The Best Undergarments For Women Over 40

Arguably the most important pieces of clothing in a women’s wardrobe are undergarments. But I (along with most women) will agree that undergarments are the least exciting thing to shop for. It may seem like something that’s not that important, but ill-fitting undergarments can completely change the way clothing fits you. Plus, if the fit is off, you’ll be uncomfortable and fidgety all day. If you don’t already have undergarments you love and that fit you, you’ll find everything you need to know in this post! Including the best undergarments for women over 40, my favorite go-to brands, and even tips on determining your bra size!

Black beautiful plus size woman in bra and underwear

First Things First…

Knowing your bra size is the first key step in finding the best undergarments! Did you know that 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size? That really is a crazy statistic! And it’s not surprising considering that there are so many brands and no bra size standards. You know how a size 8 at one store fits you perfectly, but you need a size 10 at a different store? It’s called “vanity sizing.” The same thing happens with undergarments…just because you’re a 36C in one bra you love, doesn’t mean you’ll be a 36C in another brand. Plus, as little as a 5-pound weight change can alter your size!

Did I mention that bra and undergarment shopping is frustrating!? Ha!

The best thing you can do is go into a store you love and get fitted. Nordstrom has bra fit specialists that can measure you and help you find the perfect bra! Soma is another great option for getting fitted. They have a special bra called the SOMAINNOFIT to help you pick out the best size on their website. You can find out more about that in this post. I highly recommend using the resources available to you to help you with size and get the perfect fit.

Black woman fastening back of her black pretty bra

What Undergarments You NEED

These are the very basic undergarments you need to have in your wardrobe. But there are definitely other specialty bras like racerback bras, bralettes, etc. Find my favorites for each piece below…

  • Black & Nude Strapless Bras
  • Black & Nude Smooth Bras – This is the bra you can wear every day…like a t-shirt bra!
  • Black & Nude Skirt Slip – Make sure you choose one with tummy control (like Spanx or Commando)
  • Nude Thigh Shaper
  • Full-Body Shapewear
  • Nippies, NuBra, or Plunge Bra
  • Black & Nude Panties – When you find a pair you love, buy as many as you can…These undies are the only ones I wear now!

Shop more bras, panties, and shapewear.

best bras over 40 featuring strapless bra picks

Brands I Love

Soma
Natori
Chantelle
ThirdLove
True & Co.
Wacoal

For wireless, check out the affordable options at Jockey here.

Strapless bra peeping out of a pink dress

My Top 5 Bras!

ThirdLove 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra
Natori Cherry Blossom Underwire Bra
Chantelle Plunge Lightweight Bra
Soma Perfect Coverage Bra
Wacoal Convertible Red Carpet Strapless Bra

Do you have the holy grail bra for a large bust?? Do NOT keep that to yourself… please share in the comments!

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