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InStyle / Brian Kopinski
It’s no secret that behind every remarkable outfit is a well-rounded selection of undergarments. And on the short list of styles that are an absolute must, a strapless bra is somewhat close to the top. From plunging jumpsuits to backless gowns, the outfits we wear for special occasions and formal events nearly always call for a strapless bra, making the stakes even higher. While your favorite T-shirt bra might provide the most comfort, no one wants a shoulder strap or band popping out in photos. Yet those with larger breasts can often feel like they have to compromise on style, as strapless bras are notorious for falling and being all around uncomfortable. Let us ensure you, however, that heavier breasts can wear strapless bras as well.
“When shopping for a bra, there are a few things to keep in mind: support, volume, natural, and structure,” explains Paula Marie Freo, Intimissimi training specialist for Calzedonia USA. With the right fit and features, a strapless bra can support even the largest cup sizes. To help you in your search, we tested 15 different strapless bras over two weeks, wearing them to the office, special events, and around the house. Each bra was worn by two testers, including at least one with larger breasts (DD+). After evaluating the feedback on comfort, fit, support, and durability of each bra, we narrowed our list to the strapless bras that provided the best support for those with larger breasts.
Best Overall
Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: It’s not often that a bra has a cult following. But when it comes to Wacoal’s ‘Red Carpet’ design, its accolades are well earned. The wider the band, the stronger the lift, and this one features a four-hook band to keep even large breasts secured. Our DD+ breasts felt lifted and supported and we didn’t have the dreaded uniboob, thanks to the well-spaced, molded cups. The band did feel a little tight, but we find that preferable to a strapless bra that feels like it might fall down at any moment. Even after washing and wearing, the quality stayed the same—no stretching or piling. With detachable straps and an undetectable look, this might be the perfect strapless bra for larger chests, except we wish it came in more than four shades to suit a wider range of skin tones.
Who It’s For: If you’ve experienced constant slippage with strapless bras thus far, the tight and wide band of this one might finally keep things in place for you. The padding around the band kept things comfortable through the snug fit as well.
Materials: Nylon, spandex | Size: 34B–44G | Colors: 3: | Additional Straps: Yes
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Why We Love It: As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. When it comes to PINK’s wallet-friendly ‘Wear Everywhere’ strapless bra, the old adage couldn’t be truer. It has a versatile silhouette that isn’t too low cut or full coverage and a push-up design gives your girls a subtle lift. To prevent any outfit malfunctions, it features no-slip grips at the side and along the top and bottoms, too. The Wear Everywhere bra comes in a wide range of colors that go beyond the classic black and beige, including chocolate brown, tan, and white for any brides-to-be.
Who It’s For: Someone looking for a slightly wider range of colors to choose from. A push-up feature is also great for anyone hoping to put their girls up on a higher display.
Material: Cotton | Size: 32A–40E | Colors: 5 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Splurge
Spanx Up For Anything Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: Spanx is revered for its shapewear, so it makes sense that the brand’s ‘Up For Anything’ bra made the cut. Designed with the brand’s innovative SmartGrip technology, this bra didn’t move an inch, even when we wore it for six hours on end. We were shocked. And no, the bra didn’t put us in a death grip—it was so comfortable, we forgot we had it on. A strip of silicone kept the bra in place, yet it didn’t irritate or leave marks on our skin, like so many other designs do.
Who It’s For: The underwire and molded ups made our already voluptuous breasts look twice their size. For this reason, we recommend these for someone looking for a push-up effect and not someone who wants an everyday appeal.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: 32A–40DD | Colors: 2 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Plus-Size
Curvy Kate Luxe Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: Designed for cups sizes D to L, this strapless bra addresses all the issues from plus-size shoppers. One is the lack of lift and definition—aka the uniboob—from a strapless bra. Megan Irvine, merchant at Bare Necessities, says to shop from brands that specifically design their bras for DD+ chests, as such bras typically have thicker, sturdier cups with boning throughout the band and cups, like this option. This design has well-placed, seamed cups that lifted and separated our D cups. Another issue we’ve faced in strapless bras is feeling like they barely reach above our nipples, leading to a potential nip-slip. The cups provided enough coverage that our breasts didn’t spill as we danced around. In fact, even as we lifted our arms above our head and bent over, the wide band didn’t budge.
Who It’s For: This bra felt snug like a corset, so when you need to lock down your look, this can be exactly what you are looking for. It’s the perfect bra for weddings where a lot of dancing is ensured.
Material: Nylon, polyester, elastane | Size: 28D–40L | Colors: 6 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Convertible
Soma Stunning Starlet Strapless Multiway Bra
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Why We Love It: As the name suggests, Soma’s Stunning Starlet Multi-Way bra is a great place to start if you’re looking for a more versatile option. This strapless style is made for complete coverage with a satin V-shaped panel down the front—which works especially well layered under plunging necklines. It, of course, comes complete with removable shoulder straps that can not only be adjusted to find your perfect fit, but allows the bra to be worn at least five different ways. The brand’s website suggests sizing up to balance its particularly snug fit.
