The 16 Very Best Bras

Sizes: 32C–44E with A- and half-cups (like B½) | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: V-shape, unlined (foam-free and double-layered)

The intention of an unlined bra is to show off the natural shape of your breasts, without any foam, padding, or pushing up. But there’s less material in an unlined bra, so you might feel like your breasts are more on display, while your nipples aren’t smoothed over as they would be with a traditional lined bra. The Second Skin from ThirdLove is one of the better unlined bras I’ve tried out. The cups have a double layer of fabric, so the bra looks more opaque than sheer. But it’s still lightweight, because it’s made from breathable microfiber. Though it’s not the most uplifting of bras — you’re better off with ThirdLove’s T-shirt bra if you want more of a boost — I feel supported and secure whenever I wear it.

Sizes: 30A–44E with a few H-cup options | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: Cups cut with deep V, unlined with sheer or printed mesh

The Cuup Plunge is a favorite among a number of current and former Strategist staffers, including writers Chloe Anello, Latifah Miles, and Dominique Pariso. Anello made an exception to her “no-real-bras rule” for this one. “Surprisingly, it gives lots of support despite how thin it feels,” she says. You have to be okay with sheerness, as the Plunge is made of mesh that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. (If you want a plunging style with more coverage, go with our best overall Feathers from Natori.) But that’s what gives it the “French girl” vibe that convinced Amanda McMillan, a restaurant general manager in Brooklyn, to give it a try. A former “underwire cynic,” McMillan says the bra has a barely there feel, and she likes that it doesn’t contort her chest. Maude founder Éva Goicochea is another fan and wears the Plunge as lingerie. And the bra comes in a range of colors, from “core” nude tones to brighter shades of citrine, chartreuse, and coral.

Sizes: 30A–44E with up to H-cup options | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: Balconette-style, unlined with darted seam on cups and made from sheer mesh

Cuup’s Balconette bra is made from the same sheer, stretchy mesh as the Plunge. It highlights the natural shape of your breasts rather than molding them — the effect reminds me of Thirdlove’s unlined Second Skin bra. A big difference between the Balconette and the Plunge is that the Balconette has a darted center seam at the bottom of each cup for some shaping, and there’s a taller, narrower gore — the strip of fabric in between the cups — for closer-together cleavage. The Balconette does what a balconette should do: make you look well rounded. I got a good lift from the bra, and the cups really showed off the tops of my breasts. The lower neckline is what Beverly’s owner Beverly Nguyen likes best about the Balconnette: It makes for the “perfect half-corset fit” and doesn’t sit too high on her chest. This bra is meant to be flaunting, and it is, so it’s not the best thing to wear underneath a T-shirt, as it won’t be the most smoothing.

Sizes: 30A–38G | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: Contour cups in a T-shirt style, foam-lined

Think of a contour bra like the push-up bra’s cousin. This style features cups specially cut to sculpt the bust without the lumpiness of a push-up’s padding. Natori’s Bliss, which is designed in a T-shirt style and comes with a touch of padding, gives wardrobe stylist Grace Thomas the “subtle lift most of us are looking for in our bras.” She even goes as far as to call it an upgrade to our top-pick Feathers bra for its well-thought-out details. The cups of the Bliss are cut just low enough to wear with a V-neck without having to worry about the top of the bra playing peekaboo, as is the band, which is scooped in the back and easy to wear with tops that bare slightly more skin. Still, Thomas adds that the band isn’t overly narrow — it falls higher on the sides, and she likes that the lace trim throughout makes the Bliss a sexier version of an everyday bra.

Sizes: 34B–42C with D- and DD-cup options | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: T-style style, lined with foam cups, extra-wide side-coverage panels

Sometimes you need a little extra support on the sides, so this Warners bra features the brand’s signature “No Side Effects” fit, meaning the band has higher and wider panels on each side of the cups. Pre-Warners, I would often struggle with spillage. Intentionally showing off sideboob is one thing, but feeling like my chest is oozing out around the edges is not what I’m going for. The side panels on this bra sit higher and closer to my armpits — even more so than Wacoal’s minimizer — to hold me in. It’s surprisingly comfortable. My sides aren’t unpleasantly smushed in. (Stylist Allie McKenna goes for the wireless version and says it’s one of the only bras she doesn’t feel like ripping off after a long day.)

