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Apr 12, 2024

20 Best Bras for Small Busts 2023

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Good things come in small packages. IBTC, rejoice! Because it’s an inarguable truth

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Good things come in small packages.

IBTC, rejoice! Because it’s an inarguable truth that the widest array of bra designs and styles are found amongst bras for small busts. Whereas bigger busts are unwillingly more dependent on anatomical benefits and steadfast support, petite sizes have a lot more ease with teeny bikinis, backless bras, and barely-there bralettes. And that’s to say if you’re even wearing a bra at all—the optionality of which is just another definitive benefit of having small boobs.

But then there’s the “cons” list, often triggered in the name of cleavage or during the search for a bra that actually fits. There’s gaping, slipping, and pinching, topped off by all of those empty-promise push-up bras that do nothing more than make your boobs appear forcibly smothered against their will under all of your stylish summer tops. So, to find the best bras for small busts, we poured over real customer reviews from women clocking in below a C-cup and tapped an industry expert with a brand that’s designing exclusively for smaller chests. Jaclyn Fu, co-founder and CEO of Pepper, let us in on why it can feel so hard to shop for smaller bras from standard brands. “Most bra companies design for the average ‘36C’ size...when women with small busts can find bras in their sizes, they’re often ill-fitting.”

If you’re a self-proclaimed member of the IBTC (Fu mentions that AA, A, and B cups typically fall into the category of small busts), relief is on the way. Ahead, we’ve pulled together the 20 best bras for smaller boobs—strapless, seamless, push-up—if you can name it, you can shop it, below.

Pepper is a brand designed to cater to and exclusively fit small-chested women, touting body empowerment as a byproduct of the perfect fit. Aside from thousands of raving reviews (among fans is senior commerce fashion editor Dale Arden Chong, who wears a 32A), this buttery-soft plunge bra has the suitability to become the equivalent of what a plain white tee is to your wardrobe—a comfortable staple that you can pair with almost anything. This style is also the sister style of Pepper’s Mesh All You Bra, which Fu dubs the brand’s “first baby.”

Band Sizes: 30-40

Cup Sizes: AA-B

Colors: 6 options

Material: Polyamide, elastane

Customer review: “Love it! It fits me really well, good quality, nice fabrics, and is comfy to wear. The game changer for me is that if I lean forwards, it doesn’t gape! Yay!”

Lulalu is another top contender when it comes to designs for small boobs and the only brand offering AAA cup sizes. This perfected version of a T-shirt bra promises no awkward gaping and anti-slip straps.

Band Sizes: 30-42

Cup Sizes: AAA-A

Colors: Beige, Black

Material: Nylon, elastane

Customer review: “I absolutely love this bra! I normally wear a size 34B, but Lulalu suggested I try a 36AA. It turns out the fit is incredible around my waist, and the cup size is perfect. It took a few days to break in the bra...I took a nap in it the other day and when I woke up I couldn’t believe I was able to sleep wearing a frickin bra!!!!”

We all need a little lace number. While it’s especially fitting for closely set breasts, this plunge push-up style helps to create natural-looking cleavage and universally flatter all smaller figures. And unlike all your other lace bras, this one will lay flat and inconspicuous underneath your clothes.

Band Sizes: 28-36

Cup Sizes: A-C

Colors: Red, Nude, Black

Material: Polyamide, elastane, cotton

Customer review: “This bra can give a AA girl cleavage...it’s amazing! I have never found a bra that fits this well and actually found a way to give me cleavage without a ridiculous amount of padding.”

You never need an excuse to dress up your bras and lingerie. Indulge yourself with the dreamy details of this romantic, baby blue triangle bra, and make it a matching set with the Butterfly Lace Ruffle Panty.

Sizes: XS-XL

Colors: Blue

Material: Polyester, elastane, polyamide

Customer review: “This pale blue in the frilly design is sooo pretty. It’s definitely worth the money!”

Hot on the trails of The Little Mermaid and the resurgence of mermaidcore, this seashell bustier from Ukranian-based brand Bevza evokes an imagining of oceanic bliss that you can show off under an unbuttoned boyfriend shirt.

