People who wear bras sizes AA to B don't have a shortage of bra brands to choose from. What we're missing are bras tailored to the unique fit needs of card-carrying
IBTC members, with mature designs to match.
Enter Pepper, a brand dedicated to sizes AA, A, and B bra-wearers, so it's a top-recommended brand for bras for small breasts. After bouncing from bra to bra in search of the perfect fit, I converted to Pepper's best-selling t-shirt bra more than a year ago and haven't looked back. If you can't decide whether to place Pepper in your top drawer, keep reading for an honest review.
The Pepper Bra Design
Pepper launched in 2017, fueled by co-founders Jaclyn Fu and Lia Winograd's endless searches for grown-up, well-fitting bras for smaller cup sizes.
"I tried so many different types of bras, from different brands, styles, even sizes, and couldn't find one that fit me perfectly," Fu tells BAZAAR.com. "Every bra gave me cup gaps, had unnatural push-up padding, or rode up and dug into my band." When bras did fit, they came with colors and flourishes more fitting for a teen's first bra than an adult woman's wardrobe.
Taking matters into their own hands began with the "All You Bra." Fu says Pepper intends to "solve every small boob problem for bras": making a comfortable fit that accentuates, but doesn't change, your shape. Pepper's design calling cards include shallower cups that sit close to your chest—i.e., the key feature for a gap-free fit. As word has spread about Pepper's bras, it's expanded into wireless, strapless, and lace styles.
Wearing Pepper Bras
I'm a 36A with wide-set, bell-shaped breasts. At most brands, small sizes in so-called "everyday" bras gape at the top of the cup or dig in at the gore (the underwire bridge between bra cups). I've found bras I can wear, technically, but they leave red lines and general mistrust of intimates behind.
Then came my gateway Pepper purchase: the "Classic All You" bra, a t-shirt bra with mesh-covered cups and a plunge cut. I first ordered it more than a year ago, on the recommendation of another small-chested friend. 365-plus days in, it's the bra I wear most often and I've gone back for more.
I ordered the same size at Pepper that I wear at other brands. The fit and feel couldn't be more different. Pepper's bra lays flat against my chest without gaping and the plunge shape gives me the slightest lift. Whether I'm wearing a t-shirt or a dress, everything stays put once I put it on. There aren't any slipping straps or cups to adjust. Pinching bands? I don't know them anymore.
(Some shoppers say that their size differs at Pepper. If you're unsure which to order, Pepper offers free returns and exchanges to try on at home.)
I have one caveat about the bra. Reviewers who say Pepper bras feel like nothing are exaggerating. While the bra doesn't pinch or dig in, it's not seamless like a bralette and there is minimal padding. You know it's there—but you don't mind it.
Pepper's new strapless bra, which debuted this month, is a game-changer. It has the same shallow cups as its strapped siblings, once again eliminating the cup gaping I've tried and failed to avoid in other bras. But it's the bra's wider band lined with a thin, elastic grip that really does it for me.
After receiving a press sample, I've worn Pepper's strapless bra with a spaghetti strap slip dress to dinner and an off-the-shoulder bodysuit for a work day. On each wear, I didn't have to re-scoop my boobs into place or pull up the band: Everything stayed exactly where it needed to be while looking natural under my tops. The extra grip doesn't leave a mark, either.
Are Pepper Bras Worth It?
Of all the bras catered to small breasts I've tried, including brands with half-sizes and special cup designs, Pepper is the only destination I've shopped at more than once. It's as much about the bras' fit as their mature look. Pepper eliminates all the issues I've had with other labels—especially gaping cups—and their mesh paneling puts them a tier above plain t-shirt bras.
Shop Pepper Bras
Pepper reviewers agree that its bras live up to the hype, rating the brand 4.7 and 4.9 stars. There are a few areas for improvement frequent shoppers have requested, including more coverage in the new strapless style or a wider variety of colors. But scroll through all the ratings, and you'll see dozens of reviews like this one: "Love this bra, like all my Pepper bras."
From:Harper's BAZAAR US