The women of EHD have no problem talking about boobs and our bodies freely at work, especially when important research for a blog post is at stake. Fun fact: the words and ideas you see on this blog are often a result of a collaborative group effort—whoever is writing will often ask the opinions of everyone in the office because we believe the group is stronger than one (and multiple perspectives are important and necessary). All of that is to say: we talk to each other. We hear each other, and we genuinely love that we are all different. So, when the topic of summer dresses came up, we got together and started talking about what dresses we were into right now and what we realized this week was not necessarily profound, but something we don’t notice being talked about very often. We all unanimously agreed that when dress shopping, our specific bra preferences and needs were the #1 consideration. We want to be comfortable and, of course, feel good in what we wear, and for some reason, dresses give us some issues when it comes to the ladies. Some of us NEED to wear a bra—no exceptions. Some prefer a bra but can work with a dress that offers a bit of support. Myself, for example, will not go near a strapless bra because I find them so uncomfortable so often just go bra-less. SO, today we present our very first summer dress roundup by bra specifications. Let’s get to it:
1. Soft Utility Jumper | 2. The Cotton Weave Picnic Dress | 3. Bouquet Flutter Shirtdress | 4. Striped Wrap Maxi Dress | 5. V-Neck Tiered Cover Up Dress | 6. Midi Sundress | 7. Tie Belt Ruffle Trim Midi Dress | 8. Calista Gingham Linen Midi Wrap Dress | 9. The Jig Dress | 10. Faux Wrap Maxi Dress | 11. V-Neck Dolman Sleeve Dress | 12. River Island Belted Shirt Dress | 13. Patterned Dress | 14. Ruffle Sleeve Cotton Maxi Dress | 15. Smock Waist Peasant Midi Dress
Here we have your bra-friendly dresses. I have noticed a lot of the time a dress will seem bra compatible, but then you click on the site and notice it is backless. UGH. So annoying. We took the liberty of taking that stress out of your life by making sure each one of these does not have a surprise backless feature, or a weird cutout. You can rest easy knowing your bra is safe and unnoticeable here.
1. Loft Plus Off the Shoulder Button Down Midi Dress | 2. Monique Dress | 3. Denim Tie-Strap Button-Front Sundress in Star Jacquard | 4. Daisy Midi Dress | 5. Warehouse Linen Midi Dress With Buttons | 6. Emmie Dress | 7. Crochet-Strap Tiered Midi Dress | 8. Loft Plus Flower Branch Jumpsuit | 9. Women’s Plus Size Floral Print Dress | 10. Gingham Linen-Blend Cropped Plus-Size Jumpsuit | 11. Fit & Flare Plus-Size Tiered Maxi Dress | 12. Tie-Detail Dress | 13. Blue Life Summer Breeze Maxi Dress | 14. Faithfull Farah Smocked Midi Dress | 15. Smocked-Back Dress in Gingham
Anyone have recommendations for strapless bras that ACTUALLY stay put (particularly for a DD+ sized chest)?? I have never found one that doesn’t slowly inch downwards and have me fishing down my dress trying to pull that sucker back up all day long. It’s a problem. However, some of these actually appear to have some decent support (#4 and #9 for example) so you could probably skip the bra altogether (my dream). But, if you like a strapless bra, these dresses are going to work with that, for sure.
1. Lula Midi Dress | 2. Jade Midi Dress | 3. Satin Came Dress | 4. Troulos Lace-Up Midi Dress | 5. Floral Backless Maxi Dress | 6. Lille Mini Dress | 7. Signorinia Mini Dress | 8. Golden Skin Ruffle Hem Sundress | 9. Leopard Print Culotte Jumpsuit | 10. Juliette Dress | 11. Crochet-Trim Lace Up Cami Dress | 12. The Delphine Dress | 13. Tall High Neck Low Back Mini Dress | 14. The Lincoln Dress | 15. Frances Midi Dress
This category is for those who prefer to let ’em loose and free. A choice we fully support by the way (pun intended). I really do like going braless TBH, but it isn’t always shall we say, appropriate. I don’t have small boobs, so the circumstances are limited as to when I can don my outfits sans bra. HOWEVER, have you heard of this trick that the celebrities apparently do?? They duct tape their boobs. I am not even kidding. I am pretty sure Kim K even posted about it once. So when in doubt, tape your boobs, I guess? JK, that is horrible advice. Anywho, a lot of these dresses are either backless or have a tie-back situation but a trick we like to do is wear a white T-shirt underneath. It’s results are twofold: You can wear a bra and you can dress down a more formal looking dress (like #3).
Okay, that is all for today. What are your bra recommendations? Do you have any tricks for avoiding nip slips when a dress is rather tricky to work with in the chest region? Tell us your secrets.
‘Til next time <3
The best strapless bra I’ve found is from Thirdlove. I’m a 32 DD (previously a DDD, but lost some weight) and I don’t have to adjust it every 2 minutes! Har being said, it is a tight bra, takes some getting used to, and still is one you’re very happy to take off at the end of the day. But for the right dress? Worth it.
Unrelated but just want to say thank you for including images of plus sized models. It made me so happy to see!
I’m a 34 D and I’ve been wearing my favorite strapless bra for years. It’s Victoria’s Secret and it stays out and I forgot I’m wearing it. Super comfy.
The Wacoal Red Carpet strapless bra is magic. MAGIC, I TELL YOU. It lifts. It smooths. I could probably ask it to fix my sink and it’d do that too. I’m a 36F and that sucker DOES NOT BUDGE. I’ve seen it in Nordstrom with sizing from 30-44 and it goes up to an H cup, IIRC.