Sizes: XS-L

Colors: Emerald

Material: Viscose

Customer review: “I feel like Ariel in this...this bra makes me actually grateful for small boobs because I can get away with fun styles like this. Not to mention it’s SO well made and the padding gives me a little lift.”

Nobody ever said that functional bras have to be frumpy, which is proven in this sheer mesh CUUP style that flaunts “the freedom of a bralette, with the stability of an underwire bra.”

Band Sizes: 30-44

Cup Sizes: A-H

Colors: 11 options

Material: Nylon, Spandex

Customer review: “I will never wear another bra again! Very comfortable. With each wear it conforms more and more to my body, enhancing my natural shape and still keeping things perky. Not to mention, it’s a very flattering and subtly sexy bra.”

I love ThirdLove. The brand’s Classic T-Shirt Bra has become one of my tried-and-truest staples—the bra I wear when I don’t want to wear a bra at all, but I can’t (appropriately) go au naturale. This soft, rounded push-up style allows you to customize and balance asymmetrical cleavage while adding additional boost to your bust.

Band Sizes: 32-44

Cup Sizes: AA-H

Colors: 12 options

Material: Nylon, Spandex

Customer review: “This bra is so comfortable and flattering! I am small chested and I like this bra because it doesn’t gape, and it’s the perfect amount of padding.”

Yet another personal endorsement, this skimpy bikini-style bralette is great for when I don’t want to deal with wires or bulky bands (especially underneath the summer’s sheer dress trend).

Sizes: XS/S-L/XL

Colors: Woodrose, Sweet Nothings, Italian Ice, White, Black

Material: Nylon, Spandex

Customer review: “While this bra doesn’t do much in the way of lift or support, it’s so perfect and dainty for minimal coverage under thin or transparent tops and dresses.”

Balconette bras help to create fullness toward the top of the breast, along with bottom-to-top lift thanks to the help of a little underwire. Therefore, they make a good style selection for those who may be less-endowed in the chest area. This retro pastel style grants weightless comfort (at a 60 percent discount).

Band Sizes: 32-46

Cup Sizes: A-G

Colors: Fairy Dust

Material: Recycled nylon, elastane

Customer review: “I usually am very hesitant on buying bras because the majority are uncomfortable, but this one is an exception! I absolutely love how this bra gives your chest the lift you want and it’s super comfortable. Not to mention the design is so cute!”

Maybe it’s 2023’s Barbie-mania talking, but there’s a particular allure to this pretty pink contoured demi-cup. It features a higher rise near the underarms to help support wider set breasts, and contoured padding to assist in a “subtle yet perky” push-up effect. Side note: this is a seasonal style that won’t be restocked, so you may wanna jump on this one.

Band Sizes: 28-38

Cup Sizes: A-C

Colors: Stone, Rosette, Peach

Material: Polyamide, elastane, cotton

Customer review: “The fit is so different from any other bra I’ve tried...I’m used to underwire hitting in my armpit, but these are set closer together and actually hold my boobs in the right spot. I am ridiculously petite in frame and this bra is so clearly made for a small framed woman.”

The next best thing to going commando? This Commando bralette that’s so sleek and buttery-soft, you’ll forget you even have it on.

Sizes: XS-XL

Colors: Toffee, White, Cinnamon, Black, Beige

Material: Modal, elastane

Customer review: “I love these bralettes. They are incredibly comfortable and supportive if you have small breasts.”

It wouldn’t be a comprehensive undergarment roundup if SKIMS didn’t make the cut. This silky-smooth, everyday bralette is also a favorite of our senior fashion commerce editor’s, because the crossover design gives just the right amount of support without hindering on comfort (at all). Hello, work-from-home days.

Sizes: XXS-4X

Colors: 22 options

Material: Polyamide, elastane

Customer review: “Being small chested I usually don’t like bralettes. I prefer push up styles, but this looked amazing on me and even gave me cleavage! Not to mention it’s really comfortable.”

For all the girlies on the move, this low-impact sports bra provides a worry-free fit during every yoga and pilates sesh. The last thing you need is to have your bra agape during downward dog (been there), so this product’s bonded chest band allows the material to lie flat while avoiding any uncomfortable pinching.

Sizes: XXS-XL (A-C)

Colors: 7 options

Material: Nylon, Spandex

Customer review: “Comfortable for all types of low-impact activities such as yoga, walking, and biking! I also wear it for pickleball!! Love the crisscrossing back straps.”

