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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
A lot has changed over the past few years, so let's discuss — what are your favorite bras for work outfits? Which ones are you wearing for comfort; which for every day? Do you wear a different bra (if at all) on days you work at home? If you've tried any of the tons of indie lingerie brands out there, which ones have been hits — and which are misses?
For my $.02, these are general guidelines for the bras for work outfits:
The best bra for office wear is unobtrusive — I’ve always preferred simple t-shirt bras, with no seams or lace. (To be honest, seeing seams under my clothing bugs me more than the lace!) Some women would put light padding in the list of requirements for office lingerie, so as to hide any “headlights” — but you do you.
Fit is key! Regarding bras: at no point during the day should you have what I call “the quad boob look” — if your bra is cutting into you so it looks like you have four breasts, odds are good your bra is too tight. (I've also recently heard the term “bra hats” to describe bras that are way too big in the band for you, which — LOL — but it's so true. Hit up a bra store with specialized expertise (I've always loved Bra Tenders in NYC), or check out the subreddit, r/ABraThatFits.
Get support from where it matters. Keep in mind that most of your support should be coming from the band, not the straps — know also that if your straps keep falling off your shoulders you can either get them tailored or even buy lingerie just for petite women.
(See more tips regarding fit in our post with style tips for busty women.)
(This is a different post, but regarding panties: yes, your panties can be too tight, and no, it isn’t a good look. Here's our last discussion on the best no-show women's underwear.)
Readers, let's hear from you — what are your favorite bras for work outfits? What are your favorite bras in general these days?
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The Hall of Famers: Best-Selling Reader Favorite Bras for Work Outfits
These are all the bestselling bras that readers love:
(bottom row): lace / black / red / lace
A Few Notes on Special Categories of Bras
- Extremely comfortable bras: Natori, True & Co., Wacoal, Bravado, Soma
- Affordable bras – readers have recommended Warner's and Calvin Klein! Soma also has ones on sale.
- Exercise bras (busty) – Freya, Panache, Athleta, Enell, Luluman (lower impact: Glamorise or Syrokan)
- Busty bras – Chantelle, Fantasie, Birdsong, Freya, Natori, Elomi, Prima Donna, and Le Mystere — and everyone loves the British shop Bravissimo
- Best selection of petite bras – Pepper, Little Bra Co. — also (based on old reader threads) check Aerie!
- Best selection of extra-large bras – Her Room (up to 52J)
- Our favorite nursing bras – Bravado, Cake, Natori, Elomi, Kindred Braverly!
- How to wash your bras – Laundress or Woolite, shaped washing bag, air dry — see all of our tips on bra care!
{related: how to buy a bra}
The Best Bras for Work Outfits
This one is kind of the OG — a number of readers have noted how much they absolutely adore the Natori Feathers bra, both in terms of how they look in the bra as well as the comfort in wearing the bra. It looks fancy in the picture but it's generally smooth under clothes, provided it fits properly. They also have a full cup version for larger breasts. It comes in a ton of colors and sizes 30A-42H (sizes 38DD+ are only in the full cup version).
Other best selling bras at Nordstrom include a bunch from Wacoal: Wacoal Awareness, Wacoal Basic Beauty, and the Wacoal Retro Chic bra — each has more than 2000+ glowing reviews.
Another Natori favorite: readers love the Natori Bliss bra and have noted it's incredibly comfortable. The pictured bralette, in particular, has been a reader favorite over the past few years; they also have an underwire version of it.
Some other options for comfortable bras: True & Co., Natori Pure Luxe, Wacoal, Bravado, Soma. (As a larger-chested woman, I own the last four and think they're that unusual mix of supportive but comfortable… True & Co. rides up on me, unfortunately, but I keep buying different styles because readers love this thing. You can also get True & Co. at Target, for what it's worth, sometimes with a “buy 2 for $X” kind of sale. I just bought the Harper Wilde Bliss bra that I've heard good things about, but haven't tried it yet.)
Speaking of larger chest sizes — this Chantelle one has been a best-seller for years; it's available in sizes 32C-42G. (This Chantelle minimizer is also a best seller, if you're on the hunt for minimizers.)
Other great bras for larger chest sizes (speaking personally!) include Fantasie, Birdsong, Freya, and Natori. I have a lot of random styles from Elomi that I like a lot, but I don't think I've tried their best-sellers, the Matilda and Cate. (Oh wow – I think they stopped selling it for a few years, but the Le Mystere bra that was Oprah's favorite long ago is available again.) And of course, if we're talking about styles for larger-chested women, we have to mention Bravissimo — they sell clothes, swimsuits, and undergarments.
Another huge reader favorite: the Prima Donna Madison, which has been around for 10+ years and how comes in t-shirt styles, bodysuits, plunge bras, balconettes, and more.
{related: 10 things about dressing professionally if you're busty}
Readers, let's hear from you — what are your favorite bras for work outfits? How have your bra-wearing habits changed over the past few years, if at all?
Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!
Stock photo via Pexels / Nataliya Vaitkevich (woman perches on tall chair wearing pants; her blouse is open to reveal her bra).
Anonymous
I’ve had really good luck with Prima Donna bras. I’m chesty and they are effective…but also pretty!
Anon
I’m a 38GG to 40G in UK sizes per abtf (redd1t.)
When I worked in an office, my best fitting bras were Elomi, usually the Matilda style. They’re unlined so I wore silicon nip covers, brand Nippies, which worked very well.
