Real Women Approved: The Best Bras and Underwear for Every Body

Happy Tuesday!

I am admittedly still recovering from my bestie Melissa’s bachelorette party 😂 BUT we were up bright and early yesterday to fly to Cincinnati for the week! I’m tagging along on Neal’s work trip (we have the Southwest companion pass, so I can hop on any flight of his for free) because my best friend lives here–we’ll be road tripping to Lexington to visit our friend Nancy (she’s basically our second mom) and stay there for the night.

I basically spent the entirety of yesterday working on this post–I get so many questions about my favorite bras and underwear but it is truly not a one-size-fits-all answer! Every woman’s body is SO different–so, instead of doing a post on just MY favorites, I thought it would be WAY better to ask all of you guys!

I took to Instagram to ask your recommendations and got absolutely flooded with responses! I spent hours pouring over them, tallying up the most popular answers, and hand selecting the best quotes about them that I thought best described why they were so great, what body types and lifestyles they’re good for!

I know I personally got a lot of recommendations I can’t wait to try! Read below for our fellow GG community members favorite bras, undies, and why they love them so much!

(Please note, if your Instagram handle doesn’t say your real name, I just used the first initial of your Instagram handle, haha!)

Reader Favorites–Most Popular Bra Recommendations:

I have to say, I was so excited to come across reader Bri’s incredibly thorough response–she was a certified bra specialist through Nordstrom–so she’s basically our #1 expert here. I thought it was best to start with her advice first and foremost! Bri says…

“First of all, 80% of women are in the wrong bra size. and it’s so hard to name one brand that is perfect for every woman because everyone is so different. Some of my favorite brands are Natori, Chantelle, and Wacoal because they have a large range of sizes for every woman!”

Bri also recommends getting fitted at Nordstrom because I think they have the most accurate sizes. “Even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can still get fitted for free! It will change your life to wear a correctly sized bra!” she gushes.

That being said, a lot of you RAVED (and I mean RAVED) about those exact brands she mentioned–plus, a few more as well! Let’s jump into details!

Natori: Great for ALL sizes–on sale!

This was easily the #1 most recommended brand by woman of all cup sizes–I’d say if you’re looking for a non wireless bra, this is probably where I’d recommend you start, based on all of your feedback! Plus, a lot of their bras are part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (which is only going for a few more days!)

Bri says, “Natori feathers bra is great and it’s always part of Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale! It’s deep v plunge/ life bra with lace for those who are wearing a deep v dress or top that wants a little lift. I’s always such a beautiful bra and it comes in a variety of colors.”

“A” emphatically agrees– “Natori bras are the best thing EVER. I’m a 34C and adore the Everyday T-shirt bra, and so do both my sister and mom! It’s the perfect comfy bra for basically everything (except tops with a super deep v or low armholes) with no show through and just the right amount of support.”

Rachel adds, “I love the Natori feathers bras–they are so pretty with light coverage (I don’t need much!)

Jen echoes the resounding praise for Natori bras and adds another huge plus: “they hold their shape wash after wash!”

Aerie: Great bralettes for all!

Aerie also gave Natori a run for its money–I’ve heard really great things about them before, but I was very excited to hear that even larger chested ladies found their bralettes to be supportive enough–which isn’t something you hear too often! If you’ve been wanting a “barely there” bra–I’d start here!

“I love bralettes from Aerie–I usually wear a medium top but have a larger chest and the large size works great for me. They are comfortable and super cute. Not as supportive as a regular bra but I still wear them all the time. The brand also stands for body positivity which is great and they’re on sale all the time”–Sheila

“I’m very small chested (barely a B and only reached it after age 25!) and love Aerie for bralettes. I don’t need support, so anything that feels as little like a bra as possible is what I am for. I particularly like their unlined and unpadded bras (also confirming your recent discovery that American Eagle actually has some really cute stuff!!” -Liz

“Aerie is great for girls with small frames–they have a 30 band and are cheap!” –Kate

“I love the Aerie Real Me bras–I have a large bust and they are comfy without looking huge!”–Elisabeth

Chantelle Intimates: So many sizes available! (And on sale!)

