It's my job to find flattering and supportive underwear - here's a great strapless bra for smaller busts

I think you'll love the Flexifit Wired Multiway Bra from M&S - it's versatile, and less than £20

M&S Flexifit wired multiway bra
(Image credit: M&S / @julieplayerfashion)
Woman & Home Verdict

This value-for-money multiway bra creates a smooth line and is ideal under tops with tricky necklines. Our tester loved the support it offered and the fuller appearance it created.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Available from an A cup

  • +

    Great value for money

  • +

    Moulded and padded design creates a fuller, more rounded shape

  • +

    Underwired for added support

  • +

    Lightweight construction

  • +

    Multiway straps for versatility

  • +

    Machine washable

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Not enough support for larger cup sizes

Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Your holiday request has been approved, it's now time to get your high summer wardrobe out of storage! If you love wearing skimpy tops that show off your shoulders, you may decide to ditch your bra, especially if you have a smaller bust. Alternatively, there are some great strapless multiway bras on the market that will support and enhance your shape.

Finding the best bras for your figure is important, as a well-fitting bra will help you to feel more comfortable and improve your appearance. Whether you are looking for the best bras for large busts with maximum support or prefer a non-wired, more comfortable bra, it's important that you know how to measure your bra size to get a good fit.

If you have a smaller bust (AA-D cup sizes), it's just as important to get the right size to prevent the bra gaping at the top or the underwires digging in.

Specifications

Price: £16

Band size: 30-42

Cup Size: A-E

Padding: Yes

Wired: Yes

Colours Available: 7

Like many women in the UK, I own a selection of bras from M&S - they stock a huge range of designs that cater for every occasion, from minimiser bras to the best bras for back fat. woman&home's Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr chose a bra from the brand for her big day. "My wedding dress was an off-the-shoulder design, so I needed a strapless bra for the occasion," she says. "I looked long and hard, and ultimately M&S came out on top for me, thanks to a very pretty Rosie Huntington-Whiteley style. It had lace and embellishment that felt much more special than the shapewear-style nude strapless bras I'd looked at elsewhere, and it was incredibly comfortable. I put it on and didn't think about it again all day. No slipping down or digging in!"

One of their bestselling strapless bras is the Flexifit Wired Multiway Bra, which is available up to an E cup. I personally wear a FF cup, so I enlisted the help of my daughter Alice, who wears a size 34C, to test the style for me. I asked her to consider the level of support and comfort it provided and whether it made her bust look fuller.

M&S Flexifit Wired Multiway Bra

M&S Flexifit Wired Multiway Bra Review

Shape & Design

This bra has moulded, underwired cups that are made from matte microfibre fabric with minimal seams, and the back panels are smooth and stretchy. The detachable straps are made from stretchy, thin elastic. You can use one strap to create a halter neck or one-shoulder bra, or remove them both for a completely strapless design. When both straps are attached, it transforms into a balcony bra.

Support & Fit

Alice tried the bra in her regular size 34C and it fitted well, without any gaping along the top edge of the cups. "I fastened the back on the tightest hooks to make it tighter," she reports. "This made it feel more secure, and I felt it was less likely to fall down. I wore the bra for a whole day and it gave me a great shape under my top - I think it made me look a little bigger and more curvy."

Shots of the M&S flexifit multiway strapless bra being tested

(Image credit: @julieplayerfashion)

Comfort

"This bra feels really soft against my skin and very light," reports our tester Alice. "Unlike other strapless bras I've tried, this one doesn't have boning in the side seams or sticky silicone grips, so it felt more comfortable to wear."

Care

After washing this bra once on a gentle machine wash, I didn't notice any changes to its size or shape, but I would suggest hand washing all underwired bras to prevent loss of shape over time.

Like all moulded bras, this needs to be stored unfolded - avoid inverting one cup into the other as this will cause the fabric to wrinkle and distort the shape. I suggest stacking your moulded bras together so that they support each other while being stored.

Verdict

This is a value-for-money multiway bra which creates a smooth line and is ideal under tops with tricky necklines. Our tester loved the support it gave her and the fuller appearance that it created. It's a good choice for women who wear sizes A-D cups.

Julie Player

Julie is a freelance fashion editor and wardrobe stylist and has over 30 years experience in the fashion industry. She is a regular magazine contributor, creating engaging fashion and lifestyle content for women of all ages. She also works in the wardrobe department at ITV, dressing the presenters for Good Morning Britain and is a broadcast stylist at the shopping channel QVC. Aged 58, Julie loves seeking out the most figure-flattering outfit for every occasion. She’s a qualified sustainable fashion expert with a wealth of knowledge of planet-friendly fashion brands and ways to shop more ethically.