Experts agree that wearing a supportive bra is a good idea, whatever your size. If you have F+ cups it's even more important to find a style that will combine maximum support with comfort to ensure you feel good and look great in whatever you wear. This 2-pack of bras from Next is great value for money and they have the added bonus of underarm smoothing panels.
If you are currently on the hunt for the best bras for big busts you will likely have considered a full-cup style. I wear a size 32FF and the majority of my bras fit this description. However, occasionally I like to wear a bra that will make my boobs look smaller and this is when I reach for one of the best minimiser bras that work by compressing the breast tissue into a softer more rounded shape.
There are many reasons why you may opt for a minimiser style, much like the best shapewear they will give you a smoother line under tightly-fitting tops.
Price: £40 for 2 bras
Band size: 32-44
Cup Size: F-K
Padding: No
Wired: Yes
Colours Available: 2
Next is one of the giants on the UK high street and as a fashion stylist I often feature clothes and accessories from the brand. While they are a great place to shop for all the latest trends, I had not considered buying my bras from there (usually opting for a lingerie brand at John Lewis instead). However the majority of the bras designed for bigger boobs have a high price tag and I wanted to investigate a cheaper brand to see if I could find the same level of support and comfort at a more affordable price.
The Under Arm Smoothing Minimising Ultimate Comfort Bra caught my eye. It's a two pack, and since £40 is approximately the amount I spend on a single bra, this meant I would be getting two for the price I normally pay for one. I then noticed the smoothing under arm panels - a feature I hadn't come across before, which piqued my interest.
I wore the bras for a two week period and considered the level of support and comfort they provided, along with the shape they gave me under my clothes, in particular if they made my bust look smaller - here's what I thought.
Next Under Arm Smoothing Minimising Ultimate Comfort Bra
This 2-pack of minimiser bras will provide practical solutions to the problems faced by women with big boobs. The added coverage under the arms will contain and smooth over any overspill and the wide back panels make it ones of the best bras for back fat. Having one dark and one light bra ensures you have something suitable to wear with every colour.
Next Under Arm Smoothing Minimising Ultimate Comfort Bra Review
Shape & Design
Much like the best T-shirt bras this style is made from a double layer of soft microfibre fabric and the cups are smooth and seam free. An additional piece of fabric is attached to the side of the cups to form an extension that will cover any additional overspill.
The cups are underwired and have a thin elasticated edging ensuring the fabric stays in place. The centre gore of the bra is 10cm wide and the lower band is cut slightly higher at the front. The elastic straps are 2cm wide and have clasps at the back to adjust the length. The back panels are made from slightly firmer fabric than the cups and are also smooth and seam free. The bra fastens with 3 hook and eyes, and there are 3 rows to increase or decrease the band size.
Support & Fit
With the smallest size available in this bra being a 32F and the biggest a 44K, this is a bra that will appeal to women with bigger boobs of varying shapes and sizes. I opted for my normal size of 32FF and it fitted perfectly. The bra felt comfortable, although the underband fitted firmly and I was aware of it throughout the day.
I felt that the bra offered me more support than other T-shirt bras with the additional underarm panels to increase coverage. I was able to easily adjust the straps to make them the correct length, but I felt they were slightly flimsy and made from thinner elastic than I'm used to on more expensive bras.
Comfort
On the majority of days I was testing this bra I wore it for about 14 hours a day and it felt comfortable for most of that time. By the end of the day it was starting to rub on the shoulders and left slight red marks on my skin, but not enough to cause any pain, only very slight discomfort.
Function
Not only did I feel supported in this bra but I think it made my boobs look smaller too, so it definitely serves its purpose.
Care
This bra is machine washable and for the purpose of this review I washed each one twice, without any change in the quality or appearance of the bra.
However, in my expert opinion, I would recommend hand washing as I predict the delicate fabric will loose it's supportive qualities with repeated machine washing. I will continue to machine wash and update this review in six months to confirm.
Verdict
These bras offer great value for money and are comfortable and supportive, they have become an essential part of my wardrobe. I think they make my boobs look slightly smaller, and give them a natural shape. The smoothing underarm panels increased my confidence, although they showed under sleeveless tops with low-cut armholes.
