Pepper Bra Review: Why We Love These Bras for Small Busts
Including strapless, wireless, push-up and t-shirt styles for small boobs.
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I have small boobs, which can often mean trying to fit into popular bra brands, pulling up ill-fitting strapless bras and briefly contemplating stuffing a push-up bra. Look, it was middle school. Then I found Pepper, a bra company for small busts. The AAPI-owned brand certainly isn't the only option out there, but it's become one of my go-to places to buy bras of all styles from t-shirt bras to wireless bras.
Our favorite Pepper bras:
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly tests bras of all styles, and we send them to consumer testers to gather feedback on fit, appearance, washability and more. Pepper is a favorite among testers who have small busts, and we've featured the brand's products in various bra guides over the years. So let's dive deep into a Pepper bra review, talking top-rated styles and more info on what distinguishes Pepper from other brands.
How do Pepper bras fit?
Pepper exclusively sells bra styles with cup sizes AA-B. "Because they’re designed specifically for smaller cup sizes, the bras feature shallower cups to help prevent gaping common with traditional bras," says Emma Seymour, Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Senior Analyst at the GH Institute.
Each style has additional design features that improve the fit for people with smaller chests. For example, the best-selling Classic All You Bra has a mesh overlay to help the cups lay flat. "They aren’t shrinking down a bra to fit you, but instead designing smart solutions," says Seymour.
Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski owns Pepper bras and finds that the straps don't slide down and the band "feels just right." She also appreciates the minimal padding. "A lot of the bras I’ve purchased in the past aren’t ideal for smaller chests and would have an annoying gap! The Pepper bras I own fit perfectly."
Check out Pepper's Fit Guide and be sure to take the size quiz so you can find the perfect fit. "This [quiz] worked super well and I had no size issues at all," says Lipski. I will note that the quiz originally assigned me a 34A but after being measured in person, a 32B fit better. Thankfully, Pepper has a 30-day return policy so you can exchange if needed.
Are Pepper bras worth it?
As someone with a small chest size, I vote 100% yes and our testers agree. "In our tests, testers with small cup sizes were very impressed with their fit and support," reports Seymour. Testers also gave high scores for appearance under clothes, which can be a struggle regardless of bra size. I find Pepper bras to be so comfortable I sometimes forget I am wearing a bra.
That all said, some testers expressed concerns about durability. In my experience, I have found that the straps can become slightly bleached over time and the clasps can bend if not washed gently enough. Another Pepper owner feels she may need to replace the bras she has owned for a year or two, as the elastic is starting to wear out. She had a similar issue with the clasps bending after going through the wash. I found this does not happen when I put my bras in a separate, mesh laundry bag and then toss in the washer and dryer with the rest of my clothes.
Experts, testers and editors alike have tried out Pepper bras of almost every style, including the Zero-G Wireless Lift Bra ($65), FeelGood Wirefree T-shirt Bra ($55) and more. Below we dive into more details on top-performing styles. You can also shop Pepper's best sellers by toggling to the tab on the home page.
And while Pepper is mostly known for its bras, the brand also sells underwear, activewear, bundles and more. Here are our thoughts on select best-sellers.
Pepper Ultimate Contour T-Shirt Bra
We sent the Ultimate Contour T-Shirt Bra to consumer testers (including myself) to see how the top seller held up with daily wear. It received perfect scores from every tester for being easy to put on and take off. Almost all testers reported that the sizing was accurate, and many found it to be supportive and appreciated the lack of gapping between the cup and their chest. One tester writes, "From the silk-like material to the strap size, this bra is a winner in my book!"
And I have to agree. The smooth, soft fabric is comfortable against the skin. It's one of my go-to bras to wear under white t-shirts since the Buff colorway blends in with my skin. One of the hooks on my bra is a bit damaged from getting caught on the washer basket, so the bra sometimes becomes unclasped. While I like how the bra fits, the straps can also fall down, but a quick adjustment makes this less likely.
Pepper Lace Lift Up Bra
Finding a push-up bra for a small bust can be a tall order since gapping can be a huge issue. That's why I appreciate that Pepper sells a Lift-Up Bra that's designed for smaller chest sizes. One tester tried the Lace version featured here and reported that the bra fit really well. Our tester also found the material to be super soft, which we found to be true of all pepper bras, although she noted that the underwire was a bit comfortable. She also felt that the Lace Lift-Up Bra didn't offer a push-up effect, but rather provided more padding. Still, we like the subtle lace detailing and think this bra could be a good option for thinner shirts or blouses.
Pepper MVP Multiway Strapless Bra
Strapless bras were my enemy prior to the MVP Multiway. I bopped between bandeaus that slipped down my chest or styles with padding I didn't need and cups I couldn't fill. All of the above are no longer a problem. Pepper's strapless bra barely slides down and is so comfortable I once had to check if I left the house with a bra on. Another owner of the bra says it's "the only strapless bra I've owned that actually stays up."
Online shoppers agree, saying that the bra "stays up, fits well!" and one called it "the only strapless bra I'll wear!" My favorite part of the bra is the wide band that feels secure when clasped. The underwire is comfortable, and I appreciate the minimal padding. The bra also comes with straps so you can turn it into a balconette style or a racer-back. As its name implies, this bra is a real MVP.
Pepper Limitless Wirefree Scoop Bra
Testers gave the Limitless bra a perfect score for staying in place throughout the day. One tester found the fabric to be so soft and comfortable that they felt like they weren't wearing a bra. Others commented on how easy it is to adjust the straps. "This is a great everyday t-shirt bra — especially a good option for anyone who prefers more of a sports bra fit or a less feminine bra," one owner says. The style lays flat under shirts, but some found that it made them look flat-chested. Still, this bra seems to hold up better in the wash compared to other Pepper styles, according to testers.
Pepper Classic All You Bra
One Pepper owner says the Classic All You Bra is their all-time favorite bra — in fact, they own multiple colors and wear the style almost every day! "It is the only bra I’ve found for small breasts that fits well without gapping, is comfortable and has an underwire to provide more shape," they say. Another owner of the All You Bra says it's flattering and can provide a lifting effect but notes you can see the bra under certain clothes.
The bra is one of Pepper's top sellers with over 4,200 online reviews and a 4.7-star rating. While our tester loves this style, they do add that the mesh tends to shrink after washing. They found this to occur slightly less with the Mesh All You Bra — currently final sale online with minimal inventory.
Pepper Signature All You Bra
A new style, the Signature bra is similar to the Classic All You Bra but with gorgeous lace. Finding a wired lace bra that isn't scratchy and doesn't have lots of padding can be a challenge for me. But these problems are solved with the Signature All You Bra. I can't get enough of the flattering scalloped detailing on the cups and band. I do wish the lace material was attached to the front of the cup since the triangular shape above the cup doesn't lay completely flat.
Still, five-star reviews are already rolling in, with satisfied shoppers calling it "pretty and functional" and "my new favorite bra." The bra is available in six neutral shades including peppercorn (pictured, and the color I own and love), black and woodrose.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Elizabeth Berry is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she works with Lab analysts to ensure our shopping guides reflect accurate information and pricing. She has written on a variety of style topics, including the best wide-leg pants, Nike shoes and women's suits. A fan of Pepper, she can't go a week without the MVP Multiway Strapless bra and it gets special treatment in her laundry rotation.
To write this story, Elizabeth collaborated with Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Senior Analyst Emma Seymour, who has led Lab and consumer categorical testing for Pepper bras at the GH Institute.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
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