How to find the best wireless bra for comfort and support
There are many reasons why we love bras: they hold out breasts in place, they offer shape and may even give them a “boost” to rock that deep neckline dress. But if there’s one thing we all agree to hate about most bras, that’s the underwire. If it isn’t pinching, poking or leaving you with ugly marks, then it will work its way through the material and stab you when you least expect it. This is exactly why many of us consider the best wireless bra to be a gift sent from the Heavens.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Wireless Bra
Wire or no underwire, it will all be meaningless if you choose the wrong bra size. Say, for instance, that you’ve bought a bra with no underwire that looks very comfortable – but it’s a size too small. At that point, the band may start digging into your skin even worse than the underwire would have. And many complaints about uncomfortable underwires are really due to poor fit in the first place.
Here a quick and simple method to measure your bra size, also called the +4 method. For an even more accurate method, see the discussion on our guide to bras for small breasts.
Step 1: Determine the Size of the Band
You should start measuring your size while not wearing a bra – or at least by wearing one with no padding that hugs you loosely. Take some measuring tape and fit it right under your bust, where the bottom band should go. Make sure that the tape is leveled accordingly and that it surrounds you snugly; you don’t want it to fit you too tight or be too loose.
After that, round your resulted size to the nearest number that is whole. If you got an even number, add 4 inches; on the other hand, if you got an odd number, add 5 inches. The size of your band will be these two summed together. For example, if you measured 32 inches, your band size will be 36. On the other hand, if you got an odd number such as 33, then your final band size will be 38.
Step 2: Measure Your Bust
Once you finished with your band size, you can measure your bust. Take the measuring tape and wrap it somehow loosely around your bust (the full part of it), keeping the tape at a nipple level. Afterward, round it until you reach the nearest whole number. The best wireless bra should fit you snugly, without being too tight.
Step 3: Calculate The Size of Your Cup
Take your bust size and subtract your band size from it. Depending on what the difference is, that will determine your bra cup size. Here what you can get:
- 0 Inches – AA Cup
- 1 Inch – A Cup
- 2 Inches – B Cup
- 3 Inches – C Cup
- 4 Inches – D Cup
- 5 Inches – DD Cup
- 6 Inches – E Cup
- 7 Inches – F Cup
- 8 Inches – FF Cup
- 9 Inches – G Cup
The list can go on like this, but generally, most women do not go past an H cup. Note that the sizing above is from the UK. We have a bra size conversion chart in this article.
Here’s an example of a size: If you have a bust of 37 inches and you subtract a band of 34 inches, you will get a 3-inch difference. Therefore, the size of your bra will be a 34C.
Tips for the Best Fitting Bra
If you want to be even more confident that a particular bra size or style will fit you perfectly, here are a few tips that you might want to consider:
- While braless, bend from the waist forward and put on your bra. This will make sure that your breasts will fall completely into the cups.
- Make sure it’s not too tight, nor too loose; otherwise, it may cause discomfort. The right size will only let you slide one finger under the band.
- Make sure that the front of the bra is always on the same level as the back of the bra.
- Fix any falling straps by tightening the band and shortening the strap.
- Check how you look sideways into a mirror. The best wireless bra will make your breasts sit midway between your elbows and your shoulders. If that is not the case, you may want to look for a better fitting, more supportive bra.
- Wear a close-fitting shirt over your bra. If your breasts bulge or the cups pucker, then the size you are wearing is not correct.
- You might need to adjust the size for a better fit; in this situation, if you need a smaller cup, you ought to look for a bigger band size. For example, if you can’t fill a 34C, then you may want to go for a 36B.
- All bras will loosen over time, so you may want to choose a bra that has the perfect fit on the outermost hooks. Therefore, once the bra loosens, you may get a great fit by moving towards the innermost hooks.
A good wire-free bra will provide support and allow your breasts to keep a natural shape without the discomfort of protruding wires.
Getting the Right Size for Your Comfort
We choose a wireless bra simply because the underwire feels uncomfortable for us. However, keep in mind that regardless if you go for an underwire bra or a sans-underwire one, it will always be uncomfortable if the size is wrong. Your skin will feel sensitive, you may see swelled lumps, or you may experience other skin issues – which will make you dread even wearing the bra.
As a result, whenever we think that the wire is constricting us, it may just be that the bra band is a size too small. In this case, go for the “bigger band – smaller cup” combo, or choose a bra that has a softer underwire. The latter versions are so flexible; they can almost be tied in knots.
If you know for sure that the sizing is not the problem, then yes, an underwire-free bra may be your only solution.
