The Best Bras and Underwear for Women Over 50

2. A comfy, wire-free bra

Many women over 50 love the “aah!” moment of taking off a bra. Not that underwire bras are uncomfortable; today’s flexible, covered wires, buttery fabrics and softly engineered straps have eliminated past problems. However, a wire-free bra has evolved as the new “comfort” bra. It’s the one you’ll slip on to run errands, work from home, lounge in and wear for long car and airport travel days. Some make this their primary bra.

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Women ask, “Is a wire-free bra better than wearing a bralette?” The answer is almost always yes — especially for women with saggy, heavy or full breasts. Wire-free T-shirt bras may have a hook-and-eye back closure rather than a stretchy pull-on band, but remember that the band, not the straps, does most of the bra’s work. You’ll also get cup separation, so a bralette “uniboob” is never a problem, plus a foam lining or removable pads for modesty and shape.

Three of the best choices are the Maidenform Women’s Everyday Luxe Wireless T-Shirt Bra DM2402 in Pretty Blush, Evening Blush and Black ($50, macys.com), with foam cups and convertible straps; the Lane Bryant Cacique Intimates Cotton Unlined No-Wire Bra in Deep Taupe, Chocolate Plum, Black or Beige ($42, lanebryant.com), with molded cups, wide adjustable straps and a smoothing U-shaped back; and the HoneyLove CloudEmbrace Wireless T-Shirt Bra in Sand, Vamp or Pink Cloud ($45–$74, nordstrom.com), also with soft, molded foam cups, a back-smoothing shape and convertible straps.

Remember the bralette exceptions? Two hybrid styles make bralettes a breakthrough choice. Try the Jockey Generation Seamfree Women’s Light Lift Bralette in Rose Petal, Gray, Dusk Blue or Black ($18, target.com), with soft foam pads, adjustable convertible straps to customize the fit and a wide underband beneath the bust to keep everything in place; or the B.tempt’d Women’s by Wacoal B.wow’d Wirefree Bralette in Au Natural, Blush Pink or Night ($48, macys.com), with removable foam cups, a hook and eye closure for a perfect fit and straps that convert to crisscross styling. And you can’t beat the superchic scalloped-edge design for style.

(From left) Glamorise Women’s Plus-Size Magic Lift Seamless Sport Bra in Frosted Aqua; Curvy Couture Smooth Seamless Wireless Sports Bra in Lavender Mist; Lane Bryant Cacique Max Support High-Impact Underwire Sports Bra in Odyssey Gray.

AARP (Macy’s, Nordstrom, Lane Bryant)

3. A sports bra that’s realistic

A sports bra that suits your workout activity, whether it’s low-impact yoga or high-impact jogging, is the one you want. Just make sure it’s easy to wear. The single biggest complaint I hear about sports bras is: “It’s impossible to get this thing on!”

Unfortunately, most sports bras are pullover or step-into styles with a challenging, super-snug fit. (For step-ins, sit down and then work the bra over your feet, one at a time, to your hips and waist, then pull up one strap at a time.) The best ones are have commonsense details like adjustable straps, easy on-off hook and eye closures and cup separation, such as the Natori Dynamic Convertible Medium Impact Sports Bra in Black or Rose/White ($76, bloomingdales.com), with lined underwire cups; Curvy Couture Smooth Seamless Wireless Sports Bra in Bark, Black or Lavender Mist ($49, nordstrom.com), with removal pads; the Glamorise Women’s Plus-Size Magic Lift Seamless Sport Bra in Black, Cafe and Charcoal Gray ($60, macys.com), whose band sizes go from 34 to 50, cups B to J; the and the Lane Bryant Cacique Max Support High-Impact Underwire Sports Bra in Odyssey Gray, Black, Deep Taupe or Animal Run ($39, lanebryant.com), moisture-wicking with wide, padded, adjustable straps.

(From left) Wacoal Modern Affair Contour Underwire Bra in Night Sky/Black; Bali Women’s Coolest Smoothing Underwire Minimizer Bra in Black Lace; Elomi Women’s Charley Banded Stretch Lace Plunge Underwire Bra in Black.

AARP (Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Target)

4. A sexy, confidence-boosting black bra

Looking pretty or sexy isn’t always top of mind when women over 50 shop for bras and underwear. It’s more about finding smooth, stretchy, supportive styles. Still, a special bra that enhances your psyche, builds confidence and makes you feel beautiful is empowering. Buy one in black, because it will instantly make you feel slim, sophisticated and posh, even when worn under a simple black sweater.

