Going braless in midlife? Here’s how to do it

“Phwoar what a scorcher!” That was the tabloid take this week on Amanda Holden going to work braless in a halter-neck dress, and to be fair she looked pretty splendid. She’s far from alone in abandoning the bra. Those who keep abreast of red-carpet trends have noted many celebrities embracing the easy-breezy bosom, free from the confines of foundation wear (although in some cases, supported by stylist-applied hitching tape).

And not all are young whipper-snappers either. At the premiere of Apex in New York, Charlize Theron wore a Dior single-breasted blazer with matching trousers, pulled from the men’s autumn/winter 2026 collection, but feminised it (to put it mildly) by wearing nada underneath, so as she moved, there was a hint of boobage. Teamed with an upright, uptight Elizabethan ruff collar, its ties hanging loosely over her torso, it was bold yet rather beautiful.

Slip dresses are also being worn braless, especially for summer. Carla Bruni was spotted au naturel in an easy-chic, champagne silk number. While for the Calvin Klein show, Alexa Chung chose a black pinafore dress with delicate straps, paired with a peasant headscarf. These aren’t the brazen, barely-there, gauzy outfits we’ve seen before – the ones that are slight on fabric and big on attention seeking.

No, this cooler and, dare we say it, more wearable trend has a casual air and has been termed “Le Droop”. I’m not sure any allusion to droopiness sounds sexy – and doesn’t become so simply by putting “Le” in front of it – but I get it suggests a certain French nonchalance, which is definitely part of the vibe.

Is it workable for us civilians? Well, to be perfectly upfront, I’ve never worn a bra. Not in winter (I prefer a warm vest). Not in summer (I can’t bear trussed-up constriction).

Granted, as a teen in the 1970s, my mother bought me my “first bra”. We went to a store resembling Grace Brothers in Are You Being Served? and the purchase felt like a rite of passage. But said garment soon became a right old pain in the ribs, so I gave it the elbow. Given those were the days when bralessness was a cultural and fashion phenomenon tied to Women’s Lib – and seeing I was neither flat-chested nor fulsome – I got away with it.

However, I absolutely understand that those more generously endowed require the comfort and support of a bra, and even if your cup doesn’t runneth over, you may prefer the sculptural silhouette it creates. Another reason for being a committed bra wearer is that it provides a sense of propriety (although seeing ropey, grey-washed bra straps peeking out from a sundress isn’t much of a sophisticated statement either). But if you fancy a flirtation with freedom, particularly in summer, there are guidelines worth bearing in mind.

While you don’t have to be super young to carry off the trend (in fact, bras can be ageing if they cut into skin and emphasise bulges and a crepey cleavage), if you’re mature like me, you’ll doubtless want to present a décolletage that errs on the side of decorum. That said, during Paris Fashion Week, Madonna, at 67, braved a turquoise see-through dress sans brassiere. It divided opinion. For my two pennyworth, as the dress was also sleeveless and eye-wateringly short, when she dispensed with her jacket, I didn’t know where to look except the palms of my hands.

For those of us with far less front, options are to go for a dress with some integral structure or built-in bosom control. For uplift under a strapless or backless dress, you can also try “boob tape”. How-to advice can be gleaned from specialist lingerie stores or manufacturers’ online guidance.

To beat serious heat, a supremely loose and flowy kaftan provides light relief and coverage, while smocking on a sundress is forgiving. Wearing trousers? Team with work-out tops to minimise jiggling. If you’re more daring, try necklines with a low-cut V, that skim the inner line of the bust.

Pip Durell, founder of fashion brand WNU (aka With Nothing Underneath) suggests you experiment to find what you’re comfortable with. “Take our original boyfriend shirt, for example. Play around with the amount of buttons you leave undone. For impact, wear it with a great gold necklace, classic blue jeans and slingback heels.”

Assess your outfit’s overall balance. At the Serpentine Summer Party, actress Caitriona Balfe wore an Hermès slip dress that had a “knitted” top – lending a little security – and printed patterning on the bottom half, which served to catch the eye.

Fabric is also key. Few can get away with petticoat slips in pale satin because they show every bump, breast sway and of course, les nipples. For those of us who prefer them muted, hold material up to the light to check transparency before you buy. If the fabric is thin, look for double layering or strategic gathering. There’s also the option of nipple covers, a little like the shellfish equivalent of the chicken fillet (Boots and M&S sell them).

Or for the feeling of braless freedom while sparing blushes, slip on a light blazer, kimono jacket or floaty scarf.

And remember, there’s no such thing as the perfect bosom. We’re all individuals. As Hillary Brenhouse once wrote in the New Yorker on the joys of not wearing a bra: “I like the way my breasts sound against my ribcage when I run down the stairs, like someone clapping politely for a performance that they didn’t particularly enjoy.”