Sizes: Cups A–G | Underwire: Yes | Cup style and coverage: Deep V-shaped plunge, unpadded, adhesive wings

When we asked seven lingerie experts about the best backless bras and boob tape, NuBra emerged as the best of the best. The Feather-Lite is notable for its sizes (cups A to G is a generous range in the world of backless bras, from what I’ve seen), and shades (with tones of tan and chocolate, as well as brighter hues like coral and lilac). It’s the bra that Caldwell wore on her wedding day. “It was 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 percent humidity, and that sucker stayed on,” she recalls. The impressive feat comes down to the “really, really sticky” gel that’s inside the cups of the bra. Just note that there’s a bit of a learning curve to putting it on: “My biggest tip is not to try to put your entire breast into it — that’s not how it works,” Caldwell explains. “It’s supposed to just sit on the front of your breast and then clip in the middle.” You can also rewear the Feather-Lite over and over, as it can be hand-washed with soap and water without the bra losing its stickiness.

Sizes: XS–XL (equivalent to 30B–38D) | Underwire: No | Cup style and coverage: Pullover, scoop design with removable pads

If comfort is a top priority, you can’t go wrong with this bralette from True & Co. It’s made from a stretchy nylon that feels almost invisible, as thin as a sheet of paper, and Strategist contributor Brodie Lancaster calls it softer than any other bra material she’s encountered. The bralette is like a cross of a T-shirt bra and a sports bra, providing both lift and support. Leave the removable cups in for a more molded silhouette, or take them out for a more natural look with less lift. True & Co. uses lettered sizing (XS –XL), but makes both a “standard” size for A through D cups and a “full” size for DD, E, DDD, and F cups. The design remains the same whether you order a “standard” or a “full,” and I went with a large in the standard range of cup sizes since I wear a 36D. The bra is well fitting, and I like it a little better than the True Body Lift V Neck Bra from the same line, because the Scoop version has adjustable straps for a more made-for-you fit. Finally, the longline silhouette offers some underboob smoothing, which is a nice bonus.

Sizes: 0–5+ (equivalent to cup sizes A–G) | Underwire: No | Cup style and coverage: V-neck, high-cut cups, clasps in back, unlined with sheer micro-mesh

Negative’s Sieve bra has been called the archetypal wireless bra — unstructured, comfortable, and lifting. It’s one of our favorite wireless bras for small breasts, and I it deserves a place here as well. Blogger Frances Kwon likes it for its mesh construction. Photo producer Emily Eisen describes it as lightweight and “a little sexy.” It was the only bra former Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler took on her two-week honeymoon. And according to Anello, it is supportive enough for those who have bigger chests, too.

Sizes: XS–XL (equivalent to 28DD–40H, with extended sizes 1X–3X here) | Underwire: No | Cup style and coverage:  Pullover V-neck design that’s lined with mesh

While reporting our guide to the best wireless bras for large breasts, I heard much praise for Cosabella, and tested the brand’s best-selling Never Say Never bra. Even though it doesn’t have an underwire, I thought the bralette felt close enough to an underwired bra, support wise. The wide, side-smoothing band works wonders, stretching under my breasts and around my back. Because the bra is lined with mesh underneath the very pretty lace, it’s comfortable, breathable, and not at all scratchy. It’s also available in hard-to-find band- and cup-size combinations like 28DD and 40H, and there are a number of versions like petite, ultra, curvy, and beauty to fit different bodies.

Sizes: XXS–6XL| Underwire: No | Cup style and coverage: Scoop design, racerback, longline silhouette, designed for full coverage

It would be a Herculean effort to count how many times we’ve heard about Girlfriend Collective’s Paloma bra, making it rise above all the other contenders. (It was also featured in our best sports-bra guide.) Lauren Roxborough, former head of marketing for hot-yoga studio Y7, turns to it when she knows she’s in for an active, sweaty class. Natalie Holloway, co-founder of Bala (maker of our favorite stylish wrist weights), likewise relies on hers for intense workouts:. “It isn’t restrictive in your movement and shows none-to-little sweat,” she says. But it works outside the gym, too: Lancaster wears it for WFH, saying that it stays put, is structural, and supports her chest (thanks to its compression style) without becoming uncomfortable. “If anything,” she says, “it encourages me to sit up straighter, for which my osteopath is grateful.”