Possibly the most delicate clothing item in your wardrobe, bra are beautiful, elegant, delicate and extremely important to give your clothes the right shape and appearance. However, not every bra works with every kind of top-wear style so it is highly recommended that you learn about the types of bra that exist in the world of lingerie.
In this article, I will be sharing the most common types of bra with pictures that you can find for sale in online and offline stores alike.
1. Padded Bra
Padded bra have a light cushion in their cups to give you a clean appearance on the outside without any peek-a-boo.
2. T-shirt Bra
T-shirt bra have full coverage cups with light padding to give you the right appearance for t-shirts which are already body hugging.
3. Push-Up Bra
The push-up bra has extra support under and side of the cup to give your bust a fuller appearance. It is perfect for people wanting bigger looking bust.
4. Underwired Bra
Underwired bra have wires lined under the cups to give your breasts better support which makes it the right choice for bigger or saggy breasts.
5. Convertible/ Multiway Bra
Convertible or Multiway Bra lets you play with its straps to give you different kinds of styles and comfort to go with the dress.
6. Bralette Bra
Although a bra, a bralette is made with pretty laces and more coverage than the rest of the bra. You can use it as a crop top under a sheer dress or if you are bold enough, then just a bralette.
7. Strapless Bra
Strapless bra do not have straps or removable straps which is perfect for tube tops. The bra hugs your body with the help of a sticky substance lined on its edges.
8. Balconette Bra
Balconette means balcony which is the shape that comes after you wear a balconette bra. It is perfect for dresses that have wide necks.
9. Front Open Bra
Just as the name suggests, Front Open bra have hooks on the front side. It is right for the girls who struggle hooking their bra in the back. In addition to that, some new mothers also like to use these bra during their breastfeeding days.
10. Halter Bra
Halter bra have straps that go across the neck which is right for halter tops.
11. Nursing Bra
Nursing bra have a cup with a window on it. The new mothers can just undo these covers to feed their babies without having to remove or disturb the bra.
12. Racerback Bra
Racerback bra have a unique criss-cross pattern in their back to offer better support to the breasts. You can wear it with racerback tops or even in the gym.
13. Plunge Bra
Plunge Bra offers the deepest neck possible that is the right fit for dresses with deep necks.
14. Sports Bra
Sports bra are crafted to offer the best support to your breasts while reducing the bounce as close to zero as possible. There are different variants to it which give different levels of support offering an option for every breast size.
15. Stick On Bra
Stick On Bra have no straps at all but two cups which stick to the skin. You can use this bra when you are wearing a dress that is backless and strapless at the same time.
16. Transparent Bra
If you want to wear a bra under a dress that is a little peek-a-boo kind, then wear a transparent bra with transparent straps and a waistband.
17. Beginner’s Bra
Beginner’s Bra is a comfortable bra created for teenagers using cotton fabric and either have no or extremely light padded cups. It has no hooks to ensure the most possible ease into forming the habit of wearing a bra.
18. Full Figure Bra
People who have huge busts should go for Full Figure Bra which have 100% cup coverage eliminating any kind of breast spillage and complete support.
19. Lace Bra
Lace bra are there to accentuate feminine beauty so you will find an abundance of options that make your body look great. It would be the perfect choice for your wedding, honeymoon and other special occasions with your partner.
20. Non-Padded Bra
Non padded bra have cups carved out of cloth to offer the user a comfortable fit. I personally do not recommend it but you can keep a few to use at home on holidays owing to the comfort they offer.
21. Demi Bra
Demi bra offer you the widest neckline than balconette bra. If the later one fails to offer you the right fit for your dress, go for a Demi bra.
22. Seamless Bra
Sometimes we decide to wear extremely body-hugging dresses but our bra decide to announce themselves through them. To fix that, seamless bra offer a seamless experience and do not form a line outside the dress.
23. Wireless Bra
Wireless bra can have padded cups but there is no wire under them supporting your busts. These are perfect for comfort and small-busted people should always go for this.
24. Sweetheart Neckline Bra
Sweetheart Neckline Bra gives you the appearance of a sweetheart neck shape just like we get in dresses.