I don’t care if you’re a 32AA or a 38DD—you know the pain of finding a good strapless bra. Fu reveals that “most strapless bras will create cup gaps or constantly fall down for small-chested women.” So Pepper has come to the rescue with a strapless, gravity-defying, balconette-cup bra that you can actually count on to stay in place.

Band Sizes: 30-40

Cup Sizes: AA-B

Colors: 6 options

Material: Polyester, elastane

Customer review: “I recently purchased the multiway strapless bra in 34A and my view on bras was changed forever! Imagine...a bra that actually fits! The fitting chart online was easy to follow...it’s very comfortable and breathable. Most of the time I didn’t even notice it there.”

If you need your bra to all but disappear underneath your clothes, this is the one. The single-size fit coupled with ultra-elastic fabric means that Neiwai’s Barely Zero style will accommodate changing or asymmetrical breasts, as well as fluctuating sizes.

Sizes: One size

Colors: Peach, Cinnamon, Almond, Black

Material: Nylon blend, Spandex

Customer review: “I literally stopped wearing everything else because of how comfortable and flattering these bras are. I’ve had them for a year and a half now, and they’ve kept their shape and quality nicely considering the daily wear and how long I’ve had them. I love the shape these give me and how there’s no visible lines underneath clothing.”

If the 28,500 5-star Amazon reviews aren’t enough to sell you on this side-smoothing bra, take note of the fact that it’s also seamless and under $50.

Sizes: XS-3XL

Colors: 16 options

Material: Nylon, elastane

Customer review: “This bra is AMAZING! I am small and narrow chested (32B). The XS fits like a glove. This bra is tag-less, has easily adjustable straps, the material is buttery soft, and the color selection is nice...no side boob bulge!”

While a few of the bras on this list are wire-free, this plunge V-neck style is the only one with convenient front-adjusting straps and a back j-hook for racerback conversions.

Band Sizes: 32-38

Cup Sizes: A-DDD

Colors: Black, Burnt Orange, Shell Pink, Almond

Material: Rayon, Spandex

Customer review: “This bra is amazing. The design of putting the adjuster for the straps on the front is genius. The wireless is soft and comfy, but still supportive.”

Everywhere I looked, this bra presented itself as a customer favorite with a plethora of glowing reviews. In fact, it has 4.5 stars from 3,500 reviews on Nordstrom’s site alone, in which most reviewers cited the figure-hugging contour and mesh wings as the all-important features. It should be noted that this bra runs small in the cup, so you may want to size up.

Band Sizes: 30-38

Cup Sizes: A-G

Colors: Antique, Coal, Hibiscus, Cosmetic, Coast Blue

Material: Nylon, Lycra, polyester

Customer review: “The Feathers is my absolute favorite bra Nordstrom will ever sell...I’m very shallow at the top of my breasts, so most bras gape at the top and look horrible under clothes...this one NEVER gaps, so if you’re shallow like me, you NEED this bra!”

This option comes highly recommended by a former Victoria’s Secret sales associate, who also happens to double as my very own sister. An easy, everyday style, this bestselling bra has just enough lining and padding to lightly lift and shape without any hardcore wires or itchy adornments.

Band Sizes: 32-44

Cup Sizes: A-G

Colors: 23 options

Material: Recycled polyamide, recycled polyester, elastane

Customer review: “This is my absolute favorite bra. It is the only bra i wore for 4 years...I love that it doesn’t have a wire and it’s just a super comfy material. It does not show through clothing and doesn’t make your boobs look like they are trying to be anything they’re not, haha. It works really well for my 32 A bod :)”

Finally, a fully functional bandeau! Complete with removable padding and super stretch, you can utilize this style under sheer and plunging tops, or even display it with a high-rise pair of jeans. But if you come too late to the party, you might miss out: Aerie’s SMOOTHEZ collection always sells out pretty fast.

Sizes: XXS-XL

Colors: True Black, Sands

Material: Nylon, Lycra

Customer review: “The material and texture of the back of this makes it stay up! It doesn’t give me a muffin top and I’m not worried about it sliding down! I highly recommend!!”

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