Ask Belle: Backless, Strapless Bra Suggestions
Apr 13, 2015
Hi Belle,I have been seeing so many gorgeous backless dresses for Spring/Summer. I have an ample chest (34D) and haven’t been able to find a good bra to wear with them. Do you have any suggestions for something that will provide support but still be invisible?
Thanks! MB
Good strapless bras are hard enough to find, but backless and strapless? Woof.
NuBra is a popular option. I like their UltraLight bra. It comes in sizes up to DD, but it may not be comfortable on larger-chested ladies. Fashion Forms also makes an underwire backless, strapless bra that people rave about.
Several bloggers also tout the glories of the Faveo Freedom D+ Perk-Ups. They look a bit like a torture device, but if they work, their odd look will be hidden under your clothes.
Can’t recommend the Nordstrom Intimates Backless Strapless bra enough. I’m a C or D cup depending on the brand and in my humble opinion it works way better than a NuBra. I’ve had it for a year and it still sticks just fine. I threw away my NuBra after buying it.
co-sign. this thing is great and actually stays on. it’s not the support of a regular bra (obviously), but a big step up from the nubra.
I have the NuBra version of this. Love it. It’s actually more comfortable than a regular strapless bra (I’m a C). The only thing I didn’t like about the regular NuBra was that the cups would get super sweaty really easily. It was pretty gross. That doesn’t happen with these, and if the sticky parts get a bit sweaty, well at least it isn’t your whole boob.
Why not pick a contrasting color cross back bra, and just play up the fact that people can see your straps? This would work well with a bra that has interesting strap details. Think “Broad City”.
If you want a really good strapless/backless, and you’re above a C, you really need to invest in a corset. It’s the only way to avoid constant adjusting, which doesn’t look good on anyone.
I’m a 34DD and had found an amazing white dress that was basically backless with side cutouts for my bachelorette party.
This was the dress:
https://www.6pm.com/amanda-uprichard-wallis-dress-ivory
I was determined to find a bra to make this work. I bought and returned quite a few – including the NuBra – but nothing worked or held me up.
I finally tried the Fashion Forms Go Bare Ultimate Boost bra and it surprisingly worked! It has sticky sides which lasted throughout a night of dancing in AC and was easy to apply. While nothing is going to be fully supportive, the underwire definitely helped and I honestly was comfortable the whole evening.
https://www.fashionforms.com/product/go-bare-ultimate-boost/
Hope this works for you too!
Don’t do the NuBra UltraLight bra. I’m a 34D and I tried it for an event and it became a glorified nipple cover (no support at all, I would have been drooping had it not been for the clingy fabric of my dress holding the twins in).
I would suggest the panache super bra which you can order from bravissimo, in the UK. It goes up to a k cup, and it is convertible… you can also google how to convert your US bra size to UK sizing, or talk to a service rep. You can wear it later with or without the straps– I ordered one for a strapless moh dress, and liked it quite a bit.