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Bras are uncomfortable, bulky, and sometimes we just don’t want to wear them! For me, it’s more like all of the time. There are some great alternatives to bras and I have found a few that work wonders.
I always had small boobs. I could get away with wearing baggy tees with no bras and you would never notice. After having a baby, things changed. I’m breastfeeding and have to wear a bra or bralette pretty much all the time. I have an oversupply so I leak milk. While I don’t wear actual structured bras (because they are still uncomfortable) I do wear bralettes or bra alternatives! It helps me not leak all over my shirts and if I do leak then it’s an added layer of protection.
So for the girl who hates bras and wants some alternatives whether it be you don’t want your nipples showing or want some type of padding, I put together a list of my favorites. Tried and true!
For reference, I was a 32B before Ruby and I’m now a 32D while breastfeeding. These bra alternatives work for me both before and after pregnancy.
The Best Alternatives To Bras
1. LilyPadz
These are marketed as silicone nursing pads but you can use them even if you aren’t nursing. These are my favorite! They are basically just nipple covers that actually stick. Some sticky bras don’t stick well or will fall off if you sweat but these stay put. I wear them the most and love how they are reusable, clear, and thin enough to wear they don’t show through a tight shirt. They are completely silicone so they are gentle on skin and don’t leave residue. They also don’t hurt when you peel them off.
You can wear them swimming too, which is amazing. I’ve worn them under bikinis that don’t have padding when I didn’t want my nipples to show and in both pools and the ocean. They stick, they are comfortable, and they don’t damage skin.
Rating: 10/10
2. Adhesive Push Up Bra
This sticky bra is my second most worn. I’ve worn it countless times and it’s pretty good at sticking. I’ve worn it through Florida summers and most of the time it sticks although it has become unstuck with a lot of sweat. I like how it pushes your boobs together for a push up look! These don’t last as long since the stick stops sticking after so many wears. I’d say after a couple months you should buy a new one. It’s a bit bulkier than the LilyPadz but still good under thin shirts. I actually wore this one on my wedding day in August in Key West, FL (the heat and humidity were HIGH). It stayed on all day and night!
Rating: 8/10
3. Zero Bra
These pads stick to your shirt, not your skin. It was so intriguing to me that I reached out to them to get a sample to try. These only work with a tight fitting top. They are a bit annoying since the pads move around with your shirt and don’t stay in place on your boobs. I’ve found they work best with tight crop tops, sports bras, and bralettes that don’t have padding but you wish that they did.
The idea is cool but when it comes to actually wearing them, they only work well with certain tops. I love wearing them with this top and love the fact that they don’t stick to skin. They do move around with your top so it makes it hard to get them in the correct placing but I like that they aren’t suffocating my skin with adhesive. They are worth including on this list because they do great for bralettes and sports bras that don’t come with padding or have a slot for padding. These do stick to fabric and stay in place in your top without falling out.
Rating: 7/10
4. Triangle Bralettes
Bralettes are great bra alternatives because they are comfortable yet still provide padding and light support. I wore the heck out of these bralettes before and during my pregnancy. They are so comfortable you forget that you’re wearing them. So comfortable that you can sleep in them. The straps are thin enough that you can wear them under spaghetti straps and they just about disappear. They come with removable padding as well.
They only thing with these bralettes is that they aren’t the best for bigger cup sizes since they don’t offer much support. They aren’t adjustable but I like that since there aren’t any hooks or plastic pieces.
