With the advent of athleisure in the early 2010s came a collective sigh of relief among womankind. Finally, a form of comfortable, supportive and sweat-wicking clothing which is not only perfectly appropriate for quotidian wear; but has come to exemplify it.
Form-fitting and lightweight athleisure has become more than commonplace across the globe. It’s a uniform in warmer cities like LA, where casual hikes across Runyon Canyon in an attempt to spot other celebrities sporting similar, premium athleisure excellence reign supreme. The trend has slowly but surely trickled down into colder cities with the arrival of more utilitarian, 90s-inspired styles like ankle-grazing flared leggings and insulating zip-up running jackets.
Athleisure has also been transmuted into various sub-categories of popular clothing trends. For instance, Gorpcore makes use of athletic base wear such as comfortable sports bras and loose-fitting tops, while Balletcore has transformed full-length, one-piece strappy leotards into a veritable fashion statement.
One recent addition to the high-street athleisure line-up is something that we simply can’t get enough of. Whether worn into the office as a comfortable base layer, dressed up with heels and a pair of bedazzled jeans, or simply paired with your favourite cycling shorts for a workout class, sculpting sports tops with built-in bras are nothing short of a revelation.
Winter, spring, summer or autumn, these hybrid tops make for a supremely comfortable and flattering alternative to traditional shapewear while making your wardrobe far more versatile. There’s no longer a need to create separate capsule wardrobes for the gym and your day-to-day outfits, for 21st-century athleisure has combined the two with seamless, supportive ease.
We’ve curated a selection of the best tops with built-in bras to make your days smoother, easier and breezier.
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Adanola Ultimate Racer Front Scoop Back Bra
This compressive scoop-back bra top from Adanola provides impressive support no matter where your day takes you. It’s been designed with medium-impact activities in mind like spin, weight training and cycling yet remains silky smooth and sculpting. Equipped with four-way stretch and Adanola’s signature ultra-soft construction, the lightweight garment is perfect for sweaty summer days.
Buy now £34.99, Adanola
Adanola Ultimate Longline Tank Top
For those in the market for a slightly more modest top with a built-in bra, Adanola’s Ultimate Longline Tank has come to the rescue. Available in sizes XXS-XXXL, the supremely comfortable and formfitting base layer is set to be part of your new daily uniform.
Buy now £32.99, Adanola
TALA SkinLuxe Built-in Support Cut Out Shoulder Vest
The brainchild of fitness influencer and entrepreneur Grace Beverly, TALA is a cult-favourite athleisure sensation for a reason. We’re head over heels for this uber-stylish workout tank top with its flirtatious cut-out detailing on the shoulder. Available in a myriad of neutral colourways, it’s made with recycled fabrics, has built-in support, and is designed to feel like a second skin.
Buy now £38.00, TALA
TALA DayFlex Built-in Support Adjustable Tie Side Vest
With such fantastic supportive tank tops available over at TALA, we had to include more than one offering. We can’t believe this adjustable tie-side vest can actually double-up as workout gear. The mind boggles.
Buy now £44.00, TALA
lululemon Align High-Neck Cami Tank Top
The ultimate Balletcore style supportive tank, lululemon’s Align high neck top has a distinctly Audrey Hepburn air about it. This elegant piece of athleisure is realised in the Canadian brand’s classic, butter-soft Align material for lightweight support all day long. It’s also fitted with adjustable straps and pockets for optional, removable cups in the shelf bra.
Buy now £58.00, Lululemon
Uniqlo Ribbed Cropped Fit Bra Top
One of the only built-in bra top options which isn’t part of an athleisure offering, Uniqlo’s flattering ribbed racer-back tank top is an ideal summertime layering piece. It’s available in an impressive selection of versatile colours and sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.
Buy now £19.90, Uniqlo
Vuori Halo Performance Crop 2.0
Silky smooth and non-compressive, this wonderfully comfortable Halo Performance halter-style tank by Vuori has been crafted to offer a barely-there feeling. While this doesn’t make it suitable for high-impact workouts, it’s the perfect daily uniform for casual errands and relaxing at home. Complete with a four-way stretch, it’s made using 89 per cent recycled materials and has impressive moisture-wicking properties.
Buy now £65.00, Vuori
Gymshark Everyday Shelf Cami Tank
Elevate your wardrobe staples with Gymshark’s flattering Everyday Shelf Cami Tank. Another fan-favourite which has a more subtle logo at the bottom of the garment is the one-shoulder Asymmetric Tank Top with additional built-in support.
Buy now £30.00, Gymshark
