The Best T-Shirt Bras of 2023
Like a good pair of underwear, a quality T-shirt bra is a staple undergarment. Unlike a push-up bra, which provides lift, a T-shirt bra is designed to be invisible under even the thinnest and tightest of T-shirts, creating a smooth, seamless look. Ideally, it also offers adequate support and is comfortable enough to wear all day.
To find the best T-shirt bra, we tested 13 of the most popular ones, including both underwire and wireless styles. Our top pick overall is the supportive, stylish Natori Pure Luxe Underwire T-Shirt Bra
(available at Nordstrom)
.
For those who shun underwires, our favorite wire-free bra is the Victoria’s Secret T-Shirt Wireless Bra (available at Victoria’s Secret), which was so comfortable, our tester could barely tell she was wearing it.
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Natori
Natori is our top overall pick.
Best Overall
From the moment I put on this bra, I felt the luxury and comfort that hundreds of reviewers rave about. To say I was impressed is an understatement. I’ve always thought wired bras fall into two categories when it comes to comfort—“can’t wait to tear this off my body” and “bearable”—but this one is enjoyable to wear.
The cups are lightly lined with foam. The nylon-and-spandex fabric feels silky-smooth and doesn’t show through underneath tight shirts. Despite having underwires, the band laid flat against my body. It doesn’t poke or squeeze, nor does it give me the dreaded “bra bulge” above or below the band that I’ve experienced with other bras.
Part of what makes this bra so comfortable is the quality construction and attention to detail. The felt fabric on the wire inside the cup feels smooth and does not stick to skin.
This Natori bra has stylish design details, including lace on the straps and gold hardware that gives it an elevated look over a plain bra. I would choose this bra for times when I want to feel a little more dressed up. It’s one of the most expensive bras on this list, but it’s worth the extra money.
It comes in sizes 32B to 38DDD and in 12 colors.
Mục lục
Pros
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Wires do not poke or dig into body
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Quality construction
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Stylish design
Cons
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None that we could find
Buy now at Nordstrom
Buy now at Amazon
$74.00 from Zappos
$45.20 from Walmart
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Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret makes our favorite wireless T-shirt bra.
Best Wireless
It was a close call among the top wireless bras, but when pressed to choose just one, this Victoria’s Secret bra edged out the competition for several reasons, all related to comfort.
First, there’s the band’s structure. Most wireless bras still have some sort of structured support around the bottom of the band where the wires would be. This bra’s molded cups felt flexible and moved with my body, and the under-breast reinforcement was supportive without digging in.
Beyond that, the bra was invisible underneath the tightest of shirts. I loved that the straps are convertible, and can be criss-crossed so they tuck under racerback tops. The detachable straps have plastic clip closures. They were easier to use and stay in place better than the type with hooks and loops, which can take some fiddling to change and come undone.
It comes in sizes 32A to 40DDD and in 28 colors and prints.
Pros
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Does not dig into body
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Provides support
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Straps can be criss-crossed
Cons
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None that we could find
Buy now at Victoria’s Secret
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Calvin Klein
This affordable Calvin Klein T-shirt bra earned our best value badge.
Best Value
It’s hard to beat this Calvin Klein T-shirt bra for the price. It has buttery fabric that feels like a very soft peach fuzz and the underwire is supportive and flexible at the same time, making incredibly more comfortable. The cups are moldable, with a light lining of foam that lays smooth underneath shirts. The back closure has padding built in, so it feels like a little cushion on your back.
The straps are on the narrower side compared to other bras, which means they won’t show under skinny-strapped tanks, but they may not be as supportive for someone with a larger chest.
It comes in sizes 30B to 44DD and in 16 colors.
Pros
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Underwire is flexible and supportive
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Soft and moldable cups
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Brushed fabric
Cons
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Narrower straps may not support large busts
$26.75 from Amazon
$33.95 from Zappos
$41.67 from Walmart
How We Tested T-Shirt Bras
The Tester
Hi, I’m Jamie Ueda. I’ve spent years working for various apparel and textile companies, evaluating fabrics and clothing. As such, I’ve become a stickler for quality materials and good design, especially when it comes to staple pieces like T-shirt bras.
I’m always on the hunt for a bra that’s invisible under tops and that’s so comfortable I forget I’m wearing it. To find the best one out there, I took my clothing knowledge and went shopping.
The Tests
To start, I searched the internet for top-rated T-shirt bras from well-known brands and retailers to find ones worth testing. With the help of Reviewed’s style editor, Amanda Tarlton, and our Cambridge-based lab, we came up with objective and subjective tests to evaluate the bras.
I wore each bra under both thick and thin shirts to determine their visibility, and I washed each one a minimum of two times to see if they retained their shape. I also answered a battery of questions on fit, comfort, ease of use, construction, fabric quality, and overall experience.