If you just can’t stand underwire of any kind but still want that nice shape and support, you may also go for a wire-free molded bra. The best molded bra with no underwire will offer more support than a regular wire-free bra.
Best Wireless Bra Support for All Sizes
Once the size and fit have been chosen correctly, there’s one more thing you need to keep in mind: the support. When you select the best wireless bra, it’s important to see how it fits your body, but the way in which it supports the “ladies” is also crucial. Here’s what you need to keep an eye out for:
Tight Band
The primary support for your breasts should not come from the straps, but from the band. However, you don’t have to go down a band size to get good support; simply look for the brands that run on the tight side.
Long Line and Wide Bands
A wider band will provide you more support, especially if it has a wire on the sides (although you can go for wire-free there as well). Plus, this version is more flattering than your usual bras, since they fit snugly around the waist and prevent that dreaded “back fat.”
Go for Contour
Who said that the best wireless bra had to be the boring non-padded one? You can also go for contour bras that look like traditional underwire bras – without the actual underwire. Plus, the foam lining will provide a better, more flattering shape to your breasts than the regular, non-padded bras.
Look for Full Coverage
To provide a better lift, you need to ensure that your straps will not be on the sides like a demi-cup bra, but centered above your breasts. Don’t worry; you can still show off some beautiful lines by choosing a full-coverage bra with plunge or triangle shapes as opposed to the regular sport-style bras.
Vertical Cup Seams are a Must
If you’re planning to go underwire-free, then you may want to look for some cup construction details such as a vertical seam. Sometimes, a regular flat triangle won’t do you any good; this is why a bra with vertical seams placed in the middle of the cup will offer you more support than you’d think. Plus, they will also prove to be an asset if your breasts are not as flattering as you may want them to be.
Best Wireless Bra: Our Recommendations
Now that you know how to pick your best wireless bra, we went ahead and researched some good options for you. Among all bras without an underwire, here are the ones that stood out the most:
FREYA Deco Molded Soft Cup Bra
Freya’s Deco Molded Soft Cup Bra is the ultimate leader when it comes to the best wireless bra since it offers wire-free comfort combined with a nice shape of your breasts. You will no longer have to sacrifice looks for comfort with this one. This bra provides a soft cup plunge that offers that natural shape that every breast should possess even though it is not as uplifted as your traditional bra.
The band is fairly wide, with two hooks for fastening. Even if it has no underwire, the correct size of this bra should keep your breasts in their place, making you feel comfortable and fabulous. You will get the plunge effect, sans the poking and protruding of nasty underwires.
The cups, while they are seam-free, have a shape of their own. They will hug your breast nicely, offering an overall full coverage, but also a push-up effect that will make your cleavage look stunning. While the lining may be uncomfortable for women over the G cup, for instance, it still feels brilliant for those with a D cup. Also, if you feel like you want to get more out of the plunge effect, you may want to size it down a cup number; people say it may offer you better results.
If you’re looking for something comfortable, yet not utterly hideous, this should be your go-to. Your breasts will look great underneath your clothes and – why not – without any clothes on. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive than your regular bra, but it’ll be worth every penny. The straps are centered, providing good support so that your cleavage won’t slip out. So, if you’re not certain which non-wired bra you should choose, you can never go wrong with Freya’s “Deco.”
ROYCE Grace Wire-Free Cotton Bra
If padding is not your thing, then the Royce Grace Wire-Free Cotton Bra must make the top of your list. It is currently Royce’s bestseller, so you should definitely take it into consideration. It provides full coverage, and the cotton is so soft and comfortable that you won’t even feel the need to take it off at the end of the day.
There is a multitude of sizes to choose from with this brand and model, going from a small B cup to a more generous FF cup – with a multitude of band sizes as well. There are also many hard to find sizes, so if you’ve always struggled with finding a correct fit, Royce may just have one that’s perfect for you. Since the company is based in the UK, it uses an UK sizing system – so keep this in mind if you plan on making a purchase.
Having 7% elastane in the fabric, the bra itself is stretchy enough to provide a good fit without the addition of vertical cup seams. It may not offer you that plunge effect you’d want for that sexy dress, but it will definitely rock your day when you go for regular clothing. Many of these bras are now available on Amazon as well, and in a larger number than they were two years ago. It’s very easy now to get something comfortable in the right size.
AMOENA Lara Seamless Molded-Cup Wire-Free Bra
Made with 15% spandex, the Amoena Lara Wire-free Bra sure knows how to stretch and at the same time support your breasts well – without the addition of any uncomfortable wires. It has a slightly molded foam cup to offer you a smooth breast shape, and the adjustable centered shoulder straps allow for even more support.
