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Which bra to which top? The big style guide

A well-fitting bra contributes to greater comfort and self-confidence and usually remains hidden under clothing. At least, that’s the claim of most women. However, with particularly tight, see-through, or low-cut tops, this is often not so easy. We explain to you which bra fits to which top.

by CALIDA

15 November 2023 • 6 min reading time

3 ladies with bras from Calida 'Natural Skin' basic series

Bra guide: Find out which bra goes with which top.

Consider colour & transparency of the top

Before we show you which bra goes with which neckline, we first want to talk about choosing the right bra colour, as it is important on a daily basis. While you can wear almost every bra colour under opaque, dark tops, you should make sure that the bra colour matches the top when it comes to white shirts and see-through blouses.

So, it makes sense to wear white bras under light tops and black bras under dark, transparent tops. However, one colour is an absolute all-rounder: a neutral beige or a colour that matches your skin tone. So, your bra becomes invisible under almost any top.

Our recommendation: Get your favourite bra model in different colours to feel comfortable under all your tops. With this variance, you can also change and clean your bras regularly. Besides different colour variations of your favourite model, we also advise you to choose some beige bras with a special cut. They are suitable for a wide range of garments and prepare you perfectly for any occasion.

Low-cut and backless tops: Which bra is the right one?

In addition to the colour and the transparency, the neckline of your tops is particularly relevant for the choice of the bra. While a normal round neck or V-neck usually covers everything, it looks quite different with off-the-shoulder and backless tops, but also with very low necklines. Find out which bra goes with which top or neckline.

Bras for backless tops & dresses

Backless tops and dresses look particularly festive and classy in summer. However, it’s anything but elegant when the bra clasp is visible at the back. Depending on the depth of the back neckline and the type of straps, different bras are suitable:

If your top has normal straps that go over both shoulders, a normal bra with a low back closure is suitable. The fastener usually runs at waist level and is often crossed. You can also easily mimic this style of bra with bra extensions, which you attach to the hooks of your regular bra and then pass around your waist.

If your top has a very low back neckline that ends just above the bottom, or if it’s a halter top, the previously mentioned solution is no longer applicable. In this case, a self-adhesive bra most be used, which only covers the breast area. By now, there are also good options for large breasts that provide secure support.

Strapless bras for off-the-shoulder tops

One-shoulder or off-shoulder tops are particularly airy and contribute to a greater sense of well-being in summer. But here, too, the choice of bra turns out to be not exactly easy if you don’t want the straps of the bra to be visible. In addition to the adhesive bras already mentioned, there is an even better option for these tops: strapless bras.

A wide underbust band or closure band, which can be adjusted to the exact size of the wearer, gives you a little more security with these bras than is the case with self-adhesive bras, for example. There are also bra models where you can simply hook and unhook the straps. So, all options remain open to you.

The right bras for deep insights

If you décolleté is only slightly lower cut, most bras will usually disappear underneath without a problem. However, with a wider neckline or if it really shows deep, this can also lead to unwanted bra flashes.

To ensure that your bra remains completely invisible despite a deep décolleté, most important are the cut and different types of bras. If your neckline is cut a little wider, the tops of your triangle bra may show. In this case, a straight cut is recommended. The versatile bustiers from CALIDA, for example, fit ideally under tops with a heart neckline.

If your neckline is rather narrow but very deep – as is the case with a V or heart neckline, for example – you should rather go for triangle bras. There are special models with a lower bridge. They are called plunge bras.

Bras for different items of clothing: T-shirt, dress and others

If you want to make your bra invisible, you should also consider the special requirements of the garment to be worn over it. In addition to neckline, colour and transparency, the material and the cut of dresses and the likes are also relevant for the choice of bras.

With jersey tops like T-shirts and thin jumpers, seams and lace trims become visible more quickly. Our special spacer bras are made of smooth, seamless fabric and therefore do not show under tight, thin and flowing tops.

The bustiers and underwired bras from CALIDA are also very suitable under thin shirts, as the models without lace do not show. They also offer an extra portion of comfort to provide the necessary support even on cosy days. In combination with high-quality loungewear from CALIDA, our bustiers are not only suitable for days on the sofa, but also for the home office, a shopping trip or a coffee with your best friend.

Seamless underwear is also an absolute must under dresses. To be on the safe side, in addition to separate bras and panties, you can also opt for bra shirts or bra dresses. They go down to the hips or thighs and have the bra already integrated so as not to leave any marks under tight clothes. This way, you create a shapely décolleté without anyone seeing your underwear.

No shame: Integrate chic lace bras into the outfit

So far, we’ve only told you how to make your bras disappear under tops. However, in many cases this is not necessary at all. Instead, you can simply integrate your elegant lace lingerie into your outfit. For example, choose bras of different colours to create a contrast. You can also let wide lace straps peek out from under a blouse or use them to frame your décolleté to match your top. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and beautiful.


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