My Hunt for My First (Bright, Flashy) Underwire Bra In Years

Choking on a gourmand cloud of sugary body spray, I braved a Victoria’s Secret for the first time in years. I can’t deny that a part of me still enjoyed the musky haze — it was nostalgic, really. But when I tried on this bra, I remembered why I hadn’t been back. Its deep-teal shade was stunning, complete with a dusty mauve rose at the sternum, but it felt flimsy in my hands and even flimsier on my breasts. They didn’t carry my regular band size, and the fit of the 32DDD (a.k.a. 32F) wasn’t ideal. It is one of the most affordable on the list (and on the day I tested it out, they were buy two, get one free), but for less than $10 more, I could go with a Skarlett Blue bra that felt twice as expensive.

As it is the priciest bra of the bunch, I’m kind of glad this Agent Provocateur balconette was a fail so I would not get too attached. Its fit was tragic — a triple whammy with major gaping in the front, awkwardly bunching cups under my top, and a band that felt suffocating even when I went up a band size.It looks a million times better on Charli XCX. I tried it on in two sizes, and neither seemed suited for my specific proportions. The cobalt shade and strap bows are so fabulous, and again,it looks amazing on Charli, so clearly I just don’t have the target breast shape. My favorite part of the experience: the AP dressing room had a pair of fuzzy heels to try on with your lingerie.

I had high hopes for this one: a combination of red, blue, and slimy green is my all-time favorite color palette. Sadly, the excitement stopped when I slipped it on. The silky straps are a sweet touch, but the mismatched cup color looked strange under my tank — the periwinkle blue barely showed through, while the red band, by contrast, looked a bit aggressive — and the overall fit wasn’t inspiring either.

I was drawn to this Journelle style based on its lush scoop neck (very similar to the Fruity Booty I mention further down) and that warm shade of daffodil yellow. I adore that the lace extends all the way to the straps — most other styles cut off the lace at the cup — but the fit was not working for me. There was major cup spillage and band constriction that would prevent me from wearing it again, regardless of how much my breasts looked like a gorgeous spring morning in Central Park.

Editor’s note: The daffodil yellow shade is no longer available, but the Roxy Demi Bra is available in several other colors.

This minty Montelle was sweet (and on sale for $30 in a host of vibrant shades) but unfortunately forgettable. The fit was passable but not great with a touch of gaping in the cups and a bit of pinching in the band. I’m also personally not a fan of the little gem dangling from the sternum — it feels a bit “I just got my first real bra in middle school” to me. As a very affordable option on sale, though, this one would be my pick over the Victoria’s Secret option any day.

This Skarlett Blue bra would have easily made the top tier if it came in a brighter shade. The maroon and navy still pleasantly peeped out from under my tank top, but it just didn’t have enough oomph to make it past runner-up status. It’s a reverse mullet of a bra: business in the back with a fully seamless, stretchy band and a party in the front, flaunting fully laced underwire cups and a saucy little bow between them. The band caressed my back so tenderly — a stretch of skin often tortured by other bras — and the scalloped straps were a precious detail. I had to go with my sister size, 32E (a.k.a. 32DD), for this one and still loved the fit.

This Fruity Booty polka-dot underwire kind of looked like a swimsuit in the best way, making it feel like a more approachable funky bra for those hesitant to dip their toes into funky waters. I loved the scoop neck and was charmed by the polka dots poking through my white tank. The bummer is that the XS–XL sizing system didn’t translate well to my needs (the closest I could get was a Small+), but I’d definitely recommend this bra or thescrumptious aqua shadeto a differently chested friend.

Well, this bra is just sex on a stick! The Allegra Balconette had remarkable lift for a non-push-up, and while it fit well and was very comfortable to wear, I felt like one wrong move and I’d be arrested for public indecency. The thick straps popped nicely under my white tank, but it’s not a bra I’d confidently bet on to keep me decent under something see-through.

Despite featuring a lacy cup with no hard seam sweeping across the breast, this Panache was impressively flush against my skin. Other lacy styles I’ve worn gapped and bunched in unflattering ways, but this lace held its own. I also tried thecornflower-blue shadewith pink floral details and loved how the flowers made a subtle appearance through my tank. The plain-Jane straps were nothing to write home about, and I felt like my breasts looked a little too pointy for my personal preference. Will pointy boobs ever make a comeback? I anticipate yes, and when that happens, I’ll come back for this one.

The flowery lace on the cups of this Chantelle made me feel like a nymph in an enchanted forest. And talk about attention to detail: These straps had a subtle polka-dot pattern that gave the whole look extra pizzazz points. It was nicely supportive in the band without feeling restrictive, but the lacy cup material went slack any time I wasn’t puffing out my chest. Not quite a Cinderella fit but adorable nonetheless.

I tested this Cosabella balconette in a shade I call papal purple — so rich and deep and luxurious, it almost feels holy. The sales associate warned me that the cups run big, so I went down a cup side to a 30E (a.k.a. 30DD) and loved the fit. I felt comfortable but firmly locked in (I even did a jump test to make sure). With a delicate scoop neck and rounded cups, it looked just as good with a shirt on as it did without. The most miraculous detail of all: This bra had the most flattering strap width I’ve ever experienced. Zero underarm pinching and absolutely no protruding folds of armpit skin in sight. The bra’s wide breadth placed the straps just outside those of my tank top, so neither set of straps had to compete for shoulder real estate. At $110, it sits in the pricier half of my options, but it seems well worth the investment. Plus it comes in a variety of rainbow shades and neutrals — a one-stop shop for all of your bra needs.

Smack dab in the middle of the naughty-nice intersection is the Fleur du Mal Le Stretch Lace Demi Bra, which I found supremely comfortable in one band size up, at a 32F (a.k.a. 32DDD). I tested it in the shocking shade Floral Pink, and it comes in two additional pink hues depending on your desired level of brightness. They thought of everything! The all-lace cup is remarkably stretchy and supportive (“Le Stretch” is in the name, but I was still skeptical going in), and the silky satin strap hugged me tight without digging in. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s $68.

Is it possible for a bra to transform you into a princess? I was Rapunzel in this Araks wintergreen underwire, tossing a makeshift rope of silk slips out the window to my lover below. I have been eyeing this brand for a long time (maybe you have too — Zoë Kravitz had a viral street-style moment inthis dressa few years ago) and was hoping I wouldn’t love it. The bra is $195, after all. But unfortunately for my bank account, it was beyond my wildest fantasies. It’s got a dreamy scoop neckline, a lustrous 92 percent silk makeup, and widely positioned straps like the Cosabella. I went with my sister size, 32DD, for this one, and both the minty fresh shade and the juicy cranberry popped beautifully under my white tank. Bonus for the underwire-averse: The brand makes a nearly identicalbralette, too.