Finding the right bra can feel like a lifelong endeavour. Who hasn’t been left confused after navigating a lingerie section, wondering which bra option is best for them?
Bra and fashion expert Jenny Altman thinks you can avoid all this stress by simply going for a balconette cut. For her, the design checks off all the most important boxes, like support, comfort, and style. “A balconette bra is very French, in the way that it gives breasts a very natural push-up by concentrating on the underside of the breast,” she tells Bazaar. “They have underwire for lift and support, while the top remains open and unconstrained.” The wide-set straps also mean balconette bras are a great solution when you’re wearing a low-cut top or one with a wider neckline. (They can also help show off a little cleavage.)
Altman promises that anyone can wear the balconette style, but particularly recommends it for anyone with shallower breasts or mothers who may have lost some volume thanks to breastfeeding. Balconette bras can offer some natural lift, without the severity of a push-up, she says: “They provide a very rounded, natural, voluptuous shape to breasts that seem to have less lift on their own.”
Finding your fit is also just easier. “What’s nice with a balconette is that since they are not constrained on the top, you don’t have to worry about the bra being empty at the top,” Altman says. “With a full-cup bra, you can get baggy space, but not here.” What you do want to pay attention to is band size. “A good fit in the band is important, as that’s where you get all of your support,” she says. The most common mistake she sees is someone wearing a band size too large for the support and fit they need. “Almost every woman would benefit from going down a size in the band and up a size in the cup,” she suggests.
Below, with guidance from experts including Altman, we’ve rounded up the 10 best balconette bras.
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BEST OVERALL
The Mesh Balconette Bra, about $100, Cuup at FWRD
With a wide range of band and cup sizes, this balconette could easily be “your go-to bra,” Altman says. “Cuup does it in every colour—20!—in a smoothing, uplifting, breathable mesh.” It’s a customer favourite, clearly for good reason.
The extensive size range, diverse colour options, and clean and classic design make this the bra you will rely on daily. The lightweight underwire won’t poke or prod either, maximizing all-day comfort.
Cup sizes: A–H
Band sizes: 30–44
What reviewers are saying: “I’ve been on the hunt for an unlined balconette bra ever since VS discontinued my favourite on a few years ago. I was hesitant about this one since it is mesh, but I couldn’t be happier with the feel! Ordered my normal size, and it fits perfectly. I can tell this is great quality. So light and airy feeling, my perfect summer bra! Just wish it had convertible straps....so you could make this racerback, or halter! This was my first CUUP purchase, but will not be my last!”
BEST UNLINED
Unlined Balconette Bra, $58, Skims
“For a no-show bra, this one has a wide back for smoothing and a seamless cup,” Altman says. “Doing what Skims does best, it comes in 10 skin tones, making it a truly no-show experience for women of all skin tones.”
There are also always a few limited-edition shades, for those who want to play and mix up their lingerie drawer with more than just neutrals. The real takeaway is the seamless, raw-edge finish that makes it invisible under clothes.
Cup sizes: A–F
Band sizes: 32–44
What reviewers are saying: “I loved the fabric, the fit is perfect and the back strap is wide and keeps everything under control. I loved it.”
BEST LACE
Flirt Lace Underwire Demi Bra, $54 Montelle Intimates at Nordstrom
“Featuring smooth, stretch-floral lace, lined with stretch mesh for support, the Flirt will show your décolletage beautifully and is the perfect pair to a sweetheart or low, round neckline,” Altman says.
Available in five different colours, from black to a purple pinot, this bra is a great option for anyone looking to upgrade from plain mesh. The brand also notes that its strap widths and hook-and-eye columns increase with size, so you will be supported no matter what.
Cup sizes: C–E
Band sizes: 28–38
What reviewers are saying: “This bra is unbelievably comfortable, elegant and pretty. The lace is very soft and the underwires are comfortable. It gives great support, therefore a lovely silhouette. I purchased in my regular size 34DD and it fit perfectly. I will purchase more in the future. Would be nice to have a nude/beige shade.”
BEST BLACK
Isabel Balconette Bra, about $200, Journelle at Shop Bop
“Basic black, but so much more,” Altman says. “This wide-set balconette bra has lace-trimmed straps and cups for a delicate design on an uplifting, two-part design.” Soft mesh is double-lined with lace overtop and finished off with scalloped straps, giving it a French-girl chic approach to underpinnings. J’adore.
