Truth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with bras—at least when we're talking about the stiff underwire ones, that is (gimme all the comfy bras!). But, while I love to let the girls free at home (and also possibly also to the corner store), I hate the idea of going in public without a real bra on. And because I prefer not to go braless, I always pass on all the cute backless, plunging, or cutout dresses and tend to stick with the same old silhouettes over and over again (it can be tricky to switch it up, ya know?).
If you also adore complicated and seriously strappy dresses but need some form of coverage to feel comfortable, join the club. Off the bat, I'll tell you this: when it comes to shopping for bras for backless dresses, you'd need to look out for options that fit snugly so you feel supported, cups that hold—not squeeze—your boobs, and a band that fits just right (please don't size up unless the bra actually runs small) and that's exactly what you'll find here. With the right bra, we, too, can wear those asymmetrical dresses with all the slits and ties and not be stressed about popping out of ‘em. (!) Got your eye on a couple of dress options? Take the risk and go with the jaw-dropping, fun one—just make sure to get one of these types of bras to go with it.
Here, we've listed some tricky dress examples and the practical, functional undergarments to wear under each. We've got sticky bras for backless dresses, strapless bras for sleeveless ones, push-up bras if you like a little lift, and even some options for bras for larger busts. For all those times when your bralette won’t cut it, try one of these instead.
For a naked dress or other completely sheer pieces, try...
A basic bra and underwear in a contrasting or coordinating colorway—it's one of the major trends to consistently pop off at recent fashion weeks (and on the red carpet). All you do to go for it, is pair a light-colored naked dresses or sheer rhinestone look with a seamless black bra and underwear combo. (Or with a lingerie set that matches the mesh color of your outfit.) It's ideal for a night out on the town.
Any style of underwear (thong, cheeky panty, high-rise brief, or something else) works well, it just depends on how much coverage you want. As for bras, choose something with a classic shape that's free of lace or other design details. Remember: The dress itself will be the focus, so anything underneath should be sleek and simple.
Whether you style your sheer look with undergarments that barely show through or bold contrasting ones, both are great ways to make this daring runway and red carpet trend more wearable. Just make sure your undergarments are matching each other, and steer clear of skin-colored bodysuits, bras, and undies if you want the styling to feel modern and fashion-forward!
Flook The Label Nyala Maxi Dress in Metallic Gold
Calvin Klein Women's Perfectly Fit Lightly Lined Memory Touch T-Shirt Bra
For a strapless or spaghetti strap dress, try...
A strapless bra, bodysuit, or bustier. A strapless bra is an obvious choice if you don't want your straps to show, but if you're larger than a C-cup, try a bodysuit. These full-body bras for strapless dresses will prevent the band from sliding down and offer the kind of support you usually can only find in a bra with straps—super important if you're gonna be wearing it allll day.
If you're worried about the whole going-to-the-bathroom sitch, opt for a longline silhouette or bustier instead that has boning and silicone to keep it up. In particular, our picks below, including the Felina Body Veil Longline Strapless bra is like a shelf of support and, according to reviews, you will feel very comfortable dancing all night and you won't have to worry about the girls coming loose.
Anthropologie The Fleur Strapless Satin Maxi Slip Dress
Felina Low Back Convertible Strapless Bra
Intimissimi Giada Microfiber Bandeau Bra
For a low back or backless dress, try...
A sticky bra. Strapless and backless adhesive bras that connect in the middle work especially well to provide coverage and a little lift when you can't have a band in the back. Sometimes these bras for backless dresses can be a little fuller coverage, especially if they have adhesive side wings, so they probs work best if the open-back dress has a higher neckline and doesn't show a ton of side boob. And if you like a little cleavage and have a dress with a bit of a lower neckline, go with a lace-up version, which allows you to adjust the drawstring in between the cups to push 'em together. For a complete list of our favorite sticky bras, reviewed by staffers of all cup sizes, please click here.
HANSCA Women’s Backless Strapless Sticky Bras
Backless Strapless Bra
NOOD Push-Up Luxe Bra
For a sleeveless or racerback dress, try...
