Bra Knowledge » Types of Bras » Versions » Types of Bras as of 2012-12-14 05:48:29

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 coverage, cup shape, strap material, underwire presence, band type and cup material.

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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

Halterneck

Multiway

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By boning

Wireless/Soft Cup

For sleeping, feeling comfortable or for various health reasons you may prefer a bra without underwires. These are usually called soft cup or wireless bras.

Examples:

• The Panache Sophie Support

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By band type

Full band

A full band bra has the band encircling your whole torso with the cups set into it. This provides a lot of stability.

Examples:

• The Cleo Juna 

Partial Band/Bandless

A bandless bra is not really a bra without a band. It only means that there is no band beneath and between the cups. This is found in a lot of plunge bras. This may lead to instability of the bra since a band beneath and between the cups helps to stabilize the cup by non-stretchiness.

Examples:

• The Elomi Cleo Underwire Bandless 
• The Cleo Jude

A partial band bra is a cross between the full band bra and the bandless bra: It has a bit of band between the cups, but not underneath them.

Examples:

• The Cleo Bonnie