A common theme in these posts is that nothing is particularly consistent when it comes to bras, not even the words we use to describe them. A particular term can have a literal definition that is rather broad, while bra wearers might use it to mean something much more specific. In other cases, the words themselves are kind of fuzzy in terms of what exactly they refer to. Take, for example, bralettes. A “bralette” is a bra-like garment that generally has the following characteristics:

• It does not have an underwire.
• It provides only light support and lift. Bralettes are usually made from comfortable, stretchy fabrics.
• Its appearance is geared towards fashion, allowing for them to be shown off a la “underwear as outerwear.”
• Frequently, bralettes do not have hook-and-eye closures or other fastening mechanisms. You just pull them on over your head.
• It will most commonly use alpha sizing: Small, Medium, Large, etc.

Here’s the thing. It’s easy to find examples of “bralettes” that break every single one of these rules. Language works this way, for better or worse. Definitions shift, and words are applied and interpreted differently by different audiences.

Personally, I would call an underwired bralette an oxymoron, but that doesn’t change the fact that you can find garments that call themselves this very thing. (“Unlined bra” or “high apex plunge bra” for the second example might be less disputable labels.)

Some brands make bralettes in traditional bra sizes rather than S/M/L sizes. As far as lift and support, these bra-sized bralettes are able to provide a more moderate hold since the band and cup sizes can be independently adjusted and fitted to the wearer’s body. Expect to see an actual closure on these more fitted bralettes as well, rather than just a pull-over design. Some of our favorite bra-sized bralettes at Grail are made by the brands Parfait and Montelle.

As for the fashion-focused aspect of bralettes, many of them are indeed very cute and fit for showing off, if you’re so inclined. Plenty of bralettes are extremely basic, however. They more closely resemble a stretchy comfort “sports bra” than a fashion staple. Below is another bralette from Montelle and the Sugar Candy bralette from the brand Cake.

What about wireless bras? Are they the same or different from a bralette? A wireless bra is technically a more structured garment than a bralette, but since “more structured” is a relative notion, the actually line is super fuzzy. There are padded and non-padded wireless bras. Some are made of soft and stretchy materials, while other use firmer fabrics with less stretch. Non-wired bras can be plain or frilly. For instance, all of the garments below are labeled by their brands as “wire-free bras.”

Are they actually different from a bralette in any meaningful way? In this case, as with most things bra-related, I’d encourage you to take the label with a grain of salt and focus on whether the garment is actually matching your needs. If it’s a good technical fit, it’s comfortable, it suits your personal aesthetic tastes, and if it provides the level of support you want for your activities, that’s great. Whether we call it a bra or a bralette doesn’t matter one iota.