Thirdlove vs. Shapermint: Which Wireless Bra Is the Winner?

When it comes to bras, function and comfort aren’t mutually exclusive… at least, they shouldn’t be. You actually can get the best of both worlds, but it can take a hot minute to find.

Thirdlove’s gotten a lot of positive attention with its focus on personalized fit (which includes half-sizes) and skin-loving structure, while Shapermint emphasizes shaping for a natural silhouette.

I tried both brands on for size, specifically some of their wireless bra options, because I’m in a bit of an anti-underwire phase these days. I’m larger-chested, firmly in middle age, and to be frank, I’m tired of wires.

Thirdlove & Shapermint Bras (At A Glance):

Compare	Thirdlove	Shapermint
Bra Variety	Wireless, t-shirt, push-up, minimizer, full coverage, plunge, front close, racerback, strapless, multi-way, nursing, post surgery/adaptive, sports	Wireless, t-shirt, bralettes, strapless, sports, full coverage, minimizer, maternity/nursing
Pricing	Mid to high	Low to mid
Size Range	30-48 band, AA-H/I cups (with half sizes)	30-48 band, A-H/I cups (but varies by brand!)
Return/Exchanges	60 days free exchanges on non-clearance items; return fee is $4.99 but free for Platinum Hooked Rewards	60 days on non-clearance items; free
Limitations	Not every bra is available in every size; limited-time colors sell out quickly	Carries other brands that may not be consistent with one another in sizing or quality; not every bra is carried in every size
Shipping	Standard shipping is $5.99, or free on $100+ orders. Hooked Platinum Members get free shipping on all orders; Gold members get free shipping on orders over $75	Free on orders over $70 if you’re a club member (which is $4.99/mo.)

I’ll share all the most important details about both brands, including their sizing and support, but if you want the TL;DR verdict right now, I’d recommend Thirdlove’s bras over Shapermint’s any day (or night) of the week.

My Experience Wearing Thirdlove Bras

I’ve tried Thirdlove’s Wireless Minimizer in the past (and love it!), but I wanted to explore some of their other wireless “regular” bras for days when I don’t want to subdue the twins.

I opted to buy the 24/7 Classic Wireless Bra (in Blush) and the ComfortStretch Smoothing Wireless Bra (in Dreamy Lilac). I’ll spill my experience with them, but first, a spoiler alert: The ComfortStretch Smoothing Bra is my favorite of the two. 

The Thirdlove 24/7 Classic Wireless Bra Is Best for Those Who:

• Are looking for a daily t-shirt bra that’s wireless and incredibly soft.
• Need moderate lift and shaping from foam cups and half-sizes.
• Do not want (or need) convertible straps.
• Prefer a more snug-fitting bra with less stretch or give.

The Thirdlove ComfortStretch Smoothing Bra Is Best for Those Who:

• Deal with spillage (especially around the armpit) with other bras.
• Want a wire-free bra that provides extra smoothing along the sides and back, with half-sizes available.
• Need straps that convert to a racerback (criss-cross back) for more versatility.
• Want gentle support with more stretch and a sleek silhouette beneath clothing.

I normally wear a 38G, and in Thirdlove’s Precise Size measurement, that equates to XL++ (and the size I got for each). 

Both Thirdlove bras are crafted from buttery-soft material that feels amazing against my skin, which is one of the most important things to me since I consider myself to be a bit sensitive. I think part of it is because of my ever-advancing age (I turn 50 in a few months, as of this writing) and my skin becoming more delicate, but I also tend to go braless at home. And since I work from home, I spend most of my time not wearing one at all… so when I do wear a bra to go out into the world, I’m hyperaware of it.

The 24/7 Classic Wireless Bra is made from a lightweight microfiber that’s smooth and breathable, with foam cups that lift, shape, and provide good nipple coverage (if you’re worried about that). It fits well, and it’s comfortable for all-day wear. That said, despite being the same size as the ComfortStretch Smoothing Bra, this one fits more snugly with a lot less give.

And that might be why the latter is my favorite. The fit on the ComfortStretch Smoothing Bra is as if it were made exactly for my body. 

The straps on the ComfortStretch are a little thicker compared to the 24/7 Classic, but it also has a panel along the side of the upper breast near the armpit for smoothing, shaping, and total containment:

I love the way the ComfortStretch looks and feels. It’s flattering, beyond comfortable, and keeps my breasts separated all day long without the use of an underwire. Back in the “olden days” (read: my younger years), underwire bras were a staple because of the lift and separation they provided. But these days? I really have begun to hate the feeling of underwires and try to avoid them at all costs.