Who It’s For: Someone looking for their first ever strapless bra and wants it to be comfortable and versatile. A full coverage ensures everything will remain tucked in and supported throughout the day.
Material: Nylon, polyester, elastane | Size: 34B–44G | Colors: 2 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Backless
Felina Body Veil Longline Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: Proving that strapless bras have the ability to offer full coverage and still be sexy, Felina’s ‘Body Veil’ design is equal parts modest and aesthetically pleasing—making it a sound investment that goes well beyond the bedroom. Silicone strips, molded cups, and wide power mesh wings give you all the support and shape you are looking for. Though it offers more coverage in the back, the design swoops down in the back. The longline design works well under blazers with high-waisted trousers or a slinky maxi skirt à la the latest runway trends. The brand says it tends to run small, so keep that in mind when choosing your size.
Who It’s For: Finally, a full coverage and supportive bra that you can wear with low-back dresses and shirts. Working double duty, you can camouflage and layer it in a way that would make it function as a cute going-out top.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 32C–38H | Colors: 2 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Bustier
Parfait Underwire Strapless Bustier Bra
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Why We Love It: If you’ve been keeping up with the latest runway collections, then you know that top-drawer dressing is having a major moment. Defined by the style set’s affinity for wearing underwear as outerwear, it manifests itself in the form of slip dresses, exposed bralettes, and of course, bustiers. Parfait’s ‘Elissa’ bra comes in four neutral shades. And whether it was paired under our favorite suiting separates or over a T-shirt for a layered look, the styling options were always cute.
Who It’s For: Wear it as a bra or as a bra top, this option will always look cute while being extremely supportive. A seven-clasp closure ensures nothing will ever slip either.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: 32B–42H | Colors: 4 | Additional Straps: No
Best Plunge
Cosabella Never Say Never Plungie Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: Every well-dressed woman needs a lacy bra in their arsenal. Why not tick two boxes in one with a bra that works with low-cut tops and dresses? Dani Read, senior designer at Cosabella, says that this bra is one of their customer favorites. “It simply checks off all the boxes: smooth lightly lined underwire cups, removable, adjustable and convertible straps, and silicone grips at the top of cups to ensure a secure fit.” Despite the lacey band, the bra stayed invisible under our clothing. Yet what we really loved about this design was the fit. Not too tight nor too loose, this bra didn’t move around at all. Even under low-cut tops, our DD breasts felt secured with just the right amount of coverage. The band does have boning on the side for support, but it didn’t bother us due to its flexibility. In fact, we found this bra comfortable enough to wear daily. Lace tends to be more delicate, yet the fabric didn’t stretch or pill after wearing or washing. Even the removable straps impressed us by not moving around or unlatching while wearing.
Who It’s For: If you already have several strapless bras in your drawer but are looking to spice up the look, a lace option such as this is the way to go. It’s also invisible under plunge necklines.
Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: 30C–36F | Colors: 2 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Full Coverage
ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: Strapless bras don’t have to be reserved for occasion wear. In fact, styles that offer full coverage work just as well under the classic white tee or tank, as they do your pieces with thin shoulder straps. We wore this strapless bra to a pottery class, and we’re pleasantly surprised at how well the design held up despite all the hunching. With full coverage, memory foam cups, and a wide four-hook band, this bra offers ample support without being overly uncomfortable. The bra also looked seamless under clothes, and the quality was top-notch, with no stretching after some wear.
Who It’s For: Full coverage bra, cups lying flat against the chest, and thick comfortable band—this strapless bra can easily replace your T-shirt bra, lounge bra, and every other bra in your closet in case you were looking for a one-and-done bra.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 32A–44E | Colors: 2 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Shade Range
Aerie Real Sunnie Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: We found this bra to be extremely comfortable. For our DD tester, it was the first strapless bra that she could wear for extended periods of time without being uncomfortable. The four-hook band was tight enough to hold up the girls yet didn’t dig or leave marks. Lightly lined, the design provides enough coverage without feeling bulky or showing under clothes. “For everyday use and all-day wear, you don’t need all the bells and whistles,” says Irvine. “Feeling like you’re wearing bulletproof armor isn’t realistic all day.” Therefore, for longer lasting comfort we recommend this option. We wore this bra for a night of dancing and it didn’t move nor did the material make us sweaty. While we loved this bra all around, we do recognize it only goes up to 40D, which doesn’t cater to the widest range of sizes.
Who It’s For: Someone who has sworn off strapless bras in the past but is interested in giving it another go. This extremely comfortable bra is sweat-wicking and lounge-worthy.
