Cup Coverage

How much coverage and which sort of coverage a bra offers is one way of classifying bras. In this section we will talk about plunge bras, half cups and full cups.

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Plunge

This is probably the best known cut of bras and the one you will find most often in bra stores. It’s also very easily identifiable - it’s the one with the very low center gore. It shouldn't be visible even in tops with very deep V-neck-cuts. This bra is quite often designed to give cleavage. To keep the bra supportive it is also often higher at the sides to compensate for the openness at the center gore.

Examples:

• The Freya Deco
• The Panache Inferno
• The Bravissimo Lucine 

Half cup

Half cups cover a bit more than half the breast, just as the name says. In general they have a horizontal edge and the cups are almost the same height as the center gore. They are often balconettes (which you can read about in our section on cups shapes) but they don't have to be. They often have one or more vertical seams, but can also have a horizontal seam instead. They're also called demi cups.

Examples:

• The Cleo Juna
• The Masquerade Rhea
• The Bravissimo Parisian Plume 
• The Freya Lauren 

Full cup

The full cup is also just what it sounds like: a bra with cups that offer a lot of coverage, so that they cover almost all breast tissue. They come in versions with a more centered strap and a horizontal seam (like the Elomi Caitlyn), and balconette cuts (like the Freya Clarissa), plus a mixture of those two, usually with a side support panel (like the Panache Andorra). The fuller coverage usually gives more support, as there is less room for the breast to bounce with fabric supporting all areas.

Examples:

• The Panache Andorra Fullcup
• The Fantasie Kara Fullcup
• The Elomi Caitlyn 
• The Freya Clarissa