All too often, funky dresses look cute on the clothing rack but not so great on a woman’s rack. It can seem hard to find a cute dress that also works with the bras you already own. Here are our favorite funky dresses and the bras you can actually wear with them.
Wear with a strapless bra
For this first batch of funky dresses, we suggest opting for a normal strapless bra. Make sure it has a nice, strong grip on your rib cage so you won’t suffer slippage.
Strapless dress
Strapless dresses are as ubiquitous as mosquitoes on a sticky July night. Set yourself apart from the masses of swarming women by opting into this über-fitted and über-classy sheath dress from Anthropologie. It’s perfect for a wedding, a candlelit dinner or even a day at work with a tailored black blazer. (Anthropologie, $228)
Off-shoulder dress
The interplay of creme-colored lace and relaxed fit on this Free People dress begs for you to wear it on a warm summer evening, and the flirtiness of the off-shoulder cut will leave your man begging to see more. Wear it casually with a few bangles and some braided sandals, or dress it up a little with a bold necklace and espadrille wedges. (Free People, $148)
Wear with a convertible bra
A convertible bra is a fantastic investment that allows a woman to wear many different styles of dress with one simple purchase. Try a convertible bra with this next set of funky dresses, since you may want a bit more coverage than a strapless bra provides.
One-shoulder dress
This sexy and feminine dress from Express has a made-for-summer cut that screams casual, flirtatious and fun. You can dress it up for evening with some blingy gold accessories or wear it to the beach with a punch of color in a necklace. (Express, $80)
Halter dress
It’s important to have good bra coverage, especially for free-flowing, unstructured dresses like this halter maxi from Bebe since they don’t have built-in support. The convertible bra will a provide nice lift to this stunning number. (Bebe, $149)
Wear with a stick-on bra
The term “stick-on bra” may conjure up a few unpleasant images, but we promise that today’s stick-ons are reusable and offer effective coverage with a number of sexy dresses.
Backless dress
A well-fitted backless dress looks both refined and alluring. Wearing a backless dress with a bra, however, is nearly impossible without the help of some pasties. We love this super-sexy dress available at Reve Boutique for $369.
Plunging dress
Brave women know it’s OK to show a little cleavage now and then. Really brave women know it’s OK to show a lot of cleavage as long as they are super on-trend. The plunging neckline on this ASOS dress is not for the faint of heart, but it looks oh so fantastic for a hot summer night. (ASOS, $76)
Peekaboo dress
Sporting a dress with a ton of cutouts works well if you’re a lady of the night but not so well if you’re trying to seem elegant and classy. This unique dress from Pixie Market rocks the cutout trend without seeming desperate. (Pixie Market, $134)
Wear with a “normal” bra
And by normal, we mean something that you probably already have in your wardrobe. These dresses work well with sports bras or nude full-coverage bras.
Sporty dress
We love the latest fashion trend that extends sporty dresses beyond the tennis court and onto the jogging trail and yoga mat. This sporty dress from Athleta comes with a built-in bra, but if you want a little more coverage during your workout, we promise that this dress looks great with a cute sports bra. (Athleta, $69)
Nude-color dress
Nudes are in, and we’re not talking never nudes like Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development. But a nude- or light-colored dress is ruined by a colored bra showing through its delicate lace. Pair your nude or white dress, like this totally adorable one from ModCloth, with a nude-colored bra to make sure you’re looking fine. (ModCloth, $178)
Striped dress
The nautical and striped look of this dress is still hot this summer, but it creates a problem for the big-busted women among us. Even if you’re slender, a set of big boobs can appear overwhelming when they’re covered by horizontal stripes. Opt for a minimizing bra if you don’t want to look like an optical illusion. (Guess, $108)
More tips on bras
Monday Mom challenge: Get a bra fitting
The complete guide to measuring your bust size at home
Morning, noon and night: Be comfortable in your bra all day
Leave a Comment