Bri says, “Chantelle is one of my favorite brands because of the wide range of sizes. They go from A-H and have push-ups and full coverage.”

Reader Yvonne also agrees– “Chantelle bras are great for bustier girls bc the underwear support is awesome. No extra padding, and they’re still pretty which is rare for larger sizes! I love the Rive Gauche bra, which I got during last year’s NSale–it’s on sale again right now!”

FREYA: Ultra supportive AND pretty! On sale, starts at $30!

One of Bri’s all-time favorite brands, “Typically for us bustier women, there’s not a lot of cute options. It’s either old lady minimizers or zero coverage support/cute bras. Freya is a European company that offers super cute options for those of us with big boobs. This happened so often where a young woman would come in and say, “I know there’s nothing cute in my size…” (many of which had been told this at Victoria’s Secret) and I would always pull Freya and they would be amazed!”

Readers like Kate also agree– “Freya is a great brand for small rib cages and large boobs!”

Lively: Great for wireless + strapless!

What seems to me to be a big Third Love rival–I had always wondered about this brand so I’m so glad a few of you weighed in on it and had great things to say. Granted, ThirdLove was a more popular recommendation, but people specifically called out Lively for their wireless bra and strapless bra!

“The strapless bra is life-changing”–Megan

“I recently ordered a wireless bra and bralette from Lively after doing a LOT of research.” –Emily

“Cute, well-priced and non under-wire options for us ladies with surgeries up top!”–Jess

“Never going back to underwire! I’m smaller, but they cater to most sizes!”–J

Wacoal: Great for larger cup sizes!

Another that get’s the bra specialist stamp of approval! It sounds like these are an absolute must for anyone who struggles to find a good supportive bra for larger chests.

Shelby says, “I received the Wacoal “Embrace Lace” bralette as a gift from one of my bridesmaids at my bachelorrete and I LOVE IT. I’m normally a 34DD so bralettes don’t usually come to mind for me but the bio wire is so comfortable and I still feel supported (and it’s cute!) The downside is that the lace is hard to wear under some t-shirts but I still wear it all the time. I have the black and I’m hoping to purchase the beige soon. Can also be made into a racer back!”

Preeti sings Wacoal’s praises–“I’m a 36DD and always used to get VS but they’d push me up so much my cleavage would be at my chin! These are affordable, supportive but still comfy. Plus, you can’t see it under t-shirts! I always used to have to wear camis but I can skip that step w/ these bras. This is the first bra that I felt supported in.”

Stan says, “I’m a 32i and Wacoal bras are my favorite!”

“Wacoal has great minimizer bras for those of us with hefty chests!” – Ally

Calvin Klein: Ideal for all!

This was a dark horse I did not expect–I had no idea CK was known for their bras, but scanning the hundreds of 5 star reviews at Nordstrom will tell you this is clearly a crowd favorite for all bra sizes!

“I exclusively wear Calvin Klein convertible strap lightly lined demi bras with no padding. (Nordstrom Rack always has them at a good price!) They are so comfortable and you cannot see the under your shirts, the stars stay up and still give a good lift . I wear an A cup and have a slender athletic body type. I don’t like their underwear though–I prefer DKNY because they fit perfectly and look good. Calvin Klein ones always fit in a weird way or give you an awkward muffin top. TMI but hopefully this helps!” –Cait

I have a small frame and a fairly large chest (32DD) and the Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit Modern T-Shirt Bra fits PERFECTLY! It’s so smooth and has an amazing range of skin tone colors! It’s also part of the Nordstrom sale but it’s affordable either way. Perfect t-shirt bra, I never have to wear camp’s under sheer tops when I wear it!–Alex

Hanky Panky Bralettes: Barely there bralettes for all sizes

I also wasn’t surprised to see Hanky Panky included among favorite brands for bralettes! They sell quite a few of them at Nordstrom but there are more available on their website as well! I’ve had one for years and love it but my only knock was that it wasn’t lined–I didn’t know they came out with a version with removable padding, so I’m excited to give these another try!