A racerback bra or a T-back bra. As long as there's enough material on the back of the dress to cover up the straps, a racerback or T-back style bra is the perfect fix. Don't have one? You don't need to buy a whole new bra to make it work with your sleeveless dress. Converters help pinch your bra straps together in the back, while simultaneously giving you a lil extra lift and cleavage, too. A reviewer said this about our Pepper pick:
"The fit and shape are perfect, and the front closure is super handy. It's slim enough to hide under my racerback tanks and jumpsuits and it still makes me feel gorgeous and prepared for anything. I got the sand color and it feels like wearing mermaid shells in the best way.:
lululemon Lightweight Tennis Dress
Negative Underwear Sieve Racerback Bra in Black
All day balconette
Montelle Racerback T-Shirt Bra
For a plunging neckline dress, try...
A plunge bra. Plunge bras are perfect for low-cut dresses—even necklines that extend below your sternum are no match for bras like these that have a deep "U" shape between the cups. And if all else fails, there's always boob tape. With thick tape like this, you can customize your "bra" any way that you want, but it's especially perfect for maintaining lift in low-cut dresses that cover your shoulders, and yup, it even works on larger chests. Just make sure to spot-test before committing for the night, and protect your nips from the strong adhesive by placing a circle of tissue between it and the tape. According to reviews, you'll be excited these picks exist. One reviewer said this about the Maidenform one:
"I wasn't expecting much from this other than a get-the-job-done bra (I'm a 32DDD and not the stay-up-on-their-own kind, so going braless in low-back plunging dresses is not really an option for me), but this thing is AWESOME. I ordered the size 6, which seemed like the closest match and it's perfect."
BCBG Georgina Midi Dress
ToBeInStyle Deep Plunge Convertible V Bra
ZUKULIFE Essentials Deep U Multi-way Push Up Convertible Plunge Bra
For an asymmetric dress try...
A convertible or adjustable strapless bra. Whether the back of the dress is asymmetrical or it has only one sleeve, you'll need a bra that can adjust and hide underneath, like one of these. Some convertible bras come with additional elastic bands that you can wrap around the front of your torso to make the back dip lower, while others come with various shoulder straps. Either way, make sure all the straps and bands are adjustable and removable so you can customize your bra exactly how you want it at that very moment. For example, a reviewer said this about the Wacoal strapless bra:
"This one is perfect! It's always in place, I can use a different kind of blouse that before was impossible, and I feel confident every time I wear it. The quality is excellent and very sturdy, the pads never get the weird form that mostly gets when it's washed, and the material seems to last many years. I would buy this bra again; I want to have one forever!"
ELLIATT Cassini Dress
Elomi Smooth Strapless Underwire Bra
Wacoal Strapless Full Busted Underwire Bra
Plusexy Push Up Convertible Multiway Bra
Here are some more creative tips for shopping for bras for tricky dresses:
- Wear a bra that has a lace design or decorative style!
- If all else fails (it won't), go for nipple covers or tape!
- Sew in bra cups into your dress (Genius idea, huh?)
- Let the girls free—don't wear a bra at all!
Why trust Cosmo:
Cosmo’s team of fashion experts—which includes fashion director Cassie Anderson and fashion features director Rachel Torgerson, senior accessories editor Andrea Zendejas, and fashion editors Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien and Danielle Flum—have decades of experience in the industry. They spot relevant trends on the runway before they even hit your TikTok FYP or Insta Explore Page and conduct research across retailers of all kinds to bring you the best clothing and accessory picks for every season. Basically, we've curated a chic little corner of the internet for you like it’s our job (because it is, heh).
We have pretty high standards when it comes to clothing and accessory recommendations. Each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge and includes products for all sizes. And you better believe we read those product reviews (and test many of the brands IRL) so you don't have to. You're welcome!
Hanna Flanagan is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, sharing her recommendations for everything from denim and eye creams to coffee mugs and silk sheets. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she wrote fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content at People (so, yes, she’s basically a professional product tester at this point). Follow her on Instagram for photos of Timothée Chalamet and #OOTD mirror pics.
