Back in April, Julia Hobbs asked the question: “Are you ready for the return of cleavage?”, after a Coachella festival that saw Addison Rae, Olivia Rodrigo and Kylie Jenner all ditching their tops entirely. Ten years after proclaimed that cleavage was dead, push-up bras – bright, bedazzled and as visible as possible – proliferated.

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Dior spring/summer 2027.

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Prada spring/summer 2027.

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Since then, the bra-first agenda has shifted from showgirl style towards something a little more subdued. Think prim, proper and put together. (Or as prim as you can be with your bra on show.) At Prada, training bras were paired with knee-length skirts and unbuttoned shirts, while Dior opted for ladylike pumps to complement crop tops layered beneath structured jackets. The street style set is already at work, switching up that hot weather hedonism for something that almost verges on, dare I say, office appropriate?

Below, explore six ways to style a bra top this autumn.

Shirt and loafers

If the thought of a twinset (even a Prada-adjacent one) leaves you clutching your proverbial pearls, don’t fret. Simply pair your bra top with a classic shirt worn mostly unbuttoned, and loafers. An ostensibly sensible look that also serves as a reminder you’re not afraid to flash a little skin.

Fleur Du Mal Satin Balconette Bra

Sheer layers

Take cues from Dolce & Gabbana’s sheer layering this season, and style a gauzy dress over a bra top and jeans. Less OTT than the stagewear we saw a few months ago, this is how to bring your bra top into autumn without saying goodbye to your exhibitionist streak entirely.

Contrasting colour

Once upon a time, the thought of an exposed bra strap or any hint of lumpy underpinnings would send a shiver down the spine. These days, a statement bra and a flash of bra strap (ideally in animal print) is not just acceptable, it’s downright encouraged. For a restrained take on this Y2K mood, pair a black bra with a (deliberately) see-through shirt.

Lace-Trimmed Stretch Cotton-Blend Jersey Contour Bra

Blazer and jeans

The simplest formula of all simply requires getting dressed in your ’90s minimalist basics of choice, and then omitting one very important step. Don’t bother with a top.

Wardrobe.NYC

Leather and lace

For the best of both worlds, pair a lace bra with a beaten-up leather jacket. Pairing the torso-out approach with a pair of baggy jeans and a practical jacket keeps this style looking autumn-appropriate.

Prim and proper

Of course, no bra top styling guide would be complete without a reference to the Prada blueprint. It’s all about prim and proper additions to your exposed lingerie – a sensible knee-length skirt and a cardi. Think Upper East Sider with an attention-seeking streak.