Do I really need an underwire bra?

The Point of Underwires

Underwires are stiff wires inserted into a bra just under the cups. Early bras didn't have them. According to legend, the first underwire bra was invented by Howard Hughes, the famed movie producer and aviation pioneer. During production of the film The Outlaw, starring voluptuous beauty Jane Russell, Hughes objected to seeing the seams of Ms. Russell's bra through her clothing. So he hired aeronautics engineers to examine the physics of the situation and come up with a seamless solution. The underwire was the outcome. (Supposedly, Ms. Russell tried on the engineers' contraption, pronounced it impossibly uncomfortable, and went right back to wearing her ordinary bras.)

Underwires add support by providing a firm base for the bra fabric. They help the straps combat the downward pull of the breast tissue.

Do Underwires Work?

Larger-breasted women (above a C-cup) often say that underwires do, indeed, provide more support than wire-free bras. And lingerie salespeople will tell you so, too. That's why so many women buy them, and why most larger-size bras have wires. On the other hand, plenty of women complain about the wires being uncomfortable, digging into ribs and breasts, and leaving red marks on the skin. Frustrated with what's out there and wondering if there's an alternative, these women are asking "Do I really need an underwire bra?"

British engineering professor John Tyrer of Loughborough University may have at least part of the answer. Tyrer has done high-tech studies on breast physics and the underwire bra. Tyrer was interviewed in a Lifetime Magazine article about bras by writer Jessica Seigel. In the article, he says that the design of today's underwire bras is what makes them uncomfortable. Apparently the bras cause the breasts to sit directly on the wires, instead of distributing the weight across shoulders, back and chest.

Bra mechanics aren't exactly a highly respected branch of science, so it's not like there are hundred of scientists working to prove or disprove the usefulness of the underwire. Still, Tyrer's work makes one wonder…

Does an underwire bra have a place in your wardrobe?

Do I Really Need an Underwire Bra?

Whether or not to choose underwires is really a personal question. The best way to find out if you need an underwire bra is to try going without one. Visit your local department store or lingerie shop and try on some wireless styles. Bring along some favorite tops, so you can see how the bras look underneath. Are you happy with the way they make your breasts look? Do they give enough support when you move around? If so, then you're all set.

If not, ask a salesperson about bras designed to act like underwire versions without the actual wires. Lingerie companies have begun creating these bras in response to complaints about discomfort. Usually, fabric panels and other design elements replace the stiff wires, but the way they work is essentially the same.

Finding the Right Bra for You

Breasts come in many different shapes and sizes. Some breasts are firmer than others. Some women's breasts appear full and feel firm, while others contain looser tissue and tend to sag. Age has something to do with this: breasts do lose firmness as we get older. Genetics plays a big role, too. Whether or not you choose an underwire, remember that not all bras are designed for every type of breast. Take the time to look around and find the right style for you.