If there is one thing worse than swimsuit shopping, it’s bra shopping.
But sooner or later, it must be done. Some experts say that a bra worn every day is only good for 3 months!
I know that I certainly don’t replace my bras that frequently. In fact I put off going bra shopping until mine have reached the stage where they really aren’t doing much to support my assets anymore, or I’m being stabbed by underwire.
I’m pretty fussy when it comes to bras; here’s the checklist of what I actively look for …
The Perfect Bra
1. Wide straps for comfort – I hate the way the thin ones cut into my shoulder. Ouch!
2. Colours might be fun but they’re not very practical. Most of the time I like to stick to a nude or black bra, because they can be worn under pretty much anything.
3. I do like something with a bit of padding in the cup; like a t-shirt bra. I don’t want the whole world to know when my headlights are on (if you know what I mean!).
4. But not too plain and boring, as most t-shirt bras tend to be. How about fabric embossed with flowers or stripes?
5. I’m not a huge fan of lace – it’s scratchy and uncomfortable, and it doesn’t tend to handle multiple washings terribly well.
6. Great fit and support – for me (size 16D), that usually means an underwire. When I buy a bra, I look for something that fits well when done up on the loosest set of hooks across the back. That way, when the fabric/elastic starts to “give”, I can compensate by doing up the next set of hooks.
It’s not a huge list, but I know from experience that the perfect bra is hard to find. My first criteria alone eliminates 95% of bras from my list of possibilities!
So when the good folk at Playtex contacted me I was keen to put their claims to the test: Could there really be such a thing as a bra that provided that comfy no-bra feeling?!
Read on to find out what I thought!
Comfort Revolution Swirl
Two words: ultimate comfort. This bra is so lightweight and soft to wear, I even wore it when we went away camping in our motorhome. Now that’s saying something!
It’s lightly padded, in an oh-so-wearable nude shade, and has a pretty embossed swirl in the cup fabric – so it earns a great big ‘TICK’ for boxes 1 through 5 in my checklist above.
I must confess I am used to a bra that does more to boost my assets, after all, I like them to look bigger than my tummy 😉 . However this may have been because I was provided with a size 14DD, and I really think I’m more of a 16D.
At the end of the day (and I mean that, literally!), this bra is so darn COMFORTABLE I know that I will be wearing it a LOT. Probably not when I am dressing up to leave the house (which has become quite an occasion in these Covid-plagued times!), but it’s the perfect at home, weekend and relaxed bra.
Ultralight Illusion Bra
I loved the style of this black bra, which uses underwire and the teeniest amount of padding in the cups. It looked really good on, but my skin is very sensitive, and I found the illusion fabric – or maybe it was the stitching? – around the top of the cups was a bit irritating.
Ultimate Lift and Support
This bra is the clear winner, according to the husbear 😉 – which came as a bit of a surprise, as it looks a bit deflated (see pic above) until you put it on. And then – hubba hubba!
There’s no need for an annoying underwire, the fit and cut gave me a beautiful shape and all the support I needed. I’m also a fan of the wide comfort straps. I wondered if I would feel a bit ‘exposed’ without any padding in the cups, but it didn’t seem to be a problem.
I’m also impressed with how well all three bras seemed to fit, considering I didn’t even try them on beforehand. Handy to know particularly if you happen to be in lockdown, but need to purchase a new bra!
What do you look for in a bra? Got any tits tips for me?!
Disclosure: Playtex kindly gifted me with these bras however all opinions are my own and as always, I strive to present an honest review.