HOW BRALETTES ARE CONQUERING THE FASHION WORLD
Thanks partly to the rise in remote working, everyone is running around in comfortable, wire-free bra alternatives — bralettes! Fashion experts have some tips on how to style this look, which encourages wearers to show themselves off just as they are
Bras are underwear — aren’t they? This might have been true in the past, but bralettes, a wire-free bra alternative without padding that looks like a top, are currently conquering the streets. Bralettes are mostly cut in triangle shape and optionally made of elegant lace, delicate mesh or sporty elastic material. And they are not being hidden beneath a layer of clothing. They are the top. It has taken some time for this trend, like so many others started in the global fashion capitals, to spread to the rest of the world. Some observers even considered such an outfit scandalous in the beginning.
STARS FIRST
In 2019, Hollywood actress Katie Holmes hailed a cab in New York City wearing nothing underneath her cashmere cardigan besides a cashmere bra. Was she aware that the picture snapped by a paparazzo would spark a global fashion trend?
Late last year, the first bralettes started showing up on the streets, and it is safe to say that they have conquered the fashion world by this point. According to fashion editor Madeline Dangmann from Glamour magazine’s German edition, this isn’t only due to stars like Holmes, however. “The bralette also symbolises the silent revolution in fashion a little bit,” she says. “No more push-up bras, which are supposed to present everything as perfectly as possible, or underwire models, which are also going for a certain shaping, and towards a more casual, but still sexy, look.”
REMOTE WORKING HAS FUELLED THE TREND
Fashion has changed a lot due to the fact that women are now increasingly working remotely, where they prefer to wear comfortable clothing, Dangmann says.
The essence of the bralette trend: “Show yourself just as you are – every body is beautiful.” The look therefore clearly affirms a tendency towards body positivity, the expert says.
The choice of bralettes on offer is massive, according to Berlin-based personal shopper Stephanie Zarnic — you get a range, from athletic versions made of plain elastane to romantic lace bralettes or batik-style modern models. Shapes also vary, from short versions to generous bralettes reminiscent of bustiers. Buying bralettes is actually easier than buying a conventional bra when it comes to sizes, as they correspond to common dress sizes instead of factoring in the band and the cup size. “This trend is easy to combine as long as you stick to a few basic rules,” says personal shopper Andrea Lakeberg, also from Berlin. “You are always on the safe side, for example, when combining a bralette with a slim-cut blazer,” Lakeberg says. Those more into a sporty look can combine the piece with a denim or leather jacket.
Fashion has changed a lot due to the fact that women are now increasingly working remotely, where they prefer to wear comfortable clothing
The choice of bralettes on offer is massive. You get a range, from athletic versions made of plain elastane to romantic lace bralettes or batik-style modern models. Shapes also vary, from short versions to generous bralettes reminiscent of bustiers.
SKINTIGHT LEGGINGS A NO-GO
Lakeberg advises against pairing bralettes and skinny leggings, especially in vibrant colours. “That’s not only too much, but makes it look like you didn’t have enough time to change after working out.”
Dangmann has another tip on how to wear bralettes: “When they are made from tight, elastic material, bralettes also look great with a shirt worn underneath, as long as the shirt isn’t too loose and the bralette fits perfectly.”
PERFECT FIT: PAPERBAG TROUSERS
According to Zarnic, high-waist trousers like the paperbag kind are an ideal partner for bralettes.
“This shortens the space between the bralette and trousers, and looks subtle.” However, bralettes aren’t really work wear, Zarnic believes. The only exception: “If you wear a semi-transparent blouse on top and the gap between the bralette and pants is quite small, it can work — but not in every job.”
When you are going out, however, an extravagantly cut bralette combined with a blazer is a real eye catcher.