy, supportive or just plain comfortable, be sure not to overlook the bralette.
If you aren’t already familiar, bralettes are often characterised by a lightweight feel and lack of restrictive underwiring, most commonly seen in lacy or sporty iterations; a softer, more laid back counterpart to the everyday bra.
That’s not to say their use is limited to those of us who require less support. As the demand for comfortable, easy-to-wear pieces has risen, especially since working from home has become the new norm, bralettes have grown increasingly popular, and with that a whole host of designs have emerged to suit every shape and size.
Read more: Lingerie buying guide for everything you need to know about size, fit and style
The surprisingly versatile style is now an essential in any modern underwear drawer, and the stats are in to prove it. Fashion search engine Lyst recently reported that searches for bralettes are up 44 per cent with interest in brands like SKIMS, Kim Kardashian-West’s comfortable lingerie and shapewear brand up 54 per cent month-on-month.
Natasja Giezen-Smith, CEO of hosiery start-up Heist, confirmed that ‘‘demand for wireless bralettes has soared during lockdown”, so much so that the brand launched their own version in May last year that swiftly garnered a 2,000 person waiting list.
The numbers speak for themselves, but obviously not one size fits all. There are certain things to consider before purchasing a bralette that works for you, from levels of support to preferred fabrics. Is flexible cotton a priority or would you rather a pretty lace number? There’s those dedicated to fuller busts with more practical wider straps, or perhaps you’re an underwire loyalist and want a meet-in-the-middle compromise?
To help narrow down your search, we tried 10 of the best on offer right now…
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