25. Mastectomy Bra
Mastectomy Bra has cups with pockets which you can fill with breast forms and shapers to give an appearance of a normal-looking bust to people who are sensitive about their new appearance.
Why is it important to have a properly fitting bra?
An ill-fitted bra is not only bad for your outfit but is also an invitation to numerous health problems. The discomfort of such a bra can lead to neck pain, poor posture, headache, skin irritation, saggy breasts and so much more.
In addition to these health issues, the wrong bra can make your breast look out of place whereas the right size can enhance your appearance and keep you healthy at the same time.
How do I know when my bra does not fit properly?
If you are wondering how to figure out if your bra does or does not fit you properly, I suggest you look for the following signs:
- The band will be digging through your waist.
- Straps will be uncomfortably sitting on your shoulders creating rashes.
- Breasts can spill out of your bra.
- Straps could be slipping away from your shoulders.
- Cups could have gaps.
How do I know when my bra fits properly?
You can say that your bra fits you perfectly when it fulfils the following criteria:
- You can easily slide in your two fingers through your waistband and the straps.
- Your bra fits perfectly on the first hook so that you can move to the later ones as it loses its elasticity over time.
- No elastic in your bra is creating a bulge or digging into your body.
- Your cups should hug your breasts comfortably without extra space or spilling them out.
I have very small breasts. Do I really need to wear a bra?
According to my personal suggestions, one should always wear a bra that is meant for their bust size no matter how small their breasts are. Our breasts are tender and require a certain level of support. Without the support, the breasts can become saggy and uncomfortable over time.
In addition to this, you can go for push-ups or padded bra to give your breasts an appearance of fullness.
Which types of bra are the best?
This is a very important question with an uncertain answer to it as there is absolutely no best pick when it comes to bra. Every ‘body’ is different with a unique set of breasts with different needs. However, the lingerie industry has crafted a unique bra for every kind and here are some of the examples to help you get started in the search for the right bra for your bust:
- Sports Bra: Gym
- Wired Bra: Heavy Bust
- Push-up Bra: Small Bust
- Nursing Bra: New Mothers
What types of bra are ideal for daily use?
Now, this is a question we can answer successfully. If you are trying to find a bra that is ideal for daily use, then go for a T-shirt bra. The full-coverage cups of this bra are made with soft fabric to give you long-lasting comfort throughout the day. The seamless stitch ensures that it does not spoil the appearance of your dress while it is lightly padded to offer you the best look possible.
What types of bra are best for beginners?
If you are a beginner, then I suggest you go with a cotton non-wired bra that is lightly padded to ensure no peeking. Cotton will ensure that your breasts can breathe while light padding will give you the right appearance. I am suggesting a non-wired bra so that your body can ease into the habit of a new piece of clothing.
If you are still confused about a bra as a beginner, then you must know that certain brands offer Beginner’s bra and you can read about them in the article above.
Please ensure that you are buying the right size bra which hugs your body cosily and does not dig into it.
I have bigger breasts. Which kind of bra is best for me?
There is one thing that you need to learn while picking a bra for yourself when you have a heavy bust, comfort and the right size. Make sure that you are wearing a comfortable bra in the right size. Also, it may be possible that you need to give up on certain kinds of bra if they do not fit you well but please do not compromise comfort and your size.
If you have bigger breasts and no bra offers you the right amount of comfort, then please go through the options I am mentioning below:
- Full coverage bra
- Sports bra
- Underwired bra
- T-shirt bra
Which is the best type of bra to wear to the beach?
If you are going to the beach, then please buy lingerie for yourself from the swimwear collection of your favourite brand. We strictly do not recommend wearing a regular bra to the beach.
What Types of Bra Should I Wear for Sagging Breasts?
If you have sagging breasts for any reason like weight loss or age, then you should go for the bra which are mentioned below:
- Push-up bra
- Underwired bra
- Sports bra
- Doubly padded bra
Conclusion
In this article, we learnt about the types of bra available in the market. I hope you were surprised by the options available in the market while excited to stuff your wardrobe with the same. You must try on different types of bra to find the one that fits you like your second skin.
Please share this article with women you know who needs to explore the bra range sitting there in the market for them.
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