I know I am not alone when I say that quarantine has changed me. Being privileged to have a day job that operates from a work from home setup, I’ve said goodbye to the grueling daily commute and the need to wake up extra early to glam myself up for the day. Like most working women, I’ve welcomed a more relaxed perspective when it comes to “getting ready for work”—I’ve taken the opportunity to sleep more and to wear the comfiest clothes here at home. While going braless has been a liberating decision that many women plan to take with them out of quarantine, not everyone may be ready to let go of those chest cages.
Although studies show that your breasts could become stronger and more toned without a bra over time, women with bigger breasts may feel some initial discomfort as their muscles may not be strong enough yet to support their breasts without a bra. If you’re one of them and tired of putting on and taking off your bra every time you need to go for a quick errand run, I present to you: padded tops.
Wearing a padded top saves you the effort of clasping on a bra to head out of your home while also saving you the feeling of being exposed. Don’t get me wrong, there should be no judgment whether a woman decides to go braless or not. If you’ve been wanting to ditch the hassle and discomfort of a bra but you’re not yet ready to go completely braless, here are some padded tops that you could try out. Style them with maxi skirts, blazers or your favorite pair of denim jeans.
The Liana Top from Mantou Clothing
When it comes to fashion, you’d want to cop pieces that you could style for multiple looks. While Mantou Clothing aims to create unique designs with each collection, they focus on the basics so you can match their pieces with almost anything and never go out of style.
One great thing about padded tops is that they’re perfect for backless looks. Mantou’s Liana Top saves you the worry of showing bra straps and clasps when you want to go for a bareback look or if you just want to beat the heat. Get one from their website.
The Klea Dress from Love, Ara
Nothing says cute and comfortable like a flowy summer dress. Plus, wearing dresses allows you to skip the stress of matching a top and bottom (hits two birds in one stone if you ask me).
Luckily, the Klea Dress is a cute mustard boho piece that comes with pads too. This way, you won’t need to worry about wearing a strapless bra—but seriously who cares if your bra strap shows? Grab yours from their website.
The Ocho Halter Top from DAYTODAY Athleisure
Athleisure brands pride themselves in providing your body the support it needs when you exercise and strive to provide their customers with comfortable pieces that can be worn even beyond working out.
DAYTODAY shares the same principle with their pieces like the Ocho Halter Top. This halter top has built-in bra pads that you could wear for a workout or even for a casual day out. You could pair this with those lounge shorts we see a lot on TikTok or a loose skirt for a flowy look. It’s available on their website.
The Long Shot Top from DAYTODAY Athleisure
Another good piece from DAYTODAY is their Long Shot top. When it comes to padded tops in the market, not a lot of brands cater to a wide range of boob shapes and sizes. Luckily, this Long Shot Top has adjustable straps that you can tweak depending on how you want it to fit.
From doing chores at home to dressing up for a Zoom meeting, this simple tank provides you the full support and comfort your chest needs. You can get it on their website.
The Shortcake from Sugar Rush Athleisure
Calling all sweet tooths, this Cebu-based brand serves their colorful pieces named after your favorite desserts. Their Shortcake top is a padded cropped top that you can mix and match with your blazers and trousers for work meetings and job interviews.
Not only this, its comfortable design also allows you to head straight to your workout right after or hop on a strenuous hobby like, well, baking your own shortcake. Available on their Instagram.
The Riri Cropped Top from Akma Active
Named after the Filipino word akma, this brand believes that everyone is strong in heart and mind. Akma Active aims to empower by creating their versatile pieces.
Cropped tops are a girl’s best friend when it comes to wanting to show some skin. Moreover, these are perfect to match with those baggy high-waisted pants too. Akma’s Riri Cropped Top provides full support for your chest while also having a thick compression band for a cinched waist look. Its criss-cross back also provides more mobility and a presko feel for a hot busy day. Get it from their website.
The Koko Tank Top from Akma Active
If loose-fitting tops are your go-to’s, then the Koko Tank Top from Akma active just might fit your preference. Koko’s built-in sports bra is very stretchable, giving you more room to breathe compared to other sports tops that are snug and form-fitting. This goes well with leggings or a trusty pair of skinny jeans. Available on their website.
Art by Dana Calvo
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