Since working from home I’ve moved more toward bralettes, which are harder to find in my size. The Cosabella Curvy Sweetie in XL fits me, and it’s the only bralette I was able to find for a long time that was big enough in the cup.
More recently, I’ve had a shoulder injury that makes fastening a bra in back or pulling a bralette over my head a painful experience. So I asked again on abtf and got several recommendations for soft front close bras. The winner has been this one, which is between $19 and $26 depending on color
LEADING LADY Women’s Cotton Front-Closure Leisure Bra https://a.co/d/d5UIplu
It’s like a soft sports bra made from t shirt material and fine for WFH or running errands. I wouldn’t work out in it but short of that it’s good for everything else going on in my life.
Anon
I’m going to Norfolk, VA for a conference this weekend, will be free from 5 PM on, will be by myself. Any restaurant commendations? Is it worthwhile to try to hit VA beach? I won’t have a car. Is there easy public transportation between the two cities? Any thoughts welcome!
Orf
A little late to this, but hope you see it. No, there is no easy public transport and it’s probably not worth going to VB without a car. I definitely would not go to the resort area on the weekend in the summer, it will be crawling with tourists. To be honest there aren’t a lot of great food options here, but my favorite restaurants in Norfolk are Luna Maya and Four Eleven York.
Chicago recs
Perfect thread to ask this…any recommendations for a good place to get a bra in downtown Chicago (like Loop up to Lincoln Park or Logan Square area)? Looking for preferably an independent store, good bra fitting and recommendations. It’s been almost a decade since I last did this, and it was in a different city.
Anonymous
I know you want an independent, but I’ve had really good luck with Nordstrom fitters.
Girlonawireless
Don’t know how independent it is (a few locations in NYC), but Journelle on N. Damen in Bucktown. Or u n d e r t h i n g s on Webster in Lincoln Park.
In-House in Houston
I think I need to have “the talk” with my 16 year old niece. My sister, her mother, died 2+ years ago (when she was 14) and it’s just been she and her father since. She’s staying with me for a month (I live in a different city) and she told me she has a boyfriend. She’ll be a junior in HS in the fall, the boyfriend will be a senior. I’m not naïve – I’m sure they’re kissing and if they haven’t already, more than kissing is going to happen. I also want to talk to her about birth control. I went to PP when I was 19 (in college) by myself and I was terrified…I don’t want that for her, nor do I want her to get pregnant or an STD. My question is….should I talk to her dad first? I want to make sure he’s okay with me taking her to a doctor to talk about birth control and STD. She told me her dad knows about the boyfriend and has even met him. I don’t want to overstep my place….TIA ladies.
Anon
I am going to get flamed for this: not every teenager who has a boyfriend is doing the deed, and it’s actually just as important – if not more so – for her to understand that she actually doesn’t have to have sex, nor does she have to do “everything but.” (I’m really weirded out by the whole “I’m not naive – I”m sure they’re kissing” thing. You sound like some of the hard-core evangelicals who clutch pearls at the thought of kissing before engagement. Kissing is super-intimate and leads straight to sex dontchya know?)
The far more important conversation to have with her is about her own boundaries and beliefs about physical intimacy, and her knowledge of the ways in which she can protect herself. Protecting herself includes understanding that any man who isn’t respectful of her boundaries is an arse, not that she should just pop the Pill and start banging.
Cat
I agree with this. (Including the phrasing about kissing. Like- are you even dating in high school if you don’t kiss the person? That sounds like the perspective I had about “dating” in 5th grade. The whole class went oooooooooooh when the boy pecked the girl on the cheek.)
Anon
I would offer to take her if she wants and offer assistance in making an appointment if she doesn’t want you to go with her. Personally I wanted to go by myself when I was 16 and went to Planned Parenthood. FWIW it was a really positive experience for me and I liked how non-judgmental the providers were. I don’t think you need to tell her dad. If he’s not okay with it…then what? She’s on her own? I used to work for PP and believe me, parental permission does nothing to stop kids from having s3x.
Anon
Talk to her first! If she needs help getting birth control worry about if you should talk to dad then.
Anon
repost in the coffee break or tomorrow morning. first of all, so sorry for the loss of your sister. so, idk if legally you can really take her to a doctor? what is your relationship with your BIL? what is your niece doing all day why she stays with you for a month? I think it is fine to have “the talk” with her without speaking to your BIL first. and maybe help her figure out a way to tell her father she wants to see a gyn doctor also – does she have the HPV vaccine? at 16 she can drive, but presumably when her mother passed away two years ago, she couldn’t, and so i’m assuming when she had her period each month her dad was aware so she can buy what she needs? your niece is very lucky to have you in her life.
Anonymous
So nice to see a positive response when you are clearly trying to do your best for everyone in a really tough situation. Your niece is lucky to have you!
Anonymous
The best office or work bra is a bra that fits.
For me, at UK 28HH (US 28M) there really is no other criteria. I am thankful that the bras that fit me the best have no foam or padding since I loathe those materials, but really, if it actually fits and works for my shape I’m buying it. I have zero Fs to give about nipples or seams showing, but I’m European and know that’s not universal.
I must confess to rolling my eyes whenever I’ve seen the pandemic “never-going-back-to-wearing-bras” posts, sinces at my proportions a well-fitting underwired bra is always more comfortable than going bra-less.
Anonymous
Lively bras are great. Light padding, minimal decorations, many without underwires so they’re comfortable, l convertible for shirts/dresses with racer back, and affordable. Highly recommend.