Material: Recycled nylon, spandex | Size: 32A–40D | Colors: 5 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Lightly Lined
Victoria's Secret Sexy Illusions Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: A strapless bra that’s comfortable enough to wear all day? Sign us up! As one of the most comfortable strapless bras we’ve tried, this one from Victoria’s Secret was actually one we didn’t want to take off. Featuring the brand’s non-slip cups, the bra lifts and separates without slippage. A wide band offers extra support and side smoothing, yet it wasn’t obvious under clothing due to laser cut edges and a thin makeup. Plus, it continued to look great after wearing and washing, with no major piling or stretching.
Who It’s For: If you find silicone strips painful and aggravating, you’ll be delighted to learn that this bra comes without them. Still, the smooth and sturdy strap keeps everything lifted effortlessly.
Material: Recycled polyamide, elastane | Size: 32A–38DDD | Colors: 4 | Additional Straps: Yes
Best Wireless
Soma Enbliss Stay Put Strapless Bra
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Why We Love It: If you’re someone who despises underwire, you should give this bra a chance. In fact, our tester who typically hates strapless bras ended up falling in love with this one. Thanks to the wire-free design, the bra was extremely comfortable to wear on a day-to-day basis. Nothing was digging, sliding, spilling, or gapping, even while wearing it to a 12-hour-long wedding. The inside of the cups have a slightly sticky feeling—similar to adhesive bras—which helps keep it in place without irritating the skin. The contour cups looked amazing under the bridesmaid dress, both in real life and in the wedding photos. We love it so much, we plan on wearing it with the detachable straps with halter and racerback tops as well.
Who It’s For: A seamless look is ensured with this strapless bra. Anyone in need of a bra that looks and feels close to invisible, this is it.
Material: Nylon, spandex, polyester | Size: 32A–42G | Colors: 5 | Additional Straps: Yes
What to Keep in Mind
- Sizing: From the band size to the cups, finding your correct size is key. “Start with the proper fit—ensure you’re wearing the correct bra size by consulting one of our bra fit specialists. A well-fitted strapless bra should provide the necessary support and stay in place,” says Read. But when shopping online, make a note of the brand’s sizing details–that way you can determine whether sizing up or down is required.
- Cup Shape: Before fully committing to a style, one must first consider the shape that they’re going for; which is often determined by the type of clothing you’ll be wearing it with. If you know you want something that will work hard in your wardrobe, a convertible option with removable shoulder straps ensures versatility. However, for those who want the perfect underpinnings for a low-cut gown or top, a style with a plunging neckline will be better than one that offers full coverage.
- Comfort: While function and fit are of top priority, the way the strapless bra feels is just as important; and in a lot of cases, they go hand in hand. In order to find a style that’s as comfortable as it is supportive, you’ll have to pay close attention to not only the sizing but what the bra is made from. Look for styles that are made with memory foam cups, padded sides, and mesh panels to keep you cool.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you choose a strapless bra for big breasts?
“When choosing a strapless bra for someone with a big bust, prioritizing support and comfort is key,” says Read. “Look for a bra with a wider band to distribute weight evenly and provide added support. Additionally, underwire styles can offer optimal lift and shape, while molded cups or a push-up design can help create a flattering silhouette,” she adds. Irvine recommends a band size with more than two hooks. “Inside the bands, look for styles that are using medical grade silicone, as this is the best in class support that doesn’t irritate the skin,” she advises. Typically, strapless bras made for bigger breasts are made with a rigid cup, says Irvine.
Is it better to size down in a strapless bra?
When it comes to finding your perfect fit in a strapless bra, there’s no one-size-fits-all all solution. But contrary to popular belief, sizing down is not the answer. Always go with your true size, as a strapless bra was already designed to accommodate your body just as is.
How do you prevent a strapless bra from falling down?
“A key feature for a strapless style is a silicone strip along the band or top of cups, which will help prevent slipping, especially for heavier breasts,” explains Read. “Choose a style with a wide band and an underwire to help provide the best support.” With the correct size, proper structure, wide band, and silicone strips, the right strapless bra will stay in place all day.
Why Shop With Us
Shelby Ying Hyde is an InStyle contributor who writes for Harper's Bazaar, Refinery29, The Cut Shop, and more. Before entering the editorial world, she worked as a product copywriter for two large luxury e-commerce companies, where she became well-versed in fits, fabrics, and other unique selling points that make an item special. In order to write this article, she leaned on previous reporting done by Emily Cieslak, who is an associate commerce editor at InStyle as well as a former bra buyer for a major online retailer. In addition to analyzing the feedback from our strapless bras test, they consulted the following experts for additional insight on how to shop for strapless bras when you have a large chest.
- Paula Marie Freo, Intimissimi Training Specialist for Calzedonia USA.
- Dani Read, Senior Designer at Cosabella
- Megan Irvine, Merchant at Bare Necessities
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