When I was 16 weeks pregnant, I was desperate for comfortable clothes — specifically bras, as my underwire ones were increasingly digging into me. But knowing that my boobs would only continue to grow before they shrank, buying my favorite $68 underwire bra in bigger sizes seemed like both a waste of money and bras. So one night after work, I stopped by Uniqlo, my go-to for affordable, well-made basics when I’m in, well, a pinch. There, I came across the brand’s Beauty Soft Wireless bra, which looked suspiciously comfortable. A trip to the dressing room confirmed that it is: With no adjusters, hooks, or wires, the one-piece bra is structured without being constricting and has gently contoured, full-coverage cups. It’s the type of bra that’s so comfortable you barely notice you’re wearing it, so I walked out with three in different colors (after paying, of course), which I then wore pretty much every day for the next six months.
Thanks to the bra’s stretchy, supple fabric, the handful I bought grew with me and never lost their shape during my pregnancy, which meant no need to size up, even when my boobs ballooned as my due date got closer. But no matter how big they got, while wearing the bra, my boobs felt supported and looked natural — not cone shaped, which can happen with other styles that have molded cups. And even though the bra’s lack of adjustable straps or clasps makes the following statement seem implausible, it really did have the proper fit. (The fact that it’s sized extra small through extra large also helps; as long as you’re in the ballpark of your regular size, you should be set.) But after giving birth to my son, I quickly traded my Beauty Soft Wireless bras for nursing bras that offered more functional designs for breastfeeding. And by the time he turned 1, I was itching to get back to my trusty underwire bras that made me feel like a real person (and not just a milk source).
Ever since being asked to work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, though, my desire to feel like a real person has lost out to my desire to feel comfortable — which, in uncertain times, seems to always be a priority. Still, I couldn’t walk around braless all day; that just feels too unprofessional, even if I’m clocking in from the couch. Thankfully, my underwear drawer already contained a solution: my Beauty Soft Wireless bras, which make the perfect WFH bra for all the same reasons they made a perfect pregnancy bra — they’re relaxed and supportive and just so easy to wear. Beyond that, the bras give me the sense of being put together, even if I’ve been wearing the same pair of leggings for the fourth day in a row, or haven’t washed my hair in as many days. More impressive is the fact that mine fit as well today as the day I got them, even though my boobs returned to their normal size.
My second-favorite WFH bra
On that fateful visit to Uniqlo 16 weeks into my pregnancy, I also picked up one of these bras that I wore a lot then, and am again wearing a lot while working from home now. I think this style is just as good as the Beauty Soft Wireless bra, but for different reasons. With its broad straps and band, this one is more in the style of a sports bra and made from a single molded piece of super-lightweight, quick-drying fabric that’s seamless under clothes. It’s what I reach for on those days when I can’t put on anything more than a hoodie but still want some support.
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