By KBC Associate :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1999x0:2001x2)/peo-strapless-bra-test-spanx-up-anything-abigail-wetzler-02-2-910e9b4560d147808880588ee2ec05b4.jpeg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The Best Strapless Bras We Tested: Spanx, Amazon, and More")
Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based writer, editor, and content creator with over 10 years of experience covering beauty and style topics.
Strapless bras are the undergarment of choice for strapless dresses and off-the-shoulder tops, but finding the perfect one can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The best strapless bra is one that provides coverage and support, looks good underneath clothes, and, most importantly, won’t slip and slide throughout the day. Of course, not all strapless bras are created equal — some can’t stay put, some dig into the skin, and others simply don’t provide enough lift.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best strapless bras on the market to make shopping a little less cumbersome. Each style was put through two weeks of testing before being ranked on comfort, fit, support, quality, and adjustability. Our top picks, below.
Our Stars
NEED TO KNOW
Jené Luciani Sena is an internationally renowned bra expert, style consultant, and author of “The Bra Book.” She has also hosted the Lifetime Network’s Mom’s Personal Shopper series. Below, she shares all there is to know about strapless bras before shopping.
- Cup size: “If you get any spillage […] or any gaping (space between the cup and the breast), this is a sign of a wrong cup size,” says Sena. “Also, if it’s an underwire style and the underwire starts riding up the underside of your breast, it’s likely too small.”
- Band size: According to Sena, the band is where 90 percent of a bra’s support comes from, which is especially true when you eliminate the straps. “Any squeezing or bulging from the band likely means it’s too small,” she says. On the flip side, if it’s slipping down, it’s either too big or stretched out. As a general rule of thumb, the bra band should sit horizontal across your back — if it’s riding up in the back, it’ll slide down in the front, which ultimately indicates a lack of support, says Sena.
- Style: A bandeau-style strapless bra works for most articles of clothing and tends to be the most comfortable. A push-up strapless bra is ideal for small-busted women looking to add volume as well as women with volume loss looking to push breast tissue upward, says Sena.
- Fabric: In general, microfiber, a combination of nylon and spandex/lycra, is a good fabric to choose, and this combination varies by bra. “The higher the nylon content, the softer the feel while the higher the spandex content, the more stretch, recovery, and support,” says Sena.
Reviews
Best Overall: Spanx Suit Your Fancy Strapless Bra
People
Our tester described this underwire style from Spanx as incredibly comfortable, with a barely-there feel and perfect fit. This bra laid nicely, stayed put, and the underwire didn’t dig, she explained.
In terms of how well it wore throughout the day, our tester gave the bra high marks. “I anticipated a lot more movement but was pleasantly surprised by how secure it felt,” she noted. Plus, while the band has silicone strips to keep the bra in place, they didn’t cause any irritation. She also highlighted that the band’s super soft nylon material felt lovely against her skin.
Band Sizes: 32–40 | Cup Sizes: B–DD | Removable Straps: No
Best for Small Busts: Pepper Strapless Bra
People
Our tester for the Pepper Strapless Bra wore it for eight to 12 hours and found that, unlike other strapless bras, she didn’t have to adjust it throughout the day. She attributed the bra’s ability to stay in place to the wider band, which was about two inches wide at its narrowest and provided a lot of support.
She found that this strapless bra kept its shape very well during the test period, even after washing and wearing. But she was most impressed that there was no fraying or signs of wear and tear on the bra, despite wearing it for multiple hours a day. The bra also got bonus points for being made sustainably.
Band Sizes: 30–40 | Cup Sizes: AA–B | Removable Straps: Yes
People
Best for Large Busts: Curvy Kate Luxe Strapless Bra
People
Our tester, who typically wears a size 36C, wore this Curvy Kate Luxe Strapless Bra in a size 34D and noted how the cups felt “quite nice.” While the bra features boning on the sides, our tester didn’t experience any discomfort or irritation. In fact, she was a huge fan of the bra’s corset-like structure which felt like shapewear. Thanks to the boning, it maintained its shape and size.
The band of the bra stayed in place and kept the bra up extremely well without shifting around. In terms of coverage, she said that the rounded cups covered her cleavage from top to bottom. All in all, this strapless bra provided a snug fit on our tester’s large bust and maintained its quality during the testing period.
Band Sizes: 28–40 | Cup Sizes: D–J | Removable Straps: Yes
People
Best Plunge: Cosabella Never Say Never Plungie Strapless Bra
People
The Cosabella Never Say Never Plungie Strapless Bra received high marks across the board. Our tester highlighted the bra’s perfect coverage and noted how secure it felt. The plunge worked perfectly for lower-cut tops and dresses. The band was seamless and felt 100 percent comfortable to wear every day. In fact, even though this style has an underwire, our tester said she couldn’t feel a thing, and the soft, flexible boning on the sides didn’t cause any discomfort. The bra was very supportive due to the curved shape of the band, which provided security and lift.
The bra looked very sleek and hidden under clothes and our tester noted how well it retained its shape and size, adding that it did not change through the wear period. All in all, this style provided comfort, lift, and a seamless look.
Band Sizes: 30–36 | Cup Sizes: B–F | Removable Straps: Yes
Other Strapless Bras We Liked
Below are four strapless bras that our testers liked but felt didn’t make the cut for various reasons such as inaccurate sizing, inability to wear all day, and issues with tightness. Still, these bras were comfortable, durable, and camouflaged well underneath clothes.
How We Tested
During a two-week period, our testers were asked to wear the strapless bras under a variety of circumstances. First, they evaluated how comfortable the bra was, if it dug into the skin, and whether or not there were any tags that caused irritation or discomfort. In terms of fit, our testers looked at how well the bra retained its shape and size over the testing period and after washing. They also considered if the bra provided adequate coverage and how the bra appeared underneath clothes.
Each strapless bra was ranked based on how much support it gave. Our testers looked at the thickness and width of the band, padding, underwiring, and how well the bra was able to stay up throughout the day without slipping. Finally, our testers judged the bras based on ease of putting on and taking off, as well as any notable features that set it apart from others on the market such as removable straps, silicone edges, or adjustable padding.
More Winning Bras
If you’re looking for more strapless bra options, here are some other favorites we tested, including padded, adjustable, and wireless bra options. These styles ranked high in terms of fit, support, and quality, and work well under a variety of garments.