Rating: 10/10 (for smaller cup sizes)
*Update: May 7, 2024:
I’ve been trying out a new bra alternative for a few months now and only ever use it now if I don’t want to wear a bra! It’s from the brand CAKES Body. I purchased the CAKES OG in Honey after seeing ads all over my Instagram. I needed a new pair of LilyPadz but decided to try something different and see if it worked better. CAKES is amazing! It uses your body heat to suction to your skin and it is not sticky at all which means no peeling off or pain. The only catch is you need to wear something somewhat tight. They would fall off if all you had on was a baggy t-shirt. They work with the thin cotton crop tank I’m wearing in the above photos and pretty much any tighter top. They DO NOT SHOW THROUGH either! You know those tight polyamide material bodysuits that show absolutely every little bump underneath? You can wear these and they are invisible! Game changer. They do start to lose their suction if you get really sweaty but I’ve worn them in the Florida heat outside for hours and they didn’t slip or fall off, just needed to be push back on the suction again. I’ve worn them swimming in the water and they stay put.
Cakes came out with sticky ones recently and they can be worn under loose tops! I only ever use Cakes these days if I’m not wearing one of my triangle bralettes and make sure I always take them on vacation.
I love them so much I just signed up for their affiliate program so I can offer a discount and will update when I get accepted. If you’ve been seeing the ads too and have been iffy about CAKES, just buy them already, you won’t regret it! 12/10 rating from me.
*Click here for the link for 10% off!
Bra Alternatives I Don’t Recommend
I do not recommend the style with the wings on top like this. My mom wore one and it ripped her skin off! I also hate how your top options are limited since it would show through tank tops, which are the kind of tops I mainly wear sticky bras with.
I also dislike the ones with ties in the center. I’ve tried them and just don’t like them! The ties get in the way and show through tops. There are better options.
Thick silicone gel nipple covers are not good either. I’ve tried these ones from Target and they were so thick it made my boobs look like they had boobs. They were not flattering at all. When it comes to nipples covers, the thinner the better.
Now, for those of you who like wearing bras, check out this post. These are some of the best push up bras I’ve ever used.
I think I’ve reached that age where bras seem more confining than anything else. At some point, I might just want to stock up on bralettes or sports bras, they are much more comfortable to wear imo
Yes! Traditional bras just aren’t comfortable!
I just wanted to say thank you for this post!! I hate wearing bras in the hot summer, and, at 34B now, several years after nursing 3 children for a total of 7 years, I don’t need support but do prefer some nipple coverage. I ordered LilyPadz after reading your post and my life has changed, lol. They are so comfortable and it’s easy to apply them WITHOUT nipple pressure if you aren’t trying to control milk flow. I worked out with them in, and they didn’t budget but they are so simple and easy to put on and remove. I’m a convert!!
LilyPadz are amazing!! I’m so glad I could help you out!
I have large, heavy breaststroke. I have seen many posts about how to get out 9f wearing a bra, but not one of these apply to me. I’d like to know a real solution for the double ds cuz its hard carrying all this around, especially with wires and all the stuff that goes with the territory. I hate my boobs, I mean I also love them, because they have very well fed babies, but they ruin so many freaking outfits, since I was young. If I could change anything I’d wish for waaaaaaaayyyy smaller boobs, this is like ridiculous 🙄.
I have developed a condition called pectus excavatum–caved in breast bone. I think it makes me more sensitive to any constriction around my rib cage. I don’t breathe as well. I have small breasts (AA) with poky nipples. I wear a camisole and safety pin in some Bravo brand bra cups. I use the circular ones with double padding–it’s really not that much–just enough to give me a normal shape as well as some modesty. I trim about a quarter inch from around the edge to make it fit me more closely. It has worked very well for many years. Under smooth fitting knit tops you might need to tack the cups into the camisole with needle and thread to avoid lumps from the safety pins. If I could tolerate a shelf bra, I’d put the pads in there, but I personally can’t. All depends on your particular sensitivity level.
Honey cloudz inserts are my absolute favorite! They are light, have good coverage and don’t show an outline. I wear them in my bralettes and camisoles.
Hi,
What is the brand of the triangle bra you wear here?
Thx!!
Ana
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for providing such valuable information.
Great roundup of bra alternatives! Comfort is key, and it’s nice to have different options depending on the outfit and occasion.