Victoria’s Secret Adaptive Bra and Panty Review

I've been wearing bralettes for as long as I can remember. With one arm, I'd accepted that pull-on bras would be my forever compromise between a "real" bra and freeing the nip altogether. With a substantially sized drawer full of bralettes, it's fair to admit I've been doing just fine.

Still, I'd be remiss to say I hadn't been tempted by the lined hook closure styles with cups that could offer more definition. But unfortunately, anything that came with that kind of closure also came with the promise of a struggle to put it on with one hand.

For me, a bra wasn't worth that hassle, because I wanted getting dressed with one arm to be as stress-free as possible. So, if I were already frustrated by the time I got my undergarments on, I wouldn't consider that a success.

As a result, I swore off "real" bras. That is, until Victoria's Secret's recent launch of adaptive intimates forced me to reconsider my anti-bra pact.

The brand launched four adaptive styles—a bra and a panty each for its Victoria's Secret and its Pink collections. 

Does VS Adaptive deliver on its inclusive promise? This Victoria’s Secret Adaptive review breaks down the specifics.

Victoria’s Secret Adaptive bras

At a glance, the VS Adaptive Lightly Lined Full Coverage Front-Close and Pink Adaptive Wear Everywhere Wireless Front-Close bras look like any other front closure bras. But as I tried them on, I found that the details made them shine.

What we like

Front closures are strong and functional

Hook and loop (Velcro) is traditionally the trickiest component when putting on an adaptive bra with one hand. So I was excited to see how the magnetic front closures would pan out on these.

They proved to be a pleasant surprise, as all I had to do was loop my arm (and little arm) through the straps and bring the two center pieces together. The magnets were strong enough to snap into place as soon as the parts were close enough, so even though I wasn't using my small arm to support the left half of the bra, I could secure it by bringing over the right half. I then adjusted the bra to re-center. 

Front adjusters are actually in the front

The next aspect I focused on was the straps, which needed lengthening. For me, strap adjustments are typically challenging, as they usually require the counter pull of a second hand. While most strap adjusters would usually be located in the back, these were strategically placed in front so I could pull down on the plastic slider to adjust the fit, using my shoulder for counter pull. 

Sensory-friendly fabric is comfortable

The feature that truly captivated me was the fabrics used for these bras. They were intentionally comprised of buttery soft material to be sensory friendly. This is extremely important to me, as it offers comfort and makes these bras easy to pair with a prosthetic arm.

For transhumeral (above elbow) amputees like myself, prosthetic arms almost always come with a harness. This consists of a strap that comes across your chest or back and almost always makes contact with your armpit. It's something I find incredibly uncomfortable, even more so if I'm wearing the arm over something irritating to begin with, such as rough elastic bra straps or scratchy, rough textiles.

What we don’t like

Magnets are almost too strong

Ironically, I was worried the magnets wouldn't be strong enough and that I'd have to be concerned about these bras popping open, but the magnets were powerful. To my downstairs neighbor's dismay, I spent a while jump-roping, having a mini dance party to the Eras Tour soundtrack, and running around my NYC apartment like my dog does when I'm about to feed him. And the pleasant surprise was that these bras didn't budge.

The not-so-great discovery came when I tried to take them off. The tiny, powerful magnet required a lot of pulling and twisting to release, ultimately adding to concern I'd eventually damage the bra itself.

Another benefit of a hook-fastened bra is the slight control over the band size, as you can often choose between several rows of loops. With the magnetic closure, you need to be sure you're purchasing the band size that's right for you, making it more challenging if you fall between sizes like me.

I tried the VS model in 34 and the Pink in a 32, finding that the 34 was too big and the 32 was a bit too tight, making the Pink style harder to close with one hand. It was a serious Goldilocks situation with no “just right” option.

Victoria’s Secret Adaptive panties

I've seen a few adaptive undies pop up on the market over the years, but none stood out as excellent options. Often, they came in only two colors (if that)—black or beige. And, they tended to look more "medical" than attractive. That always bothered me, seeing as there is no reason adaptive can’t also mean beautiful and sexy.

What we liked

Adaptive can be sexy

When I say I want easy dressing, I'm not saying I want lifeless clothing that doesn't make me feel confident. I'm just saying I want to be able to get dressed independently. The same goes for my intimates. That's where the VS and Pink Adaptive Bikini Panties shined brightest for me.

With seven prints and colorways to choose from in each, I found these were the first adaptive panties on the market to recognize that accessibility should come with choices.

The closures make sense

It always blows my mind when adaptive clothing contains Velcro, as Velcro notoriously gets caught on everything and will ruin your favorite swimsuit and shirt (I've never been able to forgive my adaptive backpack for this).

Most side-closure panties I've seen rely on Velcro, making them unappealing to wear under clothing. That's why the magnetic closure on the Victoria's Secret and Pink designs made sense. Unlike the bras, they were easy to undo with one hand and equally easy to close. This isn't a requirement, but I loved seeing this fresh approach to adaptive undies. 

What we didn’t like

Closures don’t lay flat

The biggest downside I noticed with the panties was that, although the magnetic closures were a good idea for ease and not damaging other clothing, they didn’t sit flat. Therefore, depending on what you might be wearing, you could end up dealing with some rather noticeable texture from the raised sides of the undies.

I also went ahead and tried some of my snugger jeans over top, and I found the thicker parts where the magnets were located to be uncomfortable after a short while of my jeans pressing them down into my hips.

Should you buy Victoria’s Secret Adaptive bras and panties?

Yes! If you need alternative closure options, these are for you

All told, a collection of adaptive intimates holds meaning beyond physical accessibility. It also helps shift ideas surrounding accessibility by showing that sexiness, function, beauty, and intimacy all do—and should—coexist. Having one arm doesn't mean I don't want to wear an appealing bra. It also doesn't mean I don't wear intimates that give me confidence. This collection offers a solid step toward meeting all my needs at once. It's something I hadn't yet come across, and as an amputee, that makes me feel seen.

Victoria’s Secret knows how to do bras and panties right. Though there are other adaptive undergarments, the VS lineup brings its signature style to a clothing type notorious for prioritizing function over fashion.

It’s refreshing to see beautiful adaptive bras and panties easily accessible to anyone who needs help with closures.