John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: "Supportive and invisible under my clothes"

The T-Shirt bra is a great all-round wardrobe staple that will provide you with a good level of support and disappear under your clothes. It's the perfect choice if you are looking for a practical solution to tight, close-fitting clothes.

I wear a size 32FF, so I am always on the look-out for the best bras for big busts and I usually wear a full-cup bra to give me the level of support I need. However these bras are often lacy with added details to make them look attractive and consequently they don't provide a smooth line under my clothes. Certain tops, like tightly fitting t-shirts or silky blouses require a more practical option and much like the best shapewear, a moulded T-shirt bra provides the solution.

When I began my hunt for a good T-Shirt bra the first criteria had to be the overall look of the bra, I needed a design that was completely smooth both at the front and back so that it would disappear under my new clingy cream top. Many of the bras I looked at had smooth cups but were trimmed with lace which didn't provide the invisible line I wanted. I also wanted the bra to be as seam free as possible, so that it was comfortable. John Lewis had a great selection of lingerie brands to choose from but I decided to try Sofia, one of their own brand designs, as it looked like the perfect bra on the hanger. I have been wearing it for 3 days and have considered the design, fit and comfort. I also tested it under a variety of tops. Overall I have been impressed with this bra, but there are certain elements that made it less comfortable than my usual full-cup bra of choice.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Comfort

This bra is light and made from incredibly soft fabric that has an almost peachy brushed finish. There are 2 seams on either side joining the front to the back of the bra, but they lay completely flat and are bonded which makes them almost invisible, and not detected under clothes. All of the edges are bonded rather than stitched which contributes to the smooth finish. The straps were adjustable and also very smooth. The under wiring is flexible and moves with your body. There are no fabric labels inside the bra, the washing instructions are printed directly onto the underside of the clasp. My only discomfort with this bra came from the padding, which made me feel overly warm on a hot sunny day, but in general it proved to be very comfortable.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Style

This is not the type of bra that you would choose for its good looks! It's a practical bra that has no added fancy embellishments, just a clean and simple design that serves a purpose. What it lacks in style it makes up for in function: it's plain and unadorned, making it invisible under my light-coloured, clingy jersey top.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Shape & Cut

T-shirt bras work by containing and compressing your boobs into preformed moulded cups which give you a soft and natural shape. When I was wearing this bra my boobs felt slightly squashed into place, rather than the uplifting effect that you get with a full-cup bra and although the bra was lightly padded I felt it made my boobs look smaller in the same way that the best minimiser bras would do.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Support

This bra provided me with an adequate level of support throughout the day and I felt comfortable when walking, stretching and lifting my arms above my head. However when I had to jog for the bus I felt less supported than when wearing a full-cup design.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Fit

This bra fitted true to size and I felt comfortable and supported in my regular 32FF size. There was no overspill from the cups. However, due to the moulded nature of the bra, I did get a little gaping at the base of the straps where my boobs have lost some fullness. The back of the bra fitted really smoothly making it an ideal bra for banishing back fat.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Care

This bra is hand wash only and I would suggest using a gentle liquid detergent to prolong the life of the bra. After hand washing once I didn't see any changes to the shape or size of the bra, but I will continue to wash and wear and report back here if this changes. Due to the bonded seams and edges of the bra it feels more delicate than the average design. T-shirt bras need to be stored unfolded. Avoid inverting one cup and folding it into the other cup as this will cause the fabric to wrinkle and distort the shape over time.

John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review: Verdict

If you fit a FF cup or smaller this is a great bra for wearing under tight or clingy clothes as it is incredibly smooth and provides invisible support.

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