What You Should Know About Buying a T-Shirt Bra
Should You Choose an Underwire or Wireless T-Shirt Bra?
There are pros and cons to both underwire and wireless T-shirt bras. Prior to this testing, I thought every underwire bra was the same, with all-day comfort an elusive concept at best—I was wrong. Some bras use a more flexible underwire, which is what you want if comfort is your top criterion. If it’s too rigid, it won’t conform and move with your body.
A good test for this is to hold the top tips of the underwire, one in each hand, and gently twist them in opposite directions. The easier it is to flex the wire, the more comfortable it will likely be.
When it comes to sheer comfort, it’s hard to beat a good wireless bra. They’re often more flexible around the band under the bust, and don’t have wires digging into your body. The trade-off is that they may not provide as much shape or support as a wired bra.
Most wireless bras have some sort of light structure in place of the wire. The stiffer this structure is, the more uncomfortable it could feel—however, if it’s too flexible or unstructured, it may not be supportive enough.
How Should a T-Shirt Bra Fit?
A good fit is key to finding the right bra. Sizes can vary from brand to brand. If you find the band is loose or tight, or the cups gape or overflow, you may need to go up or down a size.
If shopping online, lean on the size charts and any guidance the brand gives on how to measure yourself for a bra. When you try a bra on, move around in it—sit down, stand up, and stretch side to side—to gauge how comfortable it is for your everyday activities.
Other T-Shirt Bras We Tested
This bra was a close second for our top pick in the wire-free category. It’s comparable in many ways to the Victoria’s Secret bra in both fit and appearance. In fact, had I not been testing them out for weeks, I might not be able to tell the two apart just by looking at them.
One of the biggest differences is the material. The Wacoal bra is made of brushed nylon-and-spandex fabric that feels like your favorite T-shirt you’ve washed over and over again. If you like a lived-in feel, you will like this bra better than the Victoria’s Secret one, which has a sleeker, more athletic texture.
The one thing I didn’t particularly care for—or see a need for—in this bra is the built-in boning, which is a hard plastic strip where the edge of the cup meets the back band. This makes it more uncomfortable to wear for longer periods of time, though it may help with durability over the long run because it will help keep the bra’s shape.
This bra comes in sizes 30A to 40DDD and in four colors.
Pros
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Fits well
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Has a lived-in feel
Cons
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Built-in boning on sides feels stiff
Buy now at Nordstrom
$68.00 from Amazon
$31.40 from Bloomingdale’s
The Gap wire-free bra looks similar to the Victoria’s Secret bra, but with a deeper “V” shape in the front, which shows off more cleavage. The polyester-and-spandex fabric also has more shine. The straps have plastic clips so you can wear the bra racerback-style—this add-on is my favorite feature of this bra.
While I found the bra to be comfortable enough, the band underneath the bust feels stiff and rigid, making it less enjoyable for long days than the Victoria’s Secret bra. However, this could work in your favor if you’re someone who likes more structure and support in your wireless bras.
The Gap bra comes in sizes 32A to 38C and in three colors.
Pros
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Gives support without underwire
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Can be worn racerback style
Cons
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Chest band is stiffer than other wireless bras
Buy now at Gap
I wanted to fall head over heels in love with ThirdLove, but my relationship status with this bra is best described as “it’s complicated.” I love the way it feels, from the squishy, malleable cups to the padded back tab for keeping the hooks from pressing into skin. I even liked the firm but flexible underwire. The bra seems well-constructed with thoughtful details, like reinforced stitching around the top strap and attractive gold hardware.
Unfortunately, I’m not a big fan of the fit. Compared to other bras of the same size, ThirdLove’s cups seem smaller and narrower, which doesn’t work for my wider-set breasts. I tried sizing up, but the fit still wasn’t quite right. This bra would be a better fit for someone with a narrower bust.
The bra comes in whole- and half-cup sizes 32A to 42G—one of the broadest size ranges on this list—and in 10 colors.
Pros
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Squishy malleable cups feel nice
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Padded back hook tab for extra comfort
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Flexible underwire
Cons
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Runs slightly small in the cups compared to other bras
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May not work for wider busts
Buy now at Thirdlove
Finding a T-shirt bra with any sort of cleavage enhancement is difficult, as most are only lightly lined. However, this T-shirt bra from Victoria’s Secret is also a push-up bra. The cups offer full coverage, create some cleavage, and don’t show under thin T-shirts.
With lace along the chest band, this bra is fancier than most T-shirt bras. While it looks stylish and flirty, I found the lace to be rough and it scratched against my skin.
It comes in sizes 32A to 40DDD and in 25 colors.
