How to match bras to your ‘warm weather wardrobe’

The days are lighter and the mercury is creeping up, so who else is pulling out the linen sundresses, cool white shirts and light strappy tops? It’s great to wear some warm weather clothes again, but while you’ve been reworking your seasonal wardrobe have you done the same with your underwear drawer?

Our spring/summer wardrobe tends to mean thinner fabrics, less coverage and lighter colours, resulting in outfits that may require a little more consideration for the bra you wear underneath – whether you intend to be discreet or showy.

White under white is not always best

You’re wearing a white top, so which colour bra works best underneath? Do you reach for white? Actually, you’re better off choosing a red or blush shade.

Maisie Rouge

Maisie Rouge under white

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Red tones work well as skin has red undertones, so the bra blends, unlike brilliant white which can show through thinner fabrics.

Maisie Blush

Maisie Blush under white

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Blush works as it’s not as bright as brilliant white and won’t jar with your white top unlike bold colours. Of course, white works well under thicker fabrics when transparency isn’t an issue.

Flash a little detail

We don’t always want to be discreet with our bras – some are just too gorgeous to hide! The best and simplest way to flash a bit of bra is via the straps or a peek of cup, particularly when summer clothes often come with thin straps and loose necklines. When you fancy showing off, select a bra in a bold colour or with interesting details such as lace edging.

Royce choice: Indie in petrol blue or lilac

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Tight tops and T-shirts

A good T-shirt bra is an underwear essential. With light padding, T-shirt bras create a smooth shape under close-fitting tops and come into their own under thin fabric. Make sure you always remould them when damp after washing to maintain the smooth shape.

Royce choice: Maisie now comes in classic black or ivory, alongside rogue, blush and navy

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All OK at the back?

Summer clothing often exposes a lot more skin than we’re used to after months of being covered up in the cold. Regular bra straps can show awkwardly across your back when you wear clothing with criss-cross straps or cut-out sections. For those awkward dresses and tops a bra with a racerback option, which pulls the straps into the middle of the back, can get around some tricky designs. The racerback style also anchors the bra closer to the chest providing extra support.

Royce choice: Skyla in pink or mint green

Shop Skyla

Who has ever got dressed, then checked themselves in the full-length mirror in their bedroom only to head outside and find that in broad daylight their once invisible bra is now shining like a beacon through their clothing?

When you’re wearing thin summery clothes and want to make sure your bra isn’t showing through, always check yourself in mirrors with different lighting wherever you can around the house – particularly bright, natural light if you can.

So showy or discreet, that’s your summer underwear drawer sorted!