In praise of the nude bra

A humorous tribute to nude-colored bras, plus a handy guide to buying bras to suit your shape.

I enjoy watching the TV show Room 101. In case you've never heard of it, it's a humorous chat show-type thing where famous people are invited to pick a list of their least favourite items/concepts/trends/behaviours and consign them to%u2026 you've guessed it, Room 101. The idea comes from a serious work of literature - George Orwell's 1984 - but the show is often hilariously funny, especially when Paul Merton is doing the interviewing. Sometimes after watching it, I've been inspired to think up some things that I'd like to send to Room 101. Near the top of my personal list? White bras.

Not only do nude/flesh toned bras keep their looks for longer, but they are also much the best option when you're wearing a top that's white and/or slightly sheer. A white bra will still show through a white shirt (even if the shirt is made from fairly thick material), whereas a nude bra will stay in the background - so to speak - and just do its job of giving support! Not only that, but if you ever visit nightclubs, you will also find that nude underwear doesn't show under the lights. I was never into clubbing myself, but I do have memories of attending my school disco at the age of 16, where all you could see was hundreds of pairs of white bra straps glowing in the dark as if slightly radioactive. [cont/d below]

Nude bras on Amazon.com

	Nude bra Pull-on bra with see through adjustable, detachable elastic shoulder straps. 88% matte nylon, 12% Lycra
	Wacoal Women's Awareness Full Figure Underwire Bra - 85567 Wacoal #1 selling full figure bra in a beautiful fashion color
	Playtex Women's 18 Hour Seamless Smoothing Bra #4049 fusion fabric smoothes back and side bulges
	Freya Deco Plunge T-Shirt Underwire Bra Freya Style 4234. Underwire T-shirt bra. Demi cups provide comfortable support. Foam lining prevents show-through. Seductive, plunging neckline. Seamless nylon. Ribbon bow ... Only $60.00

Finding your bra size

You often come across statistics that say things like "70% of women are wearing the wrong bra size!" I personally believe that it isn't just a question of size, but also style (see below) - once you've picked the type of bra that's right for your shape, then finding a bra that's a good fit will be so much easier. It doesn't help that bra sizes, like shoe and dress sizes, vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you want to do a check of your bra size, then the site http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php will calculate it for you based on three easy to do measurements.

More bras from Amazon.com

	Fantasie Smoothing Balcony Underwire Bra Fantasie Style 4520. Seamless, unlined underwire bra. Semi-sheer, stretch nylon. Demi cups provide moderate coverage. Bow accent on non-stretch center. Smooth, comfortable ... Only $50.00
	Fantasie Smoothing Balcony T-Shirt Bra Fantasie Style 4510. Contour - lined, shaped, underwire cups. Full cups provide full support and coverage. Constructed of microfiber. Sweet bow accents on center gore and ... Only $60.00
	Avenue Plus Size ONE Sexy Tuxedo Plunge Underwire Bra This sexy and elegant satin trimmed plus size microfiber brafrom our One Sexy Collection is especially engineered to beautifully contain and support your curves while ...
	Handful Sports Bra The Handful Bra has removable pads that contour and conceal. The polyester lining wicks moisture away, while the nylon/spandex (82%/18%) shell dries quickly and allows for ...
	Elomi Caitlyn Side Support Underwire Bra Elomi Style EL8030. Supportive, underwire, full cup bra. 3-part seamed cups offer great support. Stretch microfiber. Slings inside cups offer additional support. Floral ...

Plunge or balcony? Smooth or lacy?

Aside from working out your correct size, another important thing to ask yourself is "what type of bra design is best for me?" In years gone by, I wasted a lot of money on bras that just didn't do anything for my shape. I didn't understand what the problem was, until I realised that for me personally, there's really only one bra shape that does a good job of (a) holding my bits in place and (b) enhancing my figure, and that's an underwired, slightly padded push-up bra which lifts the breasts and positions them closer together. (Basically if it ain't got cleavage, then I ain't buying it.) However, your needs may be different to mine. Perhaps you find that a balcony style or demi bra is better for your shape - if you do, then you will have loads of choice because this type of bra is probably the easiest to find. The so-called "full support" bra, which does exactly what it says on the tin, is another popular choice. If you don't need a lot of support, don't like underwiring or seams and don't want to fiddle with fastenings, then you might prefer a bandeau style or pull on bra. And sports bras (which often have a "racer back") are a great option if you have an active lifestyle.

Another question to ask yourself is: do I want the bra to look smooth under fitted clothing (like T-shirts), or can I get away with something lacy? I am a big fan of smooth bras because they give you more choice of what to wear on top, plus they're a lot more comfortable than lacy bras IMO! But it's really up to you as an individual to work out what type of bra is best for you. Happy hunting!

© EmpressFelicity August 2010

Updated: 11/27/2011, EmpressFelicity

Thank you! Would you like to post a comment now?