Bras are always a topic of interest and discussion in the woman’s world. This is because they are both hated and loved. They hold the “twins” in place and in some cases make them look better than they normally do without the bra. They help make an outfit and they prevent sagging. However, the bra, if not properly fitted or if the wrong bra is worn for an outfit, can be uncomfortable and can expose too much or too little of a woman’s breast.
It is essential that when you go shopping for a bra, you are properly fitted for a bra. This will include having a professional go into the dressing with a measuring tape and actually measure you and compare your measurements to a chart that will explain exactly what size band and cup you need to have. This will help to ensure that you get the right fitting bra. The professional should also be able to explain to you how the different styles of bra will change your cup size, but your band size should not change.
There are many, many different styles of bras. There are different materials, different under wires, different paddings and different styles of straps that you have to pay attention to. Each different style is designed to meet the needs of the individual woman and the outfits that she will be wearing. This can help to ensure that the right sizes and designs are worn every time.
Straps:
- Strap Less: This bra is designed to be worn with dresses and sleeveless shirts. This bra has no shoulder strap and often features sticky elastic under the band to hold the bra in place.
- Clear Straps: This bra has plastic clear straps that provide additional support to the breasts but without the straps being clearly visible. In low light, these straps tend to blend in well with the woman’s body. This is idea for any time that the straps might show on a bra, such as an off the shoulder dress or t-shirt.
- Convertible: This bra’s straps can be changed to fit the need of the outfit and individual. This can include making the bra strapless, racer backed or single sided. This is an ideal bra for the woman who has to change her outfit frequently.
- Halter Straps: The halter strap does not go down the back, but rather attaches to each other behind the wearer’s neck. This is ideal for the halter dress or shirt since it does not ruin the lines of the dress, and does not show through the open back.
- Racer Back: This style of strap causes the straps to meet each other half way to the back band. This prevents the straps from falling down the shoulders and helps to add extra support to the cups.
Cups:
- Gel Filled: The gel filled bra cup adds padding without adding the lumpiness that the traditional cotton batting can add after the bra is washed. This gel should be removed before washing the bra and never should go through the dryer.
- Demi Bra: This bra has very deep cut cups that allow the bra to work well with a deep V-neck outfit. This style of bra provides ample support but not a lot of coverage.
- Contour Bra: The cups of this bra are shaped so that they mimic the shape of the woman’s body. This is a full coverage bra and works best under outfits that have full fronts and full backs.
- Full Cup: The full cup bra has full coverage for the breasts and ample support. This bra is one of the most commonly worn bras because it is very comfortable and holds everything in place.
- Half Cup: The half cup bra is a great bra for those outfits that have a very low scoop neck. This bra covers the nipples and the bottom half of the breast, but leaves the top exposed and often lifted.
- Minimiser: This bra cup style reduces the appearance of the breast by at least 1 cup size. This is for those individuals who have excessive amounts of breast tissue. This can prevent gapping buttons and it can also help to create a smoother look.
- Plunge: The plunge bra is a bra with cups that are shaped at a very steep V shape. These cups are often not padded, but do increase the bust size appearance due to the shape of the cups. These are ideal for deep V necks.
- Soft Cup: The soft cup bra uses elastic under the cup to provide support to the breasts. There is no under wire at all. There may be some padding or not, depending upon the bra.
- Under Wire: The under wire bra features a thin wire that sits under the cup and is wrapped in fabric. This wire helps to support the bra and maintain the shape of the cup.
Alternative Bras:
- T-Shirt Bra: This is a seamless bra that is designed to be invisible even with the thinnest of materials. This is a great bra for any time you are wearing something very light weight.
- Sports Bra: This style bra is a tighter bra that holds the twins in place even when a lot of activity is happening. This bra often has a racer back and no padding. These are not replacements for shirts.
- Long Line: This bra extends down the sides, back and stomach of the wearer. It is most often worn with wedding dresses and other formal dresses as it helps to provide a smoother line and additional support and lift to the breasts.