You have certainly heard of a bra, but what about a bralette? While they have a lot in common, they’re not exactly the same thing! While underwired bras have dominated the market, the bralette has been around for over 100 years enjoying its own quiet popularity.
So sure, they sound pretty similar, but what’s the real difference between your average bra and a bralette? In simplest terms, a bralette is a bra without wires that has only a little or no padding. They are usually fashioned from soft fabrics like cotton that have a very comfortable feel, and result in a breast shape that is more natural because there are no artificial structures in their make up.
The first question most women ask is if the Bralette is supportive. Overall, they are somewhat less supportive than a wire bra or a sports bra, but still preferable to nothing at all, and comfort is their main draw. Bralettes do provide a modicum of support however, and how much depends on the type of bralette you are wearing.
For example, a bralette with a soft 3-part cup, meaning each cup has a seam running down the front of it, and a wider spandex band resembling a sports bra can be very supportive! These happy mediums are a favourite of women who lead an active lifestyle but still want the comfort and freedom of movement a bralette provides.
There are also very thin yoga-style bralettes, cami bralettes and lacy bralettes, that are all very lightweight. These types of bralettes don’t give a lot of support and structure, but are extremely comfortable for the wearer, especially when stretching their bodies in exercises like yoga poses.
Breast size is also a factor in all of this. For a woman who is larger than a C cup, many bralettes won’t feel as supportive as they might for a woman with more petite-sized breasts. Even so, it is still possible for an amply endowed woman to wear a bralette! Women with large busts tend to rely on that wire, but a good level of support can still be provided by a wire-free bralette. Some people think that a no-wire bralette will cause a woman’s chest to appear flat, but there are many new styles available now that combine all the best features of bralettes and sports bras to give a woman with a large cup size a comfortable option that still accentuates her natural resources.
Some women wonder when it’s appropriate to switch over from a traditional bra to a bralette. Basically, they are great for casual situations where comfort can take precedence over appearances, and it doesn’t matter if nipples are visible because they aren’t hidden by a pad. It’s still best to wear a sports bra for hard physical activity that requires real support and protection, and a wire bra is preferred for business or formal occasions where you want to show off your assets with grace and style. You can just put on your bralette when it’s time to kick back and relax!