Hanky Panky makes a plus size bralette! So instead of covering like half a nip like that popular free people one, I can cover both tatas. 😂–Becca

“My weight has been up and down over the years, and Hanky Panky has been a favorite all throughout!–Sarah

Third Love: Something for everyone!

I heard a LOT of praise for Third Love due to the fact that they have a huge range of sizes–including 1/2 cup sizes and no slip straps! I can echo the fact that I love this about them, although, I do prefer a bra without underwire–so while it’s very comfortable for an underwire bra, it’s not always my go-to!

The Third Love classic t-shirt bra! I have a larger chest and always struggle with straps slipping off my shoulders and underwire digging into me. This bra feels like butter and fixes both of these problems! –Margot

Caitlin says “I’m a 36E and surprisingly found my size in a majority of their styles. They have great straps and the softest cup material. They also do a “try before you buy” program and if you try it and don’t like it then you can send it back and they dry-clean it and donate it to a woman’s shelter. In addition, recently the wire popped through on mine (had it about 8 months) and I sent them an email and they sent me a free one!”–Caitlin

Jean raves, “I forget I have the bra on!!”

“So many sizes and styles that are inclusive of all body types and boob shapes!”–C

Reader Favorites–Best Underwear:

Hanky Panky:

Its no surprise that my #1 favorite brand of underwear was one of the biggest fan favorites. They make a low-rise and a regular rise thong–I prefer the low rise as the regular rise for me just feels like too much fabric, but that’s definitely an individual preference!

“Hanky Panky retro high-waist thongs are amazing–they are not low rise which I love. Plus, they come in plus sizes. Really comfortable!”–Becca

“Hanky Panky mid-rise or high rise thongs–they are amazing fit and feel like you’re wearing NOTHING! They’re also on sale at Nordstrom right now!”–Nicole

Meghan says of their thong underwear, “I’ve worn them since I was 18 (so 12 years?!) and I am still obsessed!”

M loves their “vikini” underwear–”Zero panty line, no digging into your skin, and they wash well!”

Calvin Klein:

Calvin Klein was definitely a popular recommendation as well–I can vouch for that! I love their invisible undies–they don’t show under anything!

I recently started wearing Calvin Klein underwear and they are so comfortable. I thought the band might be really visible since it’s thick but it hasn’t been a problem. Also they sell them in packs at Nordstrom Rack for the same price as Victorias Secret underwear. –Hannah

“Calvin Klein invisible underwear! It’s super soft and doesn’t show through dresses! Comes in different styles (thong, hipster, etc,) for whatever you like!”–Casey

Zella:

I had no idea Zella made underwear! Makes total sense–and they’re definitely a more affordable alternative to athletic underwear than Lulu’s (which everyone also raves about).

“The Zella underwear from Nordstrom are my favorite! They are breathable and so comfy!” –Chelsea

Aerie:

“I love Aerie undies! They’re so affordable, great quality, and have tons of style options! On their website you can see the different cuts on all different body types which is awesome. Yes, you have to look past some teen branding, but I promise it’s worth it!” -Sarah

“Aerie undies never fail me. They are good quality, comfy, and the lace doesn’t disintegrate in the wash!” –Liz

THINX Period Underwear:

Emilia raves about Thinx period underwear–I totally have heard of these before and I have to admit they severely grossed me out to the point of gagging when I read the term “hold up to two tampons worth” on their website, but then I realized you can wear them however you want–(you don’t have to wear them instead of a tampon or a pad) I would definitely wear them as backup underwear to avoid getting stains in my regular underwear! (TMI?)