You look lovely!
Mariya |
Hi all –
Lovely options! Yes, bras and summer dresses is a complicated issue! My favorite solution (but not always good for those more blessed on top than I…) is a dress with a built-in shelf bra. I *live* in them in the summer! I also love skirts with built-in shorts.
Happy dressing!
A good bra puts the center of the ladies in the middle of your upper arm, and the only 38H bra that does that for me is the Chantelle C Magnifique Minimizer. And only a bustier works for strapless options, but when it’s 98 outside who can do that?
I just tried a whole bunch of strapless bras (I’m a G cup), and the Goddess Adelaide strapless worked the best. I think that the secret to strapless bra is to look at the size obviously, but also the shape of your boob. Some cups are more shallow or low rise than others. That made the most difference. The goddess has very full, deep cups and boning and I don’t fell like I’m going to fall out. :) I don’t know if this has all of the sizing, but they have quite a broad range.
Don’t use duct tape! Use KT tape, the thing athletes use. It is seriously the best strapless/backless bra and comes off painlessly.
wow, thank you for the tip…I have some KT tape here and will try it….
Oooh, so, like, what’s the technique to tape the ladies? I assume there’s a way to tape for support, not just to cover the nipples? I have yet to find a strapless bra I can stand, but I hate feeling unsupported!
You want to use Grafting tape, and here is how:
Love, love, love you divided the dresses into the categories!
Thanks so much for showing dresses that larger boobed women can wear comfortablely!
Good morning
I trust that this message finds you well. I have tried to contact you via email but it has bounced twice now so I am giving your contact form a go.
I enjoy blogging in my spare time and I have written a couple of articles for your blog stylebyemilyhenderson.com.
Please find them attached on my Google drive:
Do let me know what you think and do send me the links to the articles once you have managed to publish them.
Also, do let me know if you would like me to write some more articles for your blog.
Regards
Journee
I love this – since that’s exactly my thinking when dress shopping. But I committed this year to only buying from ethical companies (I.e. committed to paying living wage, transparent supply chain, usually sustainable) so won’t be shopping these. But since I know you value ethical companies as well I just wanted to let you know it’s really not hard anymore to limit yourself to only ethically produced clothes. There are so many options! Now I am not super strict – as long as the company says they pay fair wage etc. I take them at their word. Hoping for more and better standards on that going forward.
The Grammar.com section on the Parts of Speech says: Many people incorrectly use “myself” and substitute it for “I” or “me”. First, never use “myself” as the subject of a sentence. Thus, the following is incorrect:
“Myself, for example, will not go near a strapless bra because I find them so uncomfortable so often just go bra-less.”
This should read:
“For example, I will not go near a strapless bra because I find them uncomfortable, so I just go bra-less.”
Rylann – I don’t mean to pick on you, but EHD staff and editors make this mistake so often that I just had to say something today. Grammar is your friend; good grammar allows your readers to focus on the content of your writing, instead of being sucked into wondering why this same grammatical error happens over and over again at EHD.
Agree 100%.
I love this roundup with the category divisions. At a certain age, braless is not practical regardless of size (at least for me). Lots of great options.
I just want to thank you for always including plus sizing options (except in the bra-less dresses!)whenever you make clothing recommendations. One size does not fit all!
I have two requirements when it comes to buying a summer dress. First, that it touch me as little as possible. The less I can feel it, the better, which is why I typically go for unwaisted dresses like t-shirt dresses. The second requirement is that I can wear it with a regular bra. However, a style blogger recommended adhesive silicone nipple covers (basically pasties) for those of us who don’t need support (me!) and they are a game changer. I worked out in them just to see if they could handle the sweat and they never budged.
Thanks so much EHD for this post!
I can’t find the white dress Emily is wearing in the first photo. Maybe I’ve had too much wine, or maybe just enough! Help?
looks close to #14 in the first group, but without the neck ruffle.
You look lovely!
Hey, #10 in the first group seems to have the wrong link. I would love to know where to find it!
Same here! Mucho gracias
It was looking great and thank you for this wonderful post –
Wonderful dresses and I love this products and how to buy this dresses please ping me –
Good morning
I trust that this message finds you well. I have tried to contact you via email but it has bounced twice now so I am giving your contact form a go.
I enjoy blogging in my spare time and I have written a couple of articles for your blog stylebyemilyhenderson.com.
Please find them attached on my Google drive:
Do let me know what you think and do send me the links to the articles once you have managed to publish them.
Also, do let me know if you would like me to write some more articles for your blog.
Regards
Journee
On a whim, I bought a strapless bra at Target and I’m pretty happy with it, 3 wearings in. It’s, I believe, their house brand – Auden. I am only a 36B so take this for what it worth…..
Hi! I am a 32DD (10DD in Australia) and love a strapless bra with underwire but without freakin paddings! The best ever Bra in my opinion is the Andora at Simone Perele (great shape, stays in place, comfy) They don’t sell it in Australia anymore but they have it in America.
I found a new one that is good also from Wacoal:
I’ve used band-aids as pasties before when I had a backless dress! Totally works in a pinch!
Good morning
I trust that this message finds you well. I have tried to contact you via email but it has bounced twice now so I am giving your contact form a go.
I enjoy blogging in my spare time and I have written a couple of articles for your blog stylebyemilyhenderson.com.
Please find them attached on my Google drive:
Do let me know what you think and do send me the links to the articles once you have managed to publish them.
Also, do let me know if you would like me to write some more articles for your blog.
Regards
Journee
Ok, to be clear, celebs use GRAFTING tape, not Duct tape. Please, dear god, do not duct tape your boobs!