Strapless Bras

It is easy to look at the way a conventional bra is designed and assume that the support comes predominantly from the shoulder straps. At first glances, bras do indeed look like the over-shoulder support is what holds the breasts up and anchors them in place, with the rest of the garment simply providing a foundation for the straps to build on. In actual fact, on a well fitting bra, a minimal amount of support should be provided by the shoulder straps – and due to this, strapless bras have become an increasingly popular item of lingerie.

A great amount of women’s fashion makes wearing a bra at best unsightly and at worst impossible. Garments such as halterneck tops, so-called “boob tubes” and a variety of necklines are cut in such a way that it is exceedingly difficult to wear a bra underneath and for it to remain out of sight. Of course, this is more vanity than anything, and it is certainly better to wear a bra – and thus be supported and comfortable – with the straps showing than wear no bra at all. However, a good strapless bra means you can go bare-shouldered and wear a bra at the same time – there is no need for compromise.

Perhaps more than any other type of bra, a strapless bra must be a good fit. A standard good fit of a bra includes a back strap that is always horizontal, cups that fit neatly around the breast without digging in or becoming baggy and ensuring the front of the bra sits on the sternum and not the breast. Added in to these usual considerations are those to consider specifically when purchasing a strapless bra; you must study the amount of support and ensure it will offer a good lift and keep your breasts in place. The best strapless bras are aided in this by silicone strips, so ensure these are comfortable on your skin and do not dig in.

A common misconception about strapless bras is that they can only hold and support what you already have, but it is perfectly possible to wear a strapless bra and achieve a boost to your cleavage. A good, solid underwire will help this and you can also purchase bras with “bump” pads that are placed inside the cup and help create an uplift – most strapless bras will come with these attached, but you can also buy them separately.

The final point I will make on strapless bras is to keep them simple and, wherever possible, close to your skin tone in colour. The very purpose of them means you will be showing a little more skin and just because a bra is strapless doesn’t mean it is utterly invisible, so understated colours are a good idea.

If you can bear all this is mind, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t be bare shouldered and supported at the same time.