Splurge on a lacy, embellished style with a plunging neckline that V will make even your most conservative outfits feel a little more special. Pair it with any black undies you own, from a simple shaper to high-cut briefs.

Snap up a Wacoal Modern Affair Contour Underwire Bra in Night Sky/Black ($68, bloomingdales.com), a fancy underwire T-shirt bra with smooth foam cups and lace-band trim; the Bali Women’s Coolest Smoothing Underwire Minimizer Bra DF4584 in Black Lace ($54, macys.com), with cushioned straps and extra coverage at sides and back; or an Elomi Women’s Charley Banded Stretch Lace Plunge Underwire Bra in Black ($61, target.com), a U.K.-sized structured bra with soft, lace-seamed cups.

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1. Experience 1
2. Experience 2
3. Experience 3
4. Experience 4
5. Experience 5

(From left) Old Navy Women’s High-Waisted No-Show Brief Underwear in Cocoa Fawn; Auden Womens 2-Pack Luxury Collection Brushed Micro No-Show Brief Underwear in Black/Tan; Wacoal B-Smooth High-Cut Briefs in Black/Naturally Nude.

AARP (Old Navy, Target, Nordstrom)

5. Flattering briefs that work with everything

As a personal shopper, I see women over 50 in their underwear all the time. I hear a lot of comments like: “Excuse my underwear, they’re old,” or “I shouldn’t be wearing a bikini panty anymore,” or worst of all, “I can’t break the thong habit — they don’t show panty lines.”

Even when women update their bras, they are reluctant to do the same with their undies. Stop wondering whether you should try boy shorts or hipsters; clean out your underwear drawer and pick up a stack of modern briefs. These are not “granny panties.” Sitting at the waist or just below it, briefs now come in a variety of rear-coverage options, from full to cheeky, and leg lines, from high “French-cut” to moderate. They cover your belly, stay in place with no rolling down, slipping or bunching up, and you never get a wedgie.

Try styles with a high or modified high-leg line, which creates the illusion of longer legs and trimmer thighs. There’s no need to splurge. Lower-cost versions like the Old Navy Women’s High-Waisted No-Show Brief Underwear in Cocoa Fawn, Velvet Sand, Black Jack, Frappe and Cheetah Brown ($4, oldnavy.gap.com); and the Auden Women’s 2-Pack Luxury Collection Brushed Micro No-Show Brief Underwear in Black/Tan ($15, target.com); or package deals that whittle the price of higher-priced briefs, like the Jockey Women’s 100% Cotton Elance French-Cut 3-Pack in Black or Light ($27, target.com); and the Wacoal B-Smooth High-Cut Briefs in Black, Naturally Nude or Black Deep Taupe (3 for $48, nordstrom.com), make replacing oldies painless. One suggestion: If you wear medium-rise jeans, choose briefs that sync to their waistband. You don’t want an inch or two of extra panty showing above the jeans’ waist.

(From left) Jockey Skimmies 360 Smoothing Microfiber Brief, 3-Pack, in Light; Miraclesuit Women’s 2-Pack Light Shaping Waistline Briefs in Black/Warm Beige; Assets by Spanx SpanxSmooth Women’s All-Around Smoother Briefs in Very Black.

AARP (Macy’s, 2; Target)

6. Shaper panties for bloat days and nights

No one needs heavy-duty compression for an everyday look, but sometimes a little belly-hold comes in handy.

Shapewear undies with light control are designed to sub for the regulars whenever the scale goes up, a bloated tummy bulge reflects the effects of a salt or alcohol spree at dinner the previous evening, or you want to wear something that’s a little too fitted or small. Just remember two things. Shaper undies should sit at or just slightly above your actual waistline — the way your briefs do — to ensure belly coverage. And do not wear regular underwear under shaping briefs (many women ask this). Treat shaper panties as underwear. and launder them after each wear.

Some of the best include the Jockey Skimmies 360 Smoothing Microfiber Brief, 3-Pack 1766 in Light or Black ($36, macys.com), moisture-wicking with a silky feel; the Soma Vanishing Tummy High-Waist Brief Panty With Lace in Adobe Rose, Cinnamon Latte, Warm Amber, Pale Sand and Black ($26, soma.com), with smooth, soft, nonbinding lace at the leg opening; Miraclesuit Women’s 2pk Light Shaping Waistline Briefs in Warm Beige or Black ($52, macys.com), with a no ride-up design; and Assets by Spanx SpanxSmooth Women’s All-Around Smoother Briefs in Beige and Very Black ($16, target.com), seamless and with a slightly higher waist for extra flab control.