Pros
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Light padding for lift
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Stylish lace detail
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Good cup coverage
Cons
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Lace feels rough
Buy now at Victoria’s Secret
Unlike basic T-shirt bras, this one has a bunch of decorative accents: lace mesh over the cups, mesh back straps, a lace detail on the back of the shoulder straps, and gold hardware. To my eye, it was the chicest bra I tested. It also has a hook and loop on the back straps to make it a racerback—a fave feature.
I had my doubts on whether this bra would be invisible under a T-shirt because of the mesh lace on the cups. But surprisingly, it was discreet beneath even the thinnest shirts. However, the center seam that runs vertically along the center of each cup is visible through a shirt, which is a big flaw, in my opinion.
It comes in sizes 32A to 38DD and in three colors.
Pros
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Stylish design
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Can be worn racerback
Cons
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Visible seam on cup center
Buy now at Lively
I’m a big Aerie fan—I love its underwear—but this bra was underwhelming. I liked the silky nylon-and-elastane fabric, the breathable mesh band, and the J-hook and loop that converts this bra to a racerback. But while I also liked the lace trim at the top of the cups, it showed through my thin shirt.
Additionally, while the underwire is flexible, it felt like it was digging into my body. The bra also runs small compared to other brands and even when I sized up, I still found the band to be too tight.
This bra comes in sizes 30AA to 40DD and in three colors.
Pros
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Silky fabric
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Can be worn racerback
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Comfortable flexible underwire
Cons
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Cups run small
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Lace trim shows underneath shirts
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May need to size up
Buy now at American Eagle
When we tested On Gossamer underwear, it was a top performer, so I had high hopes for this bra. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. There were some positives: It has a delicate lace design that looks pretty around the edges of the cups, as well as a mesh band that’s light and airy. It also has convertible straps that you can wear a multitude of ways: racerback, halter, or criss-cross in the front.
However, the bad outweighs the good. The straps have hooks with elastic loops, which aren’t as easy to change as others and kept coming unhooked as I wore the bra. While I found the lace trim attractive, it was visible underneath thinner shirts. Lastly, the narrow straps may not support larger busts.
It comes in sizes 30A to 36D and in three colors.
Pros
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Stylish design
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Airy mesh
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Convertible straps in front and back
Cons
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Straps come undone easily
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Not a lot of support
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Lace detail is visible underneath thin shirts
$41.31 from Amazon
$46.00 from Bloomingdale’s
$45.99 from Walmart
This bra is unique in that it’s made of all mesh. The cups are made of “spacer mesh,” which is basically like a mesh sandwich—it has mesh fabric on the top and bottom with vertical plastic threads in the middle to give it dimension. This construction adds a thin padding to the bra while remaining breathable.
Unfortunately, this spacer mesh was the bra’s biggest downfall as well. Around the edges of the cups, the plastic threads poked through the seaming and into my body, which made it unbearable to wear. Had it not been for this issue, it would have scored much higher, because otherwise the cups were comfortable and the smooth elastic seams lay flat against my body for a good fit.
It comes in sizes 30A to 38G and in four colors.
Pros
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Breathable cups and back mesh strap
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Silky elastic seaming
Cons
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Spacer mesh is scratchy and pokes through side seaming
Buy now at Cuup
This is one of the most inexpensive wireless bras on the list, and the quality reflects that. It’s the least structured of the bunch, reminding me of a floppy, less constricting sports bra. The lack of form made it comfortable, but also far less supportive and form-fitting. The chest band is made of soft nylon-and-spandex fabric, but it felt too tight around my rib cage.
Even though I only washed and wore this bra a few times, it collected a lot of lint on the inside of the cups and became misshapen, so I have my doubts that it would hold up and look over time.
One positive? The straps are convertible so you can turn it into a racerback.
The bra comes in sizes S to 3XL and in three colors.
Pros
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Can be worn racerback
Cons
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Less supportive
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Collects a lot of lint
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Becomes misshapen easily
$15.49 from Amazon
$15.49 from Walmart
Though this bra is described as lightly lined, I would describe it as lightly padded. It has more foam in the bottom of the cup, which gives it some lift. Like some other bras, it has a J-hook and loop so it can be made into a racerback as well. Sadly, these were the only things I liked about this bra.
The main issue: It felt like wearing a corset bra top. While it provided excellent coverage, I couldn’t get over how uncomfortable it was. The band was tight and very stiff and the lace was rough against my skin. Even more annoyingly, the straps often fell down my arms because they’re set too close to the outer edge of the cups.
This bra comes in sizes 32A to 40D and in nine colors.
Pros
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Can be worn racerback
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Padding gives lift
Cons
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Feels stiff and tight
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Scratchy lace
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Straps prone to falling off
Buy now at Target
