Need a Better Bra? 3 Bras for Mature Women That Properly Lift and Support Breasts
Find the bra that best suits you.
As you age, your tried-and-true bras might become less effective at lifting and supporting your breasts. This can be due to weight changes that can result from menopause or breast deflation from nursing. Shopping for bras that keep your breasts in shape may seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple tips, you can find a bra that’ll add youthful volume and fit without bulging or chafing. Plus, you can snag some adorable options for as low as $35. Here are three types of bras that are perfect for mature women.
To Lift a Sagging Bust: A Bra With Molded Cups
Bra expert and founder of TheBreastLife.com, Elisabeth Dale, explains that sagging is caused by weight fluctuations and even changes in breast density as menopause kicks in. This leads to firmer tissues being replaced with heavier fat. Her advice? Pick a full-coverage bra with molded cups. Breasts conform to the preformed shape, so they appear more lifted and light; allover padding restores volume for a boosted bust. One to try: Soma’s Stunning Support Full Coverage Bra, 32C to 44G (Buy from Soma.com, $64).
To Add Youthful Volume: A Bra With Built-In Padding
Aging, weight fluctuations, and even long-ago nursing can cause breasts to deflate. And while push-up bras may seem like the perfect solution for a flat bust, some can be too padded, which can be uncomfortable and look unnatural. The fix: “Look for cups with built-in padding that’s thicker along the bottom of cups and gets gradually thinner toward the top,” says bra specialist Jené Luciani. “It pushes breast tissue upward and inward to create realistic-looking fullness.” One to try: Vanity Fair Ego Boost Push-up Bra, 32A to 38D (Buy from VanityFairLingerie.com, $35.20).
To Smooth Spillover: A Bra With Triangular-Shaped Cups
Many women find that the shape of their breasts doesn’t fit into rounded cups, so tissue spills above the cup and over the band, creating chafing and bulges. Luciani suggests a simple solution: triangular-shaped cups. “A more angular design mimics the natural shape of breasts, while fuller coverage contains the entire breast from every angle,” she says. One to try: ThirdLove Plunge Bras (Buy from ThirdLove.com, starting at $33).
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.
