The Best Bras To Wear With A Halter Top
Whether you’re wearing a chic halter top on a date or an elegant halterneck dress for a wedding, choosing the wrong type of bra could lead to a serious fashion faux pas.
Follow our tips to find out which bra will make you look and feel your best while wearing this type of neckline.
What bra to wear with a halter top
When it comes to choosing a bra to wear with a halter top or dress, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’. Thanks to the wide variety of bras on the market today, you’ll have multiple options to choose from. The perfect bra for you will depend on factors such as your body shape, the exact cut of your top or dress and, of course, your personal preferences.
But before we run through our list of halter-friendly bras, let’s define what a halterneck actually is to make sure we’re all on the same page.
What is a halterneck?
A halterneck is a style of neckline that involves one strap of fabric running from the front of the garment and around the neck. This is in contrast to necklines that have two separate straps going over each shoulder. Halternecks tend to reveal much of the upper back and shoulders.
Now we have that cleared up, let’s look at your bust-covering options when opting for a halterneck.
A strapless bra
Strapless bras are a popular choice for halterneck lovers. As the name suggests, this type of bra has no shoulder straps, meaning the stylish aesthetic of your halter won’t be disrupted by unsightly straps.
Strapless bras usually have wider bands than traditional bras to help distribute the weight of your breasts. They often contain ‘anti-slip grip’ seams, thicker centre gores and contoured cups to help keep the bra in place and give you a nice little lift.
Strapless bras are especially favoured by people with small to medium-sized breasts that don’t require lots of support. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that you can find a good strapless bra even if you have a DD+ cup size. For example, the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra provides great support, even for bigger boobs.
When choosing a strapless bra, pay attention to the size of the backband and centre gore and think about whether you want to go lacy or smooth. Remember, there’s not always a right answer - there’s a lot to be said for your own personal style.
A halter bra
A halter bra is a pretty much fool-proof option for anyone looking to try out a halter neckline.
Halter bras have the same neckline as halter tops and halter dresses; i.e. they feature one strap that goes from the top of one side of the bra around the neck and attaches to the other side. As they don’t have any shoulder straps, they can help to reduce strain on the shoulders. This can be particularly helpful if you have bigger breasts. They also tend to offer greater levels of support than strapless bras. You can get both padded and non-padded halter bras.
The main advantage of this type of bra though is that it can work well with a halterneck top or dress as no additional straps will be on show. However, you should bear in mind that some bras are made to be seen. For example, the criss-cross lace-up of this Coco De Mer Medusa Halter Bra is crying out to be on show. This kind of seductive detail could really take your outfit to the next level so you should keep an open mind when it comes to making your bra a part of your ensemble.
A bandeau bra
A bandeau bra is a stretchy, tube-top-like fabric that can be slipped on over your head. It has no straps and it tends to have a wide band all the way around to provide good levels of support for small to medium-sized breasts. This type of bra is a fantastic choice when wearing a halterneck as it doesn’t have any straps. These bras are also supremely comfortable as they tend not to have any underwriting. However, if you have bigger breasts or you prefer the sense of security that can come with underwires, this type of bra may take some getting used to.
If you like a little padding to give you more shape, it’s worth noting that some bandeaus, such as the ultra pretty Sloggi Zero Feel Lace 2.0 Bandeau Bra, feature removable padding.
Keep in mind that while bandeau bras tend to be completely hidden under halter tops and dresses, if your outfit has a plunging neckline, a bandeau will probably end up on show. This may be ok with you if you choose a statement-making sheer or lacy bra, but if your bandeau is more functional than fun, you may need to rethink.
A multiway bra
The uber versatile multiway bra is another good choice if you don’t want ugly bra straps ruining your outfit. This kind of bra can be worn in a variety of ways, thanks to its detachable straps. You can opt to wear it with one strap, two straps or completely strapless, or you could cross the straps for a stylish look. For a halter neckline, you can choose between wearing your multiway bra with no straps or attaching the straps together to create a halter-style bra.
These types of bras tend to offer good support, even if you wear a bigger cup size. You can also find multiway bras with discreet paddings, such as the Simone Perele Essentiel Multiway Wireless Bra if you want a helping hand in the cleavage department.
A stick-on bra
Some halterneck dresses and tops leave much of the back exposed. So what’s the solution when you want to wear a backless outfit but don’t want your bra on show? This is where the stick-on bra comes in. Featuring skin-friendly adhesives, these bras literally stick onto your boobs to provide shape, support and a little oomph cleavage-wise.
They’re perfect for wearing with low-cut necklines so if you have your eye on a deep-cut halterneck, backless dress, a stick-on could be just the ticket. If you’re worried about not feeling comfortable and confident in a stick-on bra, you needn't be. Our Freebra S-Style Stick On Accessory Bra, for instance, is specially designed to offer good support and shape, and thanks to its S-style design and centre clip that helps bring the breasts together, you can get the cleavage of your dreams.