A new support system: why perky Londoners are backing the bralette this summer

It's what's underneath that counts
Lace bralette. £16, Topshop
Hannah Rochell30 May 2017

They might bring back memories of early teenage trips to Tammy Girl but be prepared for your intimates to get seriously nostalgic this summer, because bralettes are dominating the world of lingerie. In the last 10 weeks alone, Marks & Spencer has sold 80,000 of them; that’s a 200 per cent increase year on year. And, contrary to popular belief, they’re totally fine if you’ve been blessed with a more generous bust.

Let’s be clear — unlike some of the bra tops currently on the market, these are (thankfully) not designed to be worn on display at Field Day. Rather, they provide perfectly reasonable under-support for those days when you’re not doing anything too strenuous, e.g. sitting at a desk all day (yes! You can wear them to work!) Take it from this member of the Evening Standard fashion team, who wears a DD cup but can’t get enough of her numerous lacy Isabella crop-tops (£9.50) — bestsellers from Marks & Sparks that are sized simply 6-18 (although they do go a size up from your usual dress size if you have an ample pair).

Isabella printed bra, £9.50, M&S

“Over the past decade, many women have called to the padded T-shirt bra as their “go-to” everyday bra staple,” says Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie, swim and active design at the brand. “With a more relaxed and casual attitude to dressing and an emphasis on comfort, women are increasingly looking to underwear which creates a softer, more natural silhouette.”

Bralettes are far prettier than those aforementioned T-shirt bras and, crucially, are a whole lot more comfortable. With little or no padding or underwiring, there’s less construction and so less constriction.

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It’s not just M&S that is supporting them this summer; last month, Intimissimi unveiled its own range with a campaign fronted by Bradley Cooper’s girlfriend, the model Irina Shayk. Its new Eleanora style (£42) is semi-padded and comes in limited sizes because the lace stretches to accommodate more than just the stated size (the brand recommends a complementary in-store fitting to avoid confusion).

Unsurprisingly, Topshop has a vast range of reasonably priced bralettes in bright colours, such as its two-tone lace bralette (£16), and also offers a few styles with padding if you fancy a bit of extra coverage. The brand has seen a significant uplift in bralette sales recently, with racerbacks being the bestselling style.

Speaking of which, for those who still prefer a little more support but want to break free of the look of a “proper” bra, the lacy racer might be the answer. As well as tapping into the trend, it comes with the added bonus that you won’t spend all day hoiking up the straps that have slipped off your shoulders, thanks to its muscle-back design.

Free People’s Fancy Back underwire (£40) has a fantastic selection of colours and a refreshingly comprehensive range of sizes, from 32A to 36DD. “The racerback has been our bestseller for over a year”, says Leighanne Jones, Free People’s creative director. “Our customer loves styling with it, to show off the back details.”

Fancy back bra, £40, Free People

If you’re still not convinced, your head might be turned by the next trick up M&S’s sleeve. “Many of our customers love wearing wired bras and the shape and support they provide,” continues Jenkinson. “That’s why we are launching a bralette with a hidden wire in autumn developed up to an E cup, so that women can buy into the trend with confidence.” How uplifting.

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