Victoria’s Secret:

Hanky Panky low rise thongs are probably my #1 favorite, but the Victoria’s Secret dupes are less expensive and almost as great! Sounds like you guys agree, too!

“The lace hipster thong at Victoria’s Secret is a GOD SEND because it’s sexy but almost has a shapewear-like quality for curvier girls whereas the normal thong doesn’t sit smoothly on your hips and if you’re not wearing shape wear you’ll see a line under your dress. I feel weirdly confident in them, it’s amazing.” –Sam

Hannah also loves Victorias Secret thongs– “I’ve been buying the stretch cotton lace waist since HIGH SCHOOL (I’m almost 29…so over 10 years!) They got rid of them a few years ago and I almost rioted. I’ve bought other underwear thinking I’ll like it but never wear it and it sits in the back of the drawer unused–but they’ve since brought them back! I love it because it doesn’t pinch your side fat like a lot of thongs do and I have a big ole booty and it’s not uncomfortable!

“I love their boy shorts for booty coverage in dresses and they go over my stomach!” –Jess

“The best undies I’ve found are the VS Seamless thongs, they are high-waisted, but comfy!”–Brie

Spanx:

Spanx everyday shaping thong and the undie-tectable thong/panty. Sexy and keeps everything in! Good for anyone who isn’t super toned throughout the lower tummy area. I’m 5’3, 145, not quite curvy but not thin, works perfect for me. Great upgrade from old school Spanx shorts, which just tend to be too much fabric. The thong and undies are a little on the pricier side but Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has some on sale for $15! Wore the thong under my wedding dress!” –Abbey

Gap Body:

“I looovvveee the Gap Breathe Undies! It’s been two years since I switched and threw out all the others!” –J

“Gap Body undies are the softest I’ve ever worn. They come in most cuts too!”–Lauren

“They are so freaking comfy, you forget you have them on!”–Shelbee

Soma:

I can’t even TELL you how many of you raved about Soma’s Vanishing Underwear! I have also tried these and agree they really don’t move AT ALL–so if you prefer non-thong underwear, they’re definitely worth checking out.

Taylor says, “Soma’s Vanishing Edge Underwear are amazing for any body type–they have so many styles and they show through nothing–no wedgies–I can even wear them under tight leggings!”

Ally agrees, saying “they are amazing! No lines, no moving!”

Lululemon:

“The NamaStay thong is the absolute best for working out–no panty lines!”–Tay

“I love Lulu underwear! It’s seamless and it does not show through anything!” –H

“They’re expensive, but I swear by lululemon undies, especially if you work out often!”–Gina

Would LOVE to keep the conversation going–is your favorite on here? If not, tell us what it is, and why it’s so great! If you’ve been having trouble finding the perfect bra and underwear for you, I hope this gives you a great start!

Comments

AMANDA B MAHONY says

July 31, 2018 at 7:59 am

I actually exclaimed yay when I opened my inbox and saw this post- I commend you on your ability to honor what real women want to hear everyday on your blog!

I would add: Madewell makes the best underwear, ever. I got a gift cert for christmas and blew it on panties and was blown away. I stocked up during the Nordstrom sale.

Kathleen says

August 2, 2018 at 10:39 am

Great post, and AMEN to Calvin Klein T-shirt bras! I’m also completely obsessed with Commando underwear, specifically their thongs. I’m not particularly in love with wearing underwear generally (real talk: 30 is too old for wedgies) and thongs are kinda weird sometimes. But these are a dream to wear- literally zero digging, lines, or discomfort, they last a long time unlike some other seamless panties that have ripped in…odd..places for me, are so soft you forget you’re wearing them, and are totally un-seeable even under thin fabrics. I also love them for travel- you can pack lighter since they wash well in the sink and dry in ~30 seconds. They’re pricy, but so, so worth it.