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Bra Style Guide
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There are many different styles of bra available and it can get rather confusing when you hear about multiway and halterneck bras etc. We've provided some basic information based on styles general available in the market here.
 Air Bras Explained
Air bras are bras with small bags of air filled in each cup. Some of these air filled bras have air bags that are removable. Air bras help the enhancement of bust and cleavage, thus giving a more erotic and alluring look.
The air is in inserts like the push-up bra and if removable would fit into the same little pockets on the inside of each cup. The Air bras are said to have the same feeling as touching the breasts without the added worry that someone will think they are spongy pads. The look and feel of the air bra is a natural one and will just help with enhancing what you already have.
 Backless Bras Explained
As suggests in its name of which is self explanatory, this bra allows wearer to bear one’s back since it does not provide back coverage. It also has no straps, or if there is, it is usually positioned way low or near the waistline. It is usually self-adhesive, lightweight and self-supporting. It is the perfect bra for backless tops and dresses as well as off-the- shoulder tops and dresses.
 Plunge Bras Explained
Plunge – Plunge bras create the appearance of increased cleavage because of their deep (plunging) front silhouette, angled cups and thin center gore. It gives a deep “V” line across the bust thereby presenting a plunging neckline. Plunge bras differ from push-up bras in that they are not generally as heavily padded. It is best worn under low cut top with plunging neckline.
 Half Cup/Demi Bras Explained
The demi cup bra gives 3/4 of coverage of the breasts and this gives it a sexier look and feel. These bras are ideal for younger wearers or those that still have firm breasts and they can help to give the look of more cleavage. They are also most suitable for petite to average figure women too. It provides lesser coverage than that of a full cup but more than a balconette. They are ideal to wear with any clothing even