The short answer was yes. I swooned over Rihanna’s chic pregnancy style and was ready to invest in a nursing bra she co-signed, but alas, I was too slow. The bra was sold out before I could hang a “Live, Love, Lactate” painting on my living room wall. A restock didn’t swiftly follow.
Savage X Fenty’s cotton maternity bra has an extra hook and eye, no wire, and a soft feel. We were pleasantly surprised by how many boxes it checked.
When I noticed that the bras were available again this year, timed to National Breastfeeding Week at the beginning of August, I jumped to purchase the cotton maternity bralette in a size large. (I’m usually a size 36DD in bras.) I’m currently nursing my 5-month-old, and I usually wear an Auden bra because it isn’t too expensive, it stretches, and it isn’t something that will sell out. I was hoping that Rihanna’s nursing bra would occupy a similar space for me—especially because I’ve been wearing her non-maternity products for the past two years, and I’ve grown to love them. I was looking for comfort, support, and a sporty look.
On the first wear, the Savage X Fenty bra felt snug. I was confused because a large Auden nursing bra fit me well. As it turned out, this wasn’t a sizing issue but a material one. Most of my previous nursing bras had been nylon and spandex, and this one is mostly cotton. “Cotton is not like microfiber,” explained nursing bra designer Sara Caspi. “It’s designed to be soft and more cooling on the body… so it’s gonna feel stiffer at first.” The bralette’s elastic band does help make up for it, but I still returned my large bra and sized up to an extra-large.
The basis of a suitable nursing bra is, well, a suitable bra; judge it by whether you’d wear it if you weren’t breastfeeding. And though support isn’t a claim that the company emphasizes for this bra specifically, maybe it should. I was surprised to find that I was able to jump while wearing this Savage X Fenty bra—something that would be unthinkable in even some of my non-nursing bras. It supported without being restrictive to the point of hurting tender breasts.
For the first few feedings with the cotton bralette, I undid the clasp and helped my infant latch. After about 10 minutes on one side, I burped her and switched to the other breast. Parents know that there’s a short window of time before a content baby morphs into a ball of hungry wails, so it was nice to be able to quickly unlatch the clasp with my thumb. Reattaching it wasn’t as simple, but technically I could still do it with one hand.
The clasps and the strap adjusters are sleek, so it wasn’t obvious that I was wearing a nursing bra. I’m proud of breastfeeding, sure, but I don’t mind the world not being in the know.
Another win: the four hook-and-eye closures, a step up from the standard three. Savage X Fenty’s extra clasp allowed for a more flexible fit that I could adjust as needed, tightening and loosening the bra as my body shifted due to natural weight changes and varying amounts of milk. It’s good for the day-to-day, and sometimes hour-to-hour, postpartum shifts. (Though I’m again reminded of my Auden bra, which has six.)
The lone negative review that I could find on the Savage X Fenty website noted that the bra had no padding. The buyer understood that it was a bralette and not meant to be padded, but they called it “see through” and probably felt exposed by the lack of coverage. I’ve gotten used to my nipples being visible in bralettes, and I would wear a slightly oversized shirt with this Savage X Fenty bra for comfort purposes—but it definitely doesn’t solve for visible nipples.
The main question, of course, is if it’s worth the investment—and unfortunately, determining the cost of the bra can be tricky. You can get it for $45 without a VIP membership to Savage X Fenty (which costs $58 monthly and offers slashed prices, free shipping on orders over $59.95, and credits towards purchases), though the price dips to just under $35 with a membership and to a little over $13 as a one-time offer when you pay for a new membership. (In contrast, the Auden bra I generally wear is $17.) Also, with only 10 Savage X Fenty stores open across the country, your opportunities to try this bralette on before buying are limited, though I was pleased with the ease of the exchange process.
To me, the support alone makes this a nursing bra worth trying, even if you don’t opt for a membership (and even if I’m still partial to my bras from Auden). The months following a birth need tiny pockets of ease wherever they can be found or created. A bra has a chance to be one—and this model is. It’s easy enough to use, and it gives me the support I need to be active with my older children. I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Rih.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
