Best Bras and Underwear Every Woman Over 50 Should Own (2025)

Do you miss industrial-strength girdle-shorts or a slip? Do you long to wear a push-up bra and thong again? Me neither. After a year when just about everything has changed, even our usual undergarments are absent these days. Comfort is top priority now for everything we wear — including our underwear. This doesn't mean, though, you should give up totally on a little smoothing, shaping and body flattery. Who couldn't use a little help? Here are the 10 best basics to own now, all with a body-positive attitude.

See Also

What is the best lubricant for seniors? - The Environmental Literacy CouncilBest Skincare Products and Routines for 50's - The Dermatology Review22 Beauty Products Reviewers Over 50 Wished They’d Known About Sooner

(Left to right) Bali Comfort Revolution EasyLite Shaping Wireless Bra DF3491; Everlane The Invisible Bra; Chantelle Soft Stretch Bralette

Macy's; Everlane (2)

1. A feel-good bra

Every woman knows that blissful moment when the bra comes off — so much that during isolation some of us started skipping the darn thing altogether. Going braless may be fine at 15, but not at 50 when gravity and age-related skin and muscle changes encourage sag. Try wearing so-called “bralettes” at home. You'll stand and sit up straighter and look better lounging around in tees and sweatshirts, too. The most soothing choice is a full-coverage, pull-over-the-head style like the Bali Comfort Revolution EasyLite Shaping Wireless Bra DF3491, which comes with removable cups ($44, macys.com); or cup-free styles like the Everlane The Invisible Bra ($25, everlane.com) and the Chantelle Soft Stretch Bralette ($58, barenecessities.com). Look for wide, stretchy straps and a shape that actually covers your entire breast while adding subtle lift.

(Left to right) Jockey Women’s Forever Fit V-Neck Unlined Bra 2997; Soma Enbliss Wireless Bra style 570222679 in peaceful blue; Warner’s Elements of Bliss Wire-free Bra style RM3741A in rosewater

Macy's (2); Soma

2. A wire-free support bra

Remember the big trend for molded-cup underwire bras? The preshaped contours gave us a well-rounded look (even when our breasts were uneven or shallow on top) plus modest nipple coverage. It worked, no doubt about that, but somehow it felt likea lotof bra. Look for the update — wire-free seamless styles like the Warner's Elements of Bliss Wire-free Bra RM3741A in rosewater ($40, macys.com), Soma Enbliss Wireless Bra style 570222679 in peaceful blue ($48, soma.com) or Jockey Women's Forever Fit V-Neck Unlined Bra 2997 ($36, macys.com). All feature lighter, more realistic-looking molded cups and gentle straps. Black or any nude shade is always a smart basic choice, but try a trendy blue, soft gray, mauve or rose for a change. They look just as great under dark and light tops.

(Clockwise from left) Under Armour Women’s HeatGear U-Back Mid-Impact Sports Bra; Champion The Curvy Moderate Support Wireless Sports Bra B9373; Old Navy High Support Cross-Back Sports Bra for Women

Macy's (2); Old Navy

3. A sports bra in the correct level of support

You do gentleat-home workouts, yoga, barre or Pilates? You need a low- to medium-level sports bra. Jog, bike, cycle, weight train, play a racquet sport or run on a treadmill? Opt for a medium- to high-level one. Now that we all do some kind of workout (or at least wear the clothes for it!), sports bras have become a must-have. In fact, some women wear sports bras as all-purpose bras. The newest styles — like the Under Armour Women's HeatGear U-Back Mid-Impact Sports Bra ($40, macys.com), the Old Navy High Support Cross-Back Sports Bra for Women ($23–$30, oldnavy.gap.com) and the Champion The Curvy Moderate Support Wireless Sports Bra B9373 ($30, macys.com) — combine support and comfort. Look for a stable broad band that sits on your midriff or lower for a cropped top effect, and sturdy racerback or crossed straps, moisture-wicking fabrics, mesh panels or keyhole details and molded cups or removable cups for a shapely profile.