You may have heard about bralettes, and you’re probably wondering what they are or how different they may be from a traditional bra. Growing up, you might have known various breast undergarments and called them all bras.
In some cases, lingerie stores put all bra styles in one section. This could be one of the reasons why it may be challenging for some women to identify a bra from a bralette. In truth, these two aren’t similar. Understanding the difference between these two will help you know which style suits you best.
This article explains what separates a bra from a bralette to make things easier for you. Besides that, you’ll also learn how to choose one for yourself. Keep reading to find out more.
What Separates A Bralette From A Bra?
A bra is designed to support and sometimes elevate a woman’s breasts. This type of underwear might be padded or not and could have an underwire or lack one.
On the other hand, a bralette is often described as a bra with an unstructured design. This garment is usually lightweight, with no wires and little or no padding. These are a few features that make bralettes more comfortable than bras. Besides that, this undergarment is also designed to extend towards your upper waistline, like a crop top, and is often quite stylish. This means it’s also wearable outdoors.
How To Choose Between A Bra And A Bralette
Having learned the difference between a bra and a bralette, you may be able to separate the two in your favorite lingerie store. That said, it may be challenging for some women to choose which one may be the best for them. If this is the case for you, this article could be helpful.
To ensure you pick the correct bra style for yourself, here are some tips to guide you when shopping for one:
- Go For The Most Comfortable Choice
Sometimes all you might need is comfort. Therefore, you may want to stay without a bra or get one that has no underwire or padding. You might need an undergarment to provide these needs for you during such times.
A bralette could be a good choice to go for in this case. While shopping, you might find strapless ones, some with no underwire or those with little or no padding. Besides that, you could also find some made of stretchy material for maximum relaxation. The best bralettes to pick are those that fit your comfort needs.
- Consider Your Breast Size
Your breast size and weight also matter when choosing between a bra and a bralette. If you have a small cup size, either may be suitable. However, if you’ve got a bigger bust, you might need a bra instead. One with an underwire may be ideal in this case. This type of undergarment won’t only help lift your breasts, but it’ll also give your bust a good shape.
Besides that, a bra will also ensure less pressure on your shoulders. This may be achievable because the straps won’t carry the weight of your breasts. Instead, the underwire, structured cups, and the support band will perform this task.
- Consider How Often You Intend To Use Your New Undergarment
Another factor to consider is how often you intend to use your new bra or bralette. If you’re a smaller cup-sized woman, either undergarment style could be suitable for daily use. For a female with a larger bust, a bralette may be good once in a while. However, wearing it often could stress your shoulders due to insufficient breast support.
That said, when buying a bra or bralette, you have to pick the right size. A bad fit could make you feel less comfortable, affecting your confidence. Also, the wrong undergarment size could stress your shoulder, upper spine, neck, or lower back. As a result, this might affect your posture.
Therefore, if you intend to shop for a bra or a bralette, it’s best first to identify your correct size. However, ensure you’re obtaining data from credible sources when doing so. For instance, if you’d like to know how to identify a fitting bra or bralette, consider finding information on a reliable website. Alternatively, talk to a trusted friend or the sales representative in a lingerie store.
- Pick One That Fits The Purpose Of Your Purchase
You also have to consider the purpose of your purchase when buying a bra or bralette. As mentioned earlier, the latter often looks like a crop top. Therefore, if you’re looking for something to wear outdoors without showing too much skin, a bralette may be good.
The advantage is, there’s a wide variety of styles in the market. You may find cotton, crotchet, or lace types. Whichever kind you pick, you could style your bralette with a culotte, maxi skirt, casual blazer, palazzo, or a pair of pants or shorts.
On the other hand, bras might leave too much skin exposed. Therefore, if you don’t like showing too much skin, you might feel uncomfortable wearing this undergarment in public. However, a sports bra may be good for yoga sessions or the gym because it prevents too much breast movement, which may be uncomfortable.
However, if you’re okay with showing off some skin, a stylish bra may be an excellent choice to consider. There are also several ways you could style your look in this case. For instance, you could wear it with a sheer top, a cardigan that shows off your cleavage, or a blazer and pencil skirt.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular knowledge, a bra and bralette are two different undergarments. The former is mainly designed for lift and support, while the latter offers more coverage and a no-bra feel. When choosing between either, consider your breast size, comfortability, the purpose of your purchase, and how often you’d want to use your undergarment. With these four factors in mind, you’ll know whether to choose a bra or bralette the next time you’re shopping for a breast undergarment.