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The first thing I do after I get home is rip off my bra. Sound familiar? Like most women who can’t wait for the sweet, sweet release of an unhooked clasp, I think bras are torture devices. And years of research has proved it’s not me—it’s the lingerie industry! Victoria’s Secret associates have told me I’m not wearing the right size, but I am. Girlfriends have surmised that I haven’t found the right brand, but I’ve swapped Calvin Klein for Natori for Wacoal for every other popular department store label you can think of. My sister has advised me to break them in (like jeans!), but months later, my bras still leave angry red marks on my skin.
I now know the terrible secret these well-intentioned women are hiding: All bras are wildly uncomfortable. How could they not be? Essentially, they’re cages meant to constrict our breasts, squeeze our flesh, and crush our ribs until we can’t breathe. But until the day we’re liberated from bras—when we can burn ‘em all, #freethenipple, and not endure a single side-eye when going braless—I need one that doesn’t torture me.
That’s where CUUP comes in. An Internet-famous intimates brand with a breakthrough in bra technology, CUUP makes the world’s most comfortable underwire bras that don’t poke, dig, or pinch. Their five core styles are all designed to give you the barely-there feel of a bralette with the support of an everyday bra. After stalking them for years, I finally gave their stuff a shot—and here’s my tell-all!
The Fitting
CUUP makes unlined bras that require a very precise fit, but a quick quiz—covering your current underwire bra, the size and position of your breasts, even how you define comfort—helps determine what works best for you.
I also scheduled a virtual appointment with a CUUP fit therapist for an even more personalized experience. Tania walked me through the brand’s offering and answered some pressing questions about my discomfort. “Why do bras always feel so tight on me?” “Do I have an abnormally large ribcage?” “How come my bra really starts feeling uncomfortable around 3 p.m.?” Turns out that our bodies fluctuate daily—even swelling throughout the day. No wonder I feel like tearing my bra off as my body expands every afternoon, although I usually settle for moving the clasp to a looser hook. And my sister was right: Bras need breaking in and a properly fitting style should feel more snug than you expect (that’s how you know it’s supporting you), so patience is key.
Armed with this knowledge, I was ready to test-drive The Scoop, The Plunge, and The Triangle—suggested for me by CUUP’s algorithm.
The Bras
CUUP is known for sexy minimalism: understated colorways like espresso and clay, a sleek and streamlined aesthetic, elevated details. When my bras arrived, along with a complimentary recycled bag for machine-washing them, I instantly saw their appeal in contrast to fussy, frilly lingerie in bright, come-hither colors. But was there substance behind the style?
To find out, I scored the bras on a scale of one to five, with five being the best, using the following criteria: style (is it cute?), comfort (does it fit well and feel great?), support (does it keep the girls in place?), coverage (do the nips show?), and invisibility (does it disappear underneath a thin T-shirt?). Here’s how they ranked for my 34B chest, although keep in mind your experience may vary depending on size, shape, and needs.
The Scoop
I’m not sure what kind of voodoo magic CUUP has at its disposal, but after wearing this style for nine hours, I forgot I was wearing it—the highest compliment I’ve ever paid to a bra.
Popular among women with larger cup sizes, The Scoop lives up to its name—gently scooping your breasts and holding them in place with an elegant curved silhouette and fantastically flexible underwire. Unlike most bras that give me the dreaded cup gap, its silky-smooth, blissfully cool microfiber fabric lays flat against my skin. I’m not sure what kind of voodoo magic CUUP has at its disposal, but after wearing this style for nine hours, I forgot I was wearing it—the highest compliment I’ve ever paid to a bra.
Style: 5 Comfort: 5 Support: 4 Coverage: 4 Invisibility: 3
The Plunge
An unlined construction of whisper-thin, semi-sheer mesh, this flimsy-looking style doesn’t appear as if it can offer substantial support. Miraculously, it does. Crafted from resilient power mesh, the breathable cups mold to my shape perfectly, while the ultra-thin underwire framework cradles the girls without pinching. This bra is deceptively supportive—although I wouldn’t wear it to do anything physically taxing. The mesh means there isn’t much nipple coverage, so wearing this with thinner tops is a no-go.
Style: 5 Comfort: 5 Support: 3 Coverage: 2 Invisibility: 4
The Triangle
The Triangle is The Scoop’s V-neck cousin with skinnier straps. Cut from the same soft, stretchy microfiber and double-layered for opacity, it’s a simple, sexy, versatile silhouette you’ll reach for time and again. Thanks to a deeper neckline and teardrop-shaped cups that layer well underneath a range of shirts, it’s become my everyday staple. Most importantly, it doesn’t budge throughout the day; the adjustable straps stay fixed and the closure stays hooked.
Style: 5 Comfort: 5 Support: 4 Coverage: 4 Invisibility: 4
The Feedback
If I wanted to be at my most comfortable, I wouldn’t wear a bra at all. But the next best thing is undoubtedly CUUP. They’ve achieved the impossible—engineering bras that offer structure, shape, and support in a sensual-looking, highly wearable package.
If I wanted to be at my most comfortable, I wouldn’t wear a bra at all. But the next best thing is undoubtedly CUUP. They’ve achieved the impossible—engineering bras that offer structure, shape, and support in a sensual-looking, highly wearable package.
Although I was warned every bra needs a break-in period, CUUP’s bras felt disarmingly comfy from day one. Instead of suffocating the girls, they offered a gentle hug. Rather than compressing my chest, they sculpted and celebrated my natural shape. I’d happily wear their other bras as well: the bottom-heavy-friendly Balconette with moderate coverage and the Demi, which sports larger cups with maximum coverage.
I only wish that CUUP made a strapless version—many of my necklines don’t work well with bra straps. I’d also petition for the brand to branch out from its airy, unlined silhouettes and release a bra with built-in padding, for those of us who desire a natural-looking lift in that area (hint, hint). Meanwhile, I’m thrilled I’ve found a brand that lives up to its Internet hype—and can give me the support I need until we all decide to go braless!
5 More Reasons To Love CUUP:
- Goodbye, outdated sizing scale. CUUP bases their measurements on the bodies of real women, offering 40 bra sizes, A through H, with more on the way.
- “Comfortable underwire” sounds like an oxymoron, but CUUP’s Flexiwire is remarkably thin and lightweight—moving with you instead of against you.
- The brand makes impossibly comfortable underwear too—think: buttery-soft fabrics, the softest stretch, and a range of colors to match the bras.
- CUUP’s BodyTalk™ blog is a treasure trove of information and inspiration—featuring artists, actresses, entrepreneurs, and other women covering subjects like reproductive health, body image, and anti-racism.
- Did we mention the referral program? Earn $30 in CUUP credit for every friend you refer who makes a purchase.
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