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HALTERNECK tops are back, but there’s nothing more unfashionable – or unflattering – than having your bra straps showing underneath.
With that in mind, and to celebrate National Lingerie Day today, it’s time to invest in a good strapless bra.
Lucie Coates, who has a 32JJ bust, we put the high street’s strapless bras to the test
Sadly, women blessed with a fuller bust may struggle to find one that provides adequate support.
So, with the help of fuller-busted influencer and model Lucie Coates (@Lifeoflucie_), 32, from Bournemouth, who has a 32JJ bust, we put the best strapless bras on the high street to the test.
Panache
suppliedDana Balcony Strapless Bra, £46[/caption]
Lucie says: “I love this bra and couldn’t believe how comfortable it was the second I put it on.
“It feels really sturdy and is holding me up really well, but it is still really comfortable. I could see myself dancing the night away in this with no worries.”
Rating: 5/5
Elomi
suppliedSmooth Moulded Strapless Bra, £47[/caption]
Lucie says: “The backband on this isn’t giving much support and while it’s definitely comfortable, it’s not holding me up as well.
“I do however like the deep V cut on this bra, meaning we’re getting a little bit of cleavage – perfect if you’re wanting to wear a plunging neckline.”
Rating: 3/5
M&S
suppliedBody Define Wired Strapless Bra, £26[/caption]
Lucie says: “Normally I wouldn’t buy fuller bust bras from M&S because it’s not a specialty shop, but I am pleasantly surprised with this.
“The sizes don’t go up to my JJ cup size, so I have on my sister size, a 34H, and it’s still giving me a really good lift. It’s comfortable, too, and a great high street option if you are in need of a fuller bust strapless bra.”
Rating: 3/5
Curvy Kate Plunge
suppliedHey Girls SuperPlunge Strapless Multiway Bra, £42[/caption]
Lucie says: “Who says strapless can’t give you a nice cleavage?
“Curvy Kate has revolutionised the strapless bra game and I love this for my nights out. If you want to wear something that is low cut and strapless, then this is the bra for you.
“It doesn’t have quite the same level of support as ones with fuller cups, and there is more spillage in this, but it still holds you in enough to do the job.”
Rating: 4/5
How to know your bra size
WHILE it is beneficial to get measured by a specialist bra fitter, if you do want to find your bra size yourself, here are a few simple steps you can follow:
Wrap a tape measure around your ribs just at the point of where your bra band will sit. Keep the tape measure level and not too tight – you should be able to fit two fingers underneath. Measuring in inches if the number is odd, round up to the nearest even measurement. This is your back band. For your cup size, you then wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust. Again, don’t pull the tape too tight. Take a note of the measurement in inches – the difference between your cup and back measurement relates to which cup size you are. So a 2 inch difference is a B cup, three is a C, 4 is a D and so on.Curvy Kate Luxe
suppliedSmoothie Moulded Strapless Multiway Bra, £36[/caption]
Lucie says: “This is a really good strapless bra. I feel supported and secure.
“It’s also worth noting that lots of these strapless bras also come with straps, so you can also wear them as a normal bra, to get the most out of them.
“This one feels a bit more structured with the boning detail, but it is still an excellent good option.”
Rating: 4/5
LUCIE’S VERDICT
“It wasn’t until I became a part of the fuller bust space that I actually started wearing strapless bras.
“I used to avoid them, because I first tried them years ago before they advanced. But over the last couple of years the game has definitely changed.
“I look for a very supportive back band with some grip, or else you’re constantly moving it, plus smooth fabric so that you can wear under dresses.
“And you definitely want no squishing of your actual chest.
“However, you still can’t shop for bras like this everywhere, with most of them being from specialist lingerie shops.
“Price-wise they weren’t as bad as I was expecting, but again you can’t just pop into the likes of Primark and buy a bra for less than £20.”
Still a long way to go
By Abby McHale, Deputy Fashion Editor
These days shopping for a fuller bust bra is more accessible than ever before, with many high street brands offering DD+ ranges.
However, when it comes to strapless bras, there is still some more work to do.
Bras in Lucie’s JJ cup size were very hard to come by, with many brands, including the likes of M&S, stopping at an H cup.
And while ‘sister sizes’ can work – as seen here – it seems there is still a taboo around fuller busted women being able to wear a strapless bra.
Halternecks are a big trend this year and this style should be accessible to everyone, not just those with a smaller bust who don’t need as much support.
In fact, 80 per cent of the support comes from the back band, meaning support can still be there with a strapless bra.
Specialist lingerie brands are paving the way, but as you can see here, it is mainly those brands that offer strapless options for fuller busts.
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