So finding a wireless bra that gives me the same amount of support and shaping has been like searching for the holy grail, but I’ve found it with Thirdlove’s ComfortStretch.

That bra really lives up to its name.

Pros & Cons of Thirdlove

Pros:

• Carries a truly wide range of bra styles to suit pretty much every need someone might have, including front-close, nursing bras, minimizers, strapless, convertible, wireless, and underwire, among others
• Has physical Thirdlove stores in select locations (Chicago, San Francisco, Walnut Creek), and the brand is also carried in some Belk and Neiman Marcus locations, if you prefer to try on in-person
• For items that you buy on clearance or that cannot be returned (for instance, if you’ve removed the tags), Thirdlove has a form field for listing products for resale on Poshmark (located in the returns center)
• Exchanges are free within 60 days (non-clearance items only)

Cons:

• Limited edition colors sell out fast, so if you see one you like, jump on it while it’s available.
• Free shipping is only available if you buy $100 or more, or are a Hooked Platinum Member 
• There is a $4.99 fee for returns (waived if you are a Hooked Platinum member)

My Experience With Shapermint Bras

I wanted to compare an actual Shapermint bra against Thirdlove, so I was careful to select a wireless bra that was branded to them. That’s the biggest thing you really need to watch when shopping at Shapermint: Most of the bras they carry are from other brands. 

That’s not necessarily a “problem,” since they carry notable brands that include Wacoal and Bali, but you do have to pay attention if you’re looking to buy Shapermint bras specifically.

I opted to try the Sweetheart Wireless Contour Bra, which seemed to be the “closest” in style to compare with the bras I got from Thirdlove, and it arrived in a nice little zippered bag with a booklet and even a sheet of stickers.

Like Thirdlove, you select your band and cup size, but the bra itself has a more “general” size; my Shapermint size was 2XL (38G). 

This particular bra has an almost sports bra look to it, as far as the material and styling go. The material is soft and super stretchy, but I found it to be a little too stretchy in terms of support.

It’s fine for a little while, staying in place as it should, but like some of my actual sports bras, my boobs migrated toward the middle during the day and gifted me with the “uniboob” appearance so many of us loathe.

I’m not a fan of it, either.

While the straps are thick, I found them to be a little irritating right at the tops of my shoulders. As someone with fairly sensitive skin, the seaming on the Shapermint Sweetheart Wireless Contour Bra straps feels a little scratchy, and I noticed myself adjusting them pretty often while I was wearing it.

Speaking of adjusting things… I had to separate the twins on multiple occasions to undo the migration toward the center of my chest. While the bra looks like it’ll separate well (and maybe it does on smaller bust sizes), it really didn’t, at least on my body. It’s also a little too stretchy to support well, especially through the band.

Bras are often a “your mileage may vary” based on your body shape and size, but this one was unfortunately a miss. 

And maybe that’s why Shapermint throws so many upsells at you during checkout. I can forgive one pop-up or extra window… but when a second, a third, and then a fourth pop up, it is truly irksome.

I mean, really. Four?

And their designs are set up specifically to make you accidentally buy extra things you don’t actually want.

If you’re not paying close attention, it’s easy to add things in the last moment that you didn’t intend to, and I found that borderline offensive. 

Pros & Cons of Shapermint

Pros:

• Lower price point compared to Thirdlove (for the most part)
• Free returns/exchanges for 60 days
• Bras are packaged in individual little zipper bags

Cons:

• The checkout process includes several upsell screens you need to get through just to place your order
• “Free” shipping on orders over $70 is only accessible if you join the club for $4.99 a month
• Although they carry Shapermint-branded bras, many (actually most) are from other brands, so sizing and fit (as well as quality) may be inconsistent

The Final Verdict

After wearing and comparing both brands, Thirdlove absolutely stands out when soft comfort, support, and fit are priorities. The ComfortStretch wireless bra is a new favorite because it smooths right where I need it, provides enough support to feel secure and well-shaped, but it still feels soft and comfy by the end of the day… a point when most bras fail.

I like the 24/7 Wireless Bra from Thirdlove, too, for days when I feel the need for firmer support that’s also comfortable and flattering. 

Both of these, paired with the Thirdlove minimizer I already owned, have left me with plenty of go-to bra options no matter what I’m wearing.