The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer. The decision is really up to you and your personal needs. With more and more women working from home, the need to always look put together no longer takes centre stage. Casual comfort is now key and although wire-free and underwired bras each offer their own unique benefits, one style isn’t necessarily better than the other - It’s all about personal preference. And just in case the difference between the two isn’t immediately clear, underwired bras are designed with wires that support the shape and structure of the bra cups, while wire-free bras are exactly what they promise - complete free of wired.

 SO WHY DON'T WE RECOMMEND WIRE-FREE BRAS AS YOUR EVERYDAY SUPPORT? 

A properly fitted and well constructed underwired bra is specifically designed to offer shape, separation and support to your bust. Considering that our breasts are mostly made up of fat and that over time they lose their youthful, perky shape due to collagen loss, the different stages of womanhood - from puberty all the way through to pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause - and not forgetting the abuse we place on them through unsupported exercise and fad diet weight fluctuations, is it any wonder why we rely more and more on a good bra to give us the look and shape we desire. A properly fitted wire-free bra will offer you support, but it cannot offer you the shape or separation that an underwired bra can, especially if you have a heavier bust. Wirefree bras simply don’t have the ‘hardware’ (wires) to do so.

 Did you know that more than a whopping 86% of woman are not wearing their correct bra size?  

It’s also important to point out that most women who have not been professionally fitted often opt for the less supportive wire-free bra styles as their everyday bra choice because they are wearing the wrong bra size. If your cup is too small, the underwires will sit on top of your delicate breast tissue causing the wires to poke you uncomfortably. Finding your proper cup size will ensure that the wires sit correctly, in line with the armpit, and significantly reduce any pain and discomfort. Have you found your perfect fit? Book a fitting or re-fit HERE!

 BUT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A LITTLE STAY-AT-HOME STYLE & COMFORT? 

We love the comfort that our everyday underwired bras offer us because we believe that comfort and courage come from being properly supported, but the recent past has given us plenty of reasons to put our wired bras in the bottom draw for now and instead indulge in the less-structured casual comfort of wire-free underwear while working from home, social distancing or just enjoying some well-deserved me-time. Our wire-free lingerie range includes bralette styles, soft cup (wire-free) shapes, and non-wired sports bra options too. Shop our range of wire-free bras HERE!

We have many beautiful bralette styles that we can offer you, and although they are often only available in a basic XS-XXL size range, a well-fitted bralette can still offer you light support while sleeping, or on those days that you just don’t want to get dressed up. Fantasie and Freya both offer beautiful lace and mesh bralettes options that can be worn as is or added as an underlayer over your bra if you want to feel a little more covered up under something sheer. Liza loves her Freya Fancies Bralette and says she often find herself moving from her bed to her home office where she comfortably stays for hours before realizing she is still in her pj’s. A few of our wire-free bralette favourites are Fantasie's Impression Bralette, Freya's Daisy Lace Bralette and Liza's top choice, Freya's Fancies Bralette. View our online wire-free bralette collection HERE or chat to your fitter for more options.

Side Note: If you are bigger busted and LOVE the bralette look but can’t go without the structure and support that underwires offer, don’t despair! Elomi features a stunning underwired bralette style that is available up to a HH cup size. Shop Elomi’s Charley Underwire Bralette HERE. Bare on mind that this bralette is more of a statement piece than a home comfort item. We don’t recommend this for sleeping as it does give more rigid support.

If you’re looking for more everyday wire-free support while running errands or hosting online meetings from your home office, a soft cup bra style (also called wire-free) is a great alternative for you, especially if breast shape and separation is not your top priority. While some wire-free options do offer a level of breast separation, it’s not as deliberate and defined as what can be achieved by wearing a well-fitting underwired bra. Our top picks for soft cup bra support are Fantasie's Memoir Soft Cup Bra and Jacqueline Lace Soft Cup Bra and Panache's Andorra Non-Wired Bra. See all of our soft cup bra options HERE.

We also offer non-wired sports bra options if you’re looking for a stylish yet supportive crop top look that can be worn under a cute muscle tee or on its own if you dare to bare a little more while working out. Wirefree sports bras are ideal for low impact exercises such as pilates and yoga, as this style of bra usually uses a COMPRESSION design to prevent bounce, where the bra presses the breasts tissue to your body. The Panache non-wires sports bra is our 5-star recommendation. See our online range on non-wired sports bras HERE or chat to your fitter about more options and colours.

Side Note: For high impact activities like running and HIIT training underwired sports bras are the best choice. This is especially true if you have a heavier bust because the wires offer more support and structure. The ENCAPSULATION design of an underwired sports bra means that each breast fits into its own cup and is supported individually by the cup construction and underwires. Shop our range of Underwired sports bras HERE.

But whatever your support needs, we know that going braless is simply not an option for most heavy-breasted women. This is why we want to offer you a quality, feminine alternative that makes staying at home just that little bit easier and more comfortable. Enjoy wire-free support while relaxing at home. Shop our range of wire-free bras HERE!

 But have you found your perfect fit yet?  

If you're looking to discover your perfect fit, or have been fitted by us before and just need a refit CLICK HERE to book a fitting at a Liza Clifford Bra Fitting Studio near you or an online eFitting. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don't forget that we've teamed up with PayJustNow to help you budget for your bra purchases better. Launched by South Africans for South Africans, PayJustNow is an attractive, responsible and rewarding alternative to credit when shopping with us online and gives you the freedom to buy what you need today and pay it off over 3 equal monthly instalments, interest-free. PayJustNow is always #zerointerest, and there are never additional fees or hidden costs when you pay on time. To find out more about PayJustNow CLICK HERE or visit:  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Should you have any questions, email us at INFO@LIZACLIFFORD.COM or call us on 087 135 9345 and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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