Bra Knowledge » Types of Bras » Versions » Types of Bras as of 2012-12-06 09:03:47

People have told you you should stick to a certain cut. Or you are reading about cuts everywhere and want to figure out what they mean and how they differ. Or you’re starting to become truly obsessed with bras. :D

So let’s find out about different types of bras and their characteristics.
We sorted them by cup cut, strap material, underwire presence, band type and cup material.

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By cup coverage

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 quite often is made so that it gives cleavage, but it doesn't have to. To keep the bra supportive it is also quite 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 covers a bit more than half the breast, just as the name says. In general they have a horisontal edge and the cups are almost of the same height as the center gore. They are often balconettes, which will be described a bit more in detail further down but doesn't have to be that. They often have one or more vertical seams, but can also have a horisontal 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 is very full coverage, so that they cover almost all breast tissue. They come in both versions with a more centered strap and a horisontal seam, like the Elomi Caitlyn, and balconette cuts, like 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
  

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By cup shape

Balconette

There is some confusion around the balconette cut.  What you can go by: A balconette's straps are attached at the very side of the cup, not leaving much space there for your breasts. Thereby it lifts your breasts forward as much as possible, creating a "balcony" of sorts, while still separating them which creates cleavage. A balconette might be moulded, but has very often seamed cups. It then usually either has vertical seams, which is most common in half cup balconettes, or a three-piece cup construction with a big side panel. 

Examples:

• The Freya Arabella
• The Cleo Lucy
• The Bravissimo Alana 
  

Push-Up

A push-up bra is a bra that is designed to make your breasts look bigger: It achieves this by pads, often sewn-in, sometimes made out of gel. It can be in any cut, though plunge bras are the most common. A lot of women who always or mostly wore push-up bras report similar or better effects on their breast shape by well-fitted bras. Removable pads can be used to even out assymmtry.

Examples:

• The Freya Deco Halfcup
• The Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Push-Up Bra 
  

Further reading:

• On Venusian Glow: How Push-Up bras distort breasts

Minimizer

Minimizers work by compressing your breast tissue and pushing it to the sides and under your armpits. They’re designed to make your breasts look smaller, while the extra breast tissue under the arm makes the ribcage look wider. Very similarly to push-ups, they may distort your breast tissue when worn for extended periods of time.

To all women who think there are only minimizer bras in their size: Your size is totally normal! You don’t have to wear minimizer bras! There are lots of options for you. :)

Examples:

• The Wonderbra Seamless Minimizer
• The Wacoal Simple Shaping Full Coverage Minimizer  

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By function

Sports bra

Sports bras are designed to inhibit strong motion to prevent pain and other effects, like jiggling around.
There are two main types of sports bras: Compression and encapsulation bras. Compression bras work by pushing your breast tissue as close as possible to your torso. Encapsulation bras separate your breasts into preformed cups and support them from beneath.

Examples:

• The Shock Absorber Max Sports bra, working by compression
• The Panache Sport, working by encapsulation

Further reading:

• On Venusian Glow: All about sports bras
• In the Bratabase Knowledge Section: Sports bras
  

Maternity/Nursing bras

Nursing bras are designed to provide easier access to your breasts for when you want to nurse your child. There are various mechanisms with which a part of the cup (or the whole cup) is removable or "droppable" and easy to reattach to the rest of the bra.

Examples:

• The Freya Emily Drop Cup
• The Freya Dotty Nursing
• The Ewa Michalak Km Biszkopty
  

Further reading:

• On Venusian Glow: Break out of the maternity bra matrix

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By straps

Strapless

Bras without straps are sensibly called strapless bras. They are designed to be worn beneath tops/dresses which aesthetically work better without straps beneath them.

Examples:

• The Freya Deco Strapless
• The Ewa Michalak Toffi Strapless