Now for something a little different: Review of Uniqlo Wireless Extra Soft Bra

Disclosure: Affiliate links.

I don't usually post clothing reviews, but when I bought this bra back in the winter, I had a hard time finding a detailed review. Something like this would have been helpful to me, so I hope it's useful for someone else, too.

Up until last month, I had been working primarily from home for a year. I prefer to avoid wearing an underwire bra at home, but I've also found that if I don't get fully dressed, bra included, I feel too sloppy and casual to be really productive. It's a weird psychological thing, but I might as well go with it if it works, I guess. I got a recommendation for the Wireless Extra Soft Bra as a good, comfortable, at-home bra, so I decided to go for it. Ordering from Uniqlo is a bit of a gamble for me, because there isn't a store in my area, and they don't offer free returns. When you return something by mail, $7 is deducted from your refund for return shipping. Shipping is $5 (or free on orders over $125, which is a pretty high threshold). That means that if I had returned this bra, which costs $19.90, I would have paid $12 just to try it on.

So I kept it, but the short version of my review is that I think this bra is really only suitable for people on the smaller side. For reference, I am 5'9", about a size 12-14, and I usually wear a 36 C bra. According to Uniqlo's size guidelines the L bra should fit me.

Uniqlo's description:

This wireless bra features a comfortable fit, plus silk amino acids and rice germ oil incorporated into the material for a smooth, supple feel. The no-hook slip-on design makes it relaxed and comfortable, and wide straps reduce strain on the shoulders. A simple, no-frills style means it won't show through even a light outer layer. 

I bought the bra in Beige, which is much paler than it now appears on the Uniqlo site (which is ideal for me, personally).

The main problems I have with this bra is that it's not supportive and--worse--it's not soft.

As you can see, it slips on over the head:

The straps are not adjustable, but they are the right length for me, which suggests that they would probably be too long for someone shorter. Obvious the intention of omitting a clasp in the back and adjustable straps is to make the bra "softer" overall, but those things are actually useful, it turns out.

The band on the size L bra does fit me properly, and the cups are an ok fit, though a little too closely spaced. But the lack of underwire means that there's almost no support for boobs my size. The lack of support and fairly loose fit of the bra would suggest that it would be more comfortable than most bras, but instead the weight of my chest causes the lower part of the bra to roll under. It's uncomfortable and not a good look under clothing. It makes my tits look about the same shape that the cups look in the first photo in this post. Very droopy and somehow almost worse than no bra at all, because the cups don't conform to the shape of my body. There's a large gap between my sternum and the center of the cups, which creates a sort of uni-boob look.

Though it comes in a size technically large enough for me, I think that this style of bra would mainly only be useful for people a few sizes smaller, though not necessarily shorter.

The other, worse problem is the lack of softness on the inside of the bra, which was the whole point, wasn't it? I could have happily tolerated low support if it had been extremely comfortable. Here it is turned inside out:

While the majority of the fabric used to construct this bra is, in fact, very smooth and silky, the edge of the elastic band at the bottom is rough, and the material used to cover the seams below the cups is what you typically find in underwire bras: sort of fuzzy and scratchy. The seams and elastic under the arms and where the straps attach are irritating and itchy. Here's a close-up:

So while the exterior of the bra is very smooth and soft, the interior is scratchy. The design doesn't make a lot of sense. Why make it softest on the side where it doesn't actually touch your skin? I tried to wear it inside out, but the the cups get weird and puckered.

The combination of a lack of the support, which makes the bra shift around on me and creates extra friction, and the scratchy seams and elastic, means that this bra absolutely does not feel any more comfortable than a regular, underwire bra. In fact, it's less pleasant to wear than most of my underwires.

As I said, I would not recommend this bra for someone my size. You might have success if you are on the smaller side, but I obviously can't personally attest to that--and the straps might be too long for someone shorter than I am.

I ended up buying a three-pack of light support "sports bras" from Old Navy to wear around the house instead. They also don't provide significant support, but at least they're comfortable. The exact set I bought isn't available anymore, but they have light support sports bras for about $10 a piece that look perfectly loungy and comfy. With free returns.