Lingerie Experts on How to Find the Right Bra for Small Boobs
All bras are not created equal—and sometimes it can feel like finding the best bras for small busts is an endless saga of ill-fitted pieces that feel more straight-jacket than sexy. But no more, say goodbye to too-loose straps and gaping cups and discover a world of support and comfort with our 21 top-selling picks. But before we jump into that, there’s some need-to-know info that lingerie experts told us to keep in mind when shopping for a bra for small breasts:
Small boobs need support.
Whether you’re rocking a AA or a DD, you need lift and support for one simple reason: gravity. According to Emily Lau, founder of The Little Bra Company, even the tiniest amount of breast tissue will eventually stretch and sag, and a well-fitting bra can help prevent that. This doesn’t necessarily have to translate to an underwire bra, so don’t worry about relegating your wire-free or strapless favorite to the bottom of your drawer. Elma Valerio, founder of Elma Shop, notes that support should depend on how your breast tissue sits. People whose breasts are bigger on the bottom, for instance, could get ample support from a longline bra or a wider band, while those who are fuller at the sides might find that a bra with a wider back and three sets of hooks provides the optimal fit.
Pay attention to the spacing of the bra cups.
So much of the bra-shopping process hinges on the size (or letter) of the cup—but according to the experts, the key to getting the best fit might actually be in how the cups are spaced out on a bra. If your breasts are set wider apart, for example (which is often the case for smaller-chested people, per Valerio and Rachel Klein, owner of Lula Lu Petites), a bra with touching cups isn’t great; instead seek out a style that has a one-inch gap between the cups, to ensure that they’re sitting right over the breast instead of toward the center.
Bralettes are a small bust’s best friend.
Never underestimate the power of a bralette. Wireless bras and bralettes are ideal for people with small boobs, not only because they’re seriously comfortable and don’t have the dreaded underwire, but also because the silhouette frames the natural shape of the breast. “The triangle cup tends to be the most flattering for a smaller chest just because it’s the smallest cup type,” Valerio explains. Plus, bralettes just so happen to be en vogue, which makes finding them seriously easy.
Now, onto the best bras for small breasts. Ahead, our top 21 picks in a variety of styles.