Cup sizes: A–G
Band sizes: 30–36
What reviewers are saying: “The quality of items from Journelle is great. Wears well and is soft, not itchy.”
BEST NOVELTY
Rose and Vine Embroidered Balconette Bra, about $233, Fleur du Mal at Net-a-Porter
Fleur du Mal consistently makes drool-worthy lingerie that is both sexy and sweet. If you are looking to add a little something extra to your drawer, stat, this set is downright perfect. There’s no skimping on the high-end design details—you’ll find satin straps, beautiful embroidery, and a little bow (complete with a mini rosette!) at center front to round things out.
Cup sizes: B–D
Band sizes: 32–36
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BEST FOR SMALL BAND, LARGE BUSTS
Entice Balconette Bra, about $62, Skarlett Blue at Shopbop
Another suggestion from Altman’s list, Skarlett Blue’s Entice balconette is a popular style that is always in the brand’s catalog, and often made in new colours each season. “Delicate eyelash lace is meant to show, so let it,” she says. “This bra is great for small-band, large-bust girls, going up to a DDD.”
As the reviews confirm, this bra has great support for the larger cup sizes. Extra details that set it apart include the brushed elastic at the underarm for containment and adjustable straps at the front.
Cup sizes: A–DDD
Band sizes: 30–38
What reviewers are saying: “This is an absolutely beautiful bra. Even in a size 36DDD it has good support.”
BEST FOR BRIDES
Plush Romance Lace Underwire Balconette Bra, about $98, Natori at Nordstrom
Whether you are looking for a gift for the bride-to-be in your life or want something for yourself on your big day, this balconette bra has just the right amount of romance. With sheer, floral lace fabrication, a scalloped neckline, and underwire, you’ll get some marital bliss with a side of extra lift.
Cup sizes: B–DDD
Band sizes: 32–36
What reviewers are saying: “Best bra I’ve had in years, looks amazing on, the lace is super soft and so is the band that goes around. It stays in place which is huge for a lace bra! I ended up buying it in two colours and am planning on getting it in more colours!”
BEST SEXY
Les Follies Balconette Bra, about $304, Kiki de Montparnasse at Net-a-Porter
Named for the infamous Parisian cabaret performer, who served as a muse to many artists in the 1920s, Kiki de Montparnasse is a New York–based lingerie brand that focuses on sensuality and seduction. And its take on the balconette embodies those themes.
Completely unlined, the sheer tulle has a delicate, metallic thread throughout that creates a geometric design that feels ultra-special. Trimmed with ruffles and satin, it is truly a work of art.
Cup sizes: A–DDD
Band sizes: 32–36
BEST FOR CURVY
Tulip Lace Balconette Bra, $60, Curvy Couture at Nordstrom
Specialising in lingerie made specifically for full and plus-size figures, Curvy Couture has a balconette bra that is a major bestseller. Rather than being bulked up with extra padding, this design has natural lift pads that gradually add boost without excess volume.
We love the lace overlay and the perfect shade of chocolate brown—a refreshing take on a classic lingerie colour. It’s available in black and champagne, as well.
Cup sizes: C–H
Band sizes: 34–46
What reviewers are saying: “Beautiful to look at and beautiful to wear! Comfortable on-sexy to boot. Can’t go wrong if you are full busted and want some ‘oomph’ in other words—some uplifting. The sides hold the girls front and centre giving you a sensuous shape. There is also gorgeous lace and a rhinestone drop in the centre. You get great support and real comfort—a must have if you want that push up look. I wore it with a t-shirt and dress—both times getting admiring glances. My new favourite bra!”
BEST WIRELESS
The Balconette, about $101, Cou Cou Intimates
If you hate padding and underwire or both, Cou Cou’s bralette is for you. The brand’s signature cotton-pointelle fabrication is comfortable, breathable, and extremely sexy. We adore the subtle ribbons that trim the straps, giving it that dolce vita–inspired touch. Everything Cou Cou does is inspired by retro Italian undergarments from the 1930s—and we feel instantly transported to that era every time we wear one of the brand’s pieces.
Band sizes: XXS–XXL
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This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.