Aerie Unlined Bra: Underwires Removed

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I bought this Aerie unlined bra used at a discount in size 36B and removed the underwires. This is the Smoothez full-coverage sheer mesh style still for sale online. I wanted to try it, and this was the only size available at the price I paid, plus I was also able to get a pair of AE shorts from the same seller. Aerie has since added removable pads to this bra, but otherwise it looks to be the same as the one I bought.

The results? My feedback is mixed. The cups do fit better with the underwires removed, but it doesn't help with the band size. The bra overall is fine. It's true to size, for the most part, which means it doesn't fit me. I was expecting as much, but thought I might be able to get it to fit better without the underwires. My usual size in Aerie is 34C, and 36B is a sister size of this.

There was a decent chance it would work. Unfortunately, even on the tightest hooks, this is just too loose around the back. So I'd have to sew on an extra set of hooks in order to get the right fit in the band. And I probably won't do that, because my sewing skills are like... they mostly don't exist.

In the cups, it was closer to fitting correctly. They were not full coverage on me, but I didn't mind that too much as I prefer demi cup bras anyway. But these cups did an odd thing where they folded under at the top edges, creating slight quad-boob at the same time that tops of them wouldn't lie flat. I still can't quite explain what exactly caused this particular problem, which is not one I've had before, but I assume it has something to do with how thin the fabric is and the fact that this is the wrong cup size.

I opted to take out the underwires because they weren't doing much in the way of support or shaping. In some bras, I do find an underwire helpful for these aspects, but in this one it felt like the wires were just sitting there. So I snipped small holes in the casings at the tops on each side of the bra and slid them out.

These are thin, flexible wires -- the type that may get bent in the washing machine. So I advise using a protective mesh lingerie or bra wash bag unless you wash this bra by hand. It's also quite delicate because of the unlined mesh material of the cups.

This is not a bra that can take a lot of rough treatment. On the Aerie website, some reviews mentioned the underwires poking out through the casings after only a brief period of time of owning and wearing this bra. One woman mentioned liking it, but having had to buy it multiple times after it fell apart. I don't know if she washes her bras in a bag or not, but it couldn't hurt. Find bra wash bag suggestions here.

The fit in the cups without the underwires is much better. I find that they no longer fold under at the top edges, and instead lie flat against my chest the way they're supposed to, with a full-coverage fit. But without the underwires, the center gore does not tack between my breasts, instead standing out slightly away from my breast bone.

It's similar to what often happens with bralettes that don't have an underwire, and is not drastically noticeable on me. It's something I could live with, if it weren't for the band not fitting.

I should note that it's possible the bra was stretched out prior to my having received it, so the band might have fit better if I had bought it new. But it may also indicate that it stretches out easily and won't stay in good shape for very long, as some of the reviews on the Aerie website have suggested.

So, in the end I think if I'd been able to get this in a 34C or even a 34B, I would have been happy with it. I don't mind the unlined cups, because in the black color, it isn't completely see-through and I'm not very self-conscious about my nipples showing.

If you feel the same way and you like the understated sex appeal of bras like this, also check out the INLYRIC sheer mesh plunge balconette demi bra, or this version which is a balconette demi without the plunge cups. Both have a similar look, fit, and feel to the Aerie unlined bra. Having tried both of these from INLYRIC, I prefer the second, because the wires don't come up as high at the sides and the cups are set wider apart. Which to choose is a matter of what tends to fit best on your body. The brand has excellent reviews on Amazon.

Back to the Aerie bra review: this unlined full-coverage style was never going to be my favorite from Aerie (that will always be this one), but it's a very soft and comfortable bra. The addition of removable pads is a reasonable idea for those who aren't sure they really want a bra this sheer, although I wonder how well the pads work inside such thin mesh fabric. Hopefully they are properly fitted to the cups so that there isn't awkward show-through.

I have this bra for sale on Mercari if anyone is interested. I am certainly open to offers, especially from my readers. Or shop my current selection of bras on Vinted. I'll have some Aerie bras listed there soon too.