Harper Wilde makes affordable bras in sizes up to 42F - we had 4 women test them, and here's how they fit

Harper Wilde

• Women's underwear has gotten markedly better in the startup age, with companies bringing innovation to basic items and leaner business models to the market.
• Harper Wilde is one bra company worth knowing. The company makes some very comfortable, affordable bras in sizes 32A to 42F.
• Four women on the Insider Picks team wore a Harper Wilde style to see how it stacks up. The gist is this: They're reliable, comfortable bras that are worth the $40.
• See also: the best women's underwear you can buy

Over the last few years, women's intimates have undergone a renaissance.

Legacy brands like Victoria's Secret stumbled. Startups like ThirdLove, Lively, and Everlane improved the category. They brought softer materials and recycled materials, lower price points, expanded size ranges, and silhouettes that catered to comfort and confidence over the male gaze. Some hyper-popular men's underwear startups like Tommy John followed, issuing a women's collections in response to customer requests.

Another noteworthy name is Harper Wilde. I came across the company the same way that many of us do these days - on Instagram. The startup, like a few of those mentioned before, set out to create a company that could offer affordable, comfortable, intuitive bras that counteracted the expensive, over-sexualization of the bra industry. They interviewed hundreds of women, and then they built their bras using those tenets as nonnegotiables.

What can you buy at Harper Wilde, and which sizes do they carry?

Currently, the company offers a spare core collection of the essential basics in reliable nude tones that will likely expand alongside the company. You can shop Harper Wilde for a $40 flexible everyday bra, a $45 everyday bralette, a $40 push-up, $40 flexible strapless, $45 sports bra, and a $45 nursing bra. Sizes range from 32A to 42F.

Like many new underwear companies, Harper Wilde makes no mistake on messaging.

This may have something to do with the fact that, unlike a surprising number of legacy companies, Harper Wilde was founded by two women who met shortly before attending business school. Specifically, Wharton School of Business, the genesis of many successful retail startups.

The company focuses its efforts singularly on women's needs - those who will be actually wearing an approving of their product - rather than focusing on the potential for men's approval by virtue of their product.

The name Harper Wilde is a portmanteau of Harper Lee and Laura Ingalls Wilder, and each purchase helps support girls' education and mentorship via a donation to Girls, Inc., since limited resources and opportunities mean women make up over two-thirds the number of illiterate adults. The company also says it chose the manufacturer of its bras because of its women's empowerment program.

What are the returns policies like, and do they have a home try-on?

As with many companies that have cut costs by cutting middlemen and moving online, Harper Wilde compensates for the removal of in-store fittings with a Fit Quiz, a good 30-day return policy, and a Home Try-On program. The latter allows you to pick three bras to try at home with no upfront charges for seven days. Keep what you like, and return what you don't free of charge. You can also email them for help picking the right style at stylist@harperwilde.com.

Are Harper Wilde bras worth buying?

Harper Wilde sent Insider Picks a few styles to test, and despite prices that hover around $40 per bra, they're some of the best we've found and tried from the internet's seemingly endless innovation and specialization.

You can read on to find our full impressions, but the gist is this: Harper Wilde makes great everyday bras that we highly recommend with one exception below. The full-coverage and sports bras are reliable, the material is surprisingly soft and cool, and the price points are very reasonable. We count their base layer bra and sports bra as among our favorites. But, for now, we'd recommend True & Co. for their lounge bra/bralettes.

Four women on the Insider Picks team spent a few weeks testing a Harper Wilde bra. Here are our impressions:

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.