The high gore adds comfort as you are wearing the bra, bringing your breasts together in a sort-of plunge effect without bulges and offering even more support to your bust.
This bra also features tulle pockets where you can add a breast form or symmetry shaper in case you suffered a breast surgery. You’ll finally have an even look and will no longer feel embarrassed about the awkward shape of your breasts – making it for sure the best wireless bra for mastectomy patients.
ONGOSSAMER “Bump It Up” Push Up Bra
If you’re one of those people who love underwires but can’t stand wearing them, then the OnGossamer Mesh Push Up Bra is the perfect choice for you. Indeed, while it does have a wire, it’s so soft that you can barely feel it. You will probably feel it only if you go to bed at night wearing it.
This one is the best wireless bra because you can run about, be active all day long, and not worry that it will fail you when you need it the most. Plus, it will enhance your bust without adding too much padding in the mix.
The reason why this bra is so popular is that it’s relatively inexpensive and it also comes in small sizes that other brands don’t offer – such as 30A or 30B. It’s definitely the best bra on a budget for small sizes.
Removing the Wires from a Regular Bra
Instead of buying a wireless bra, a cheaper do-it-yourself alternative is to remove the underwire from a normal bra. If you decided to go wireless on your bra, the chances are that you did not start off that way. More than likely, you began with a couple of bras with underwire, because they seemed to provide the best shape and support. You obviously loved them and didn’t care about how uncomfortable they turned out to be as long as they were flattering enough.
At some point, however, you came to the realization that you no longer cared about looks; all you needed was the comfort. You could throw your regular bras away and buy new underwire-free bras – but why waste the money? These regular ones sure weren’t cheap; nowadays, it’s even cheaper to buy a shirt than a bra.
Don’t waste money on new bras if you can’t afford one. Just fix your old ones! It won’t be visible, and you can still manage to do it even if you possess basic sewing skills. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A bra
- Sewing needle
- Thread
- Sharp cutting knife or embroidery
Take the bra that you want to modify and poke some small holes at the far ends using the knife or scissors, depending on what you prefer to use. It doesn’t really matter on which side you pull the wire from (inner or outer) as long as you make the hole right at the tip of the wire.
You may want to keep the hole as small as possible so that the damage is minimal. Once you get out the tip, gently pull out the rest of your wire, being careful not to enlarge the hole. If you proceed with caution, you won’t even have to stitch the hole up.
Keep in mind that once the wire is removed, the bra may not have the same shape it had before the removal. If you have a small chest (an A or a B cup), then the change may not be very noticeable. The result will be something like this. However, if you have larger breasts, the outer tips of the bra may hang awkwardly.
Keep in mind that the tighter the bra, the better support it will provide. You may not want to remove the wires from a bra if it has already loosened up with time and wear. However, if done right, it will mean you will no longer have to spend money for comfort.
Potential Problems with a Wireless Bra
Even the best underwire bra will come with its disadvantages. Generally, when it comes to any kind of bra, you’ll learn that you need to prioritize. If you want a perky bust that looks sexy, you will most likely lose front in the comfort area. On the other hand, if you want comfort, then you may also lose that “perkiness” advantage.
Since wireless bras no longer rely on wires for support, they’ll have to offer it in a different manner – and most of the time, it’s by pushing your breasts from the front. Keeping them in a tight fit is the only support you will get, so you must think thoroughly about this and establish if it’s a good option for you or not.
A wire-free bra will not separate and lift your breasts away from your ribcage like most traditional bras do; if chosen wrong, all it will do is create more chafing problems and offer a less flattering shape. It will require a lot of research and a number of fitting sessions to make sure that the wireless bra you have your eyes on is the best one for your breast shape.
Final Thoughts on Wire-Free Bras
Wireless bras are our escape from our daily stressful lives. For instance, if you are having a bad work day, an uncomfortable bra may just make things feel even worse. You may even start hating every man in sight simply because you’re jealous they don’t have to wear bras – and for a good reason.
The best wireless bra so far is the Freya one, although you definitely can’t go wrong with Royce or any other of the mentioned brands. Remember that if you choose the wrong size, even a bra with no underwires may feel uncomfortable – so remember to measure yourself every time before making a purchase (sizes may differ if you tend to have a fluctuating weight).
If you our wire-free recommendations don’t work, consider a nontraditional bra such as a bandeau bra or sports bra. These also work great for casual wear at home or sleeping.