There are numerous kinds of bras on the market, which can make the initial selection process a bit too abundant. When you are buying the first bra or updating your lingerie collection, it is important to know and understand the range of bra styles and how each style will provide the required support to your unique body style and lifestyle.
Fortunately, the good news, courtesy of personal stylist Katie Quinn and wardrobe specialist Chloee Ohayon-Crosby, we have managed to create a comprehensive guide that divides the most popular kinds of bras, their optimal application and some professional advice on the side. This guide will also assist in the process of figuring out which are the different styles that can be worn on what outfits and which different styles are going to be best suited to support and comfort breast type and size.
T-shirt bra is probably the most generally recognized and commonly utilized bra style. Bracelets with T-shirt bra cups were designed to be comfortable to wear every day, and were pleasant to look at when worn under clothing: they’re usually seamless and molded with an underwire. It is one of those options that will work well in a casual setting: to go to work, run errands, or lounge at home. They are very versatile and can be worn with so many tops, a fitted t-shirt, and cuddly sweaters. In day-to-day application, Quinn recommends using neutral colors such as black, nude, white, or grey as they go pretty well under almost all clothing.
The second type is the demi bra and it is half cup and gives a flattering lift due to its line of cut through the middle of the breast. Demi bras are designed to be comfortably worn by those with smaller breasts and or medium sized breasts because they have smaller cups. They are also perfect paired with a top or a dress that shows a little more cleavage as they slightly lower along the neck area. They are aesthetically pleasing and practical, particularly when they are combined with outfits that have sweetheart or square neckline.
Just like the demi style, the balconette bra also reveals more of the breast, but it provides a little more support, having wider-set straps and a straight-cut neckline, which further emphasizes the cleavage. Balconette bra styles are lingerie-inspired, which means they look incredibly stylish and can be decorated with lace or other luxurious materials, so they would be an excellent option not only in the special occasion but also on a romantic date. This style is better on small to medium busts and offers a medium amount of support by being a sexier style.
Nothing can beat the plunge bra when it comes to plunging necklines. And as it has a deep V, which means it reveals only one-third of the breast, it makes a maximum of the cleavage, so it has no lines of the bra to be seen. Plunge bras are comfortable with low cut tops and formal dresses and their inclined cups give a slight lift. There are even a few plunge bras with a rounded U neckline as opposed to a steep V one, and the advice Quinn gives to make it seamlessly fit is to select the neckline which resembles the most the style of your clothing so that it fits in well.
Push-up bras are the one to grab when you want to improve your bust size or get as much cleavage as possible. They are manufactured in bra styles with padding and angled cups which make them raise and center the breasts giving an illusion of a larger chest. They are ideal for small-sized breasts and are very supportive and good when you are going on a date, party, or any other time you need just a little more boost. Maybe you already have a favorite bra and simply would prefer to add a bit of volume, when needed, then silicone bra inserts are the quick and easy way to create a push-up type of bra out of a regular type of bra.
Longline bras wrap beyond the bust line and in many cases down the front and offer additional coverage and support. Although this style fits every breast size, it is particularly helpful to women with larger busts who want more support. Longline bras may serve as fashion items used on their own, most frequently as crop tops or as overlays in an ensemble. They can go between normal use to special occasions with their beautiful designs and good support.
Another utility type bra is Racerback that has straps joining at the back at the center of the back and hence fits perfectly with sleeveless or racerback tops. The design cannot allow straps to fall off of the shoulders and the weight is more evenly distributed which is a game changer when dealing with people having bigger breasts. Racerbacks are a comfortable and secure mix so it is definitely worth having them as the wardrobe basic both in the everyday clothes and physical activities where you want some security to access.
Halter bras use only one strap that goes around the neck and exposes the shoulders hence ideal to be worn during a halter top/dress. Although they provide a sexy boost, they might not be the most comfortable solution to larger-busted persons given that the bulk of the support is placed on the neck strap. Nevertheless, with the proper outfit, halter bras may be stylish and even surprisingly secure.
With the convertible bras, versatility is mind-blowing. This bra has detachable strapes that can be re-designed in many ways to fit many different outfits. You can make it out of it a halter, racerback, one-shoulder, or strapless bra depending on your need. It is necessary in every wardrobe and also an intelligent travel companion, as one bra can be used in various ways. Only make sure to test each of the configurations at home to see whether it feels supportive and comfortable.
To address the issue of support, full-coverage bras have a bigger cup and a broad band. These bras are ideal on women with fuller breasts since they do not spill when lying sides and they also have a firm fit. Although, full-coverage can be viewed as something that is more functional than flashy, it has evolved to be more beautiful to see and decorated and is even appropriate in limited and formal environments.
Contour (or shaper) bras work wonders on any woman who wants to flatten the view of the bust beneath the garments. These bras are made up of molded cups, and give you a sculpted figure with less bulging around the back and sides. They work especially well on bigger busts but are designed to be highly supportive with a svelte and streamlined profile under form-fitting fashions.
Minimizer bras have the contrary effect of push-ups. They press the breast in a soft manner to flatten out the chest to give a small and proportional breast look. Minimizers are useful especially to individuals with large breasts having a hard time to get a flattery style in some types of clothing because they make clothing layer better on the body.
Certain fashion choices require strapless bras, although it can easily be difficult to make it work. Most individuals find it difficult to deal with slippage due to the lack of straps in them. Among the recommendations Quinn leaves to ensure that everything fits in the correct position, they include wearing strapless bras that are lined with silicone to keep them in place, and when required, they can be sized down in terms of band to provide them with a tight fit. Strapless bras are perfect under smaller breasts, and they look amazing with an off-the-shoulder and dresses and formal gowns as well as summery ones.
Strapless bras may be uncomfortable (too tight), in such a case, bandeau bras can be used instead. The tube-like patterns lack wires or structured cups and usually are made of stretchy fabric that can be breathable. They are perfect to relax in or under casual clothes. As a playful feature, lace or colored bandeaus can be paired deliberately under cutout tops or armhole tops of wide armholes.
The stick-on bra is a adhesive cup that is applied very subtly to the breasts. They give the illusion of flattery yet they do not see under backless or strapless attires. They suit smaller size breasts because of the little lift. Put on temporary adhesive nipple covers, should a stick-on bra prove to be too much.
Front-opening bras are closed between the cups instead of the back, making it an easy yet convenient choice, especially revealing mobility issues. These are available in a variety of styles such as plunge and T-shirt and may be simpler to handle by removing the straps by individuals who wish easier support on their upper body and desire like a back clasp or hook without twisting to get the back clasp.
Unlined bras have no filling of the cups; breast forms naturally and their structure is light and airy. This style of bras fits people who are fond of keeping things simple and desiring to look more natural. But they have no structure or coverage in them and therefore might not be the best choice one who is looking forward to additional modesty or definition.
When women are looking to be both comfortable and stylish, bralettes are the epitome of that. Not underwired and with no unnecessary padding of any kind, these comfortable bra styles are available in a multitude of colors, patterns, and materials and win with a touch of lace and sheer pieces. Although these were traditionally aimed at bustier girls, newer ones are also characterized as supportive to more full chests. Due to the style wearing bralettes on the outside or layering has also become common among many women, particularly when worn under low cut tops.
The seamless bra is about going unnoticed. They are seamless, wire-free and line-free, which makes them the best option under closely fitting or tight clothes. They fully support the body while the soft, stretch materials avoid digging into the body, they can easily be worn continuously. Their smooth, sleek finish is what makes them handy in closets as a go-to item in day-to-day attires.
On days when you are doing activities, sports bras are a staple. They are designed with constrictive support and moisture-absorbent materials that make you comfortable when you dare to exercise. Styles include light support to yoga, and high-impact support to running and cardio. The compression styles keep the bust stable, whereas encapsulation-style shapes offer more structured support to each of the breasts individually.
Maternity and nursing bras are designs keeping flexibility and functionality in consideration. These bras are designed to be soft and stretchy due to the use of detachable cups to get access to the breast when breastfeeding and easily adjust during and after pregnancy. According to Ohayon-Crosby, it is best to go with natural fibers such as cotton or even bamboo to obtain maximum comfort. She also urges on the choice of fun and flattering style, because it is as essential as convenience to feel confident in this age of life.
In the case of padding, padded bras are used to give shape, structure, and even volume. They could be as light as lining and as bulky as padded and padded cups and are usually in push up, plunge, and T-shirt bras. In the meantime, underwire bra has a metal wire to provide support, and wireless bra lacks the same element to ensure it feels relaxed and smooth. To make up this absence of structure, wireless varieties tend to include broader bands and thicker straps to trade off extra support when wearing day to day.
However fancy or practical a bra appears, it does not mean anything when it comes to comfort as long as it fits. Following this tip by Quinn: The best bras are the ones that you feel as though you are not wearing anything.
The rule of thumb is first to measure oneself. With a soft fitting measuring tape measure under your bust by the band size and encircle the fullest part of your bust by the cup size. By taking the difference between the band and the bust, you end with the cup letter (1 inch becomes an A, 2 inches a B etc.). Fit searching can also do wonders in a lingerie store, so it will wind up discovering one seems to be the size.
Lastly, it is also important to wear several brands and fashions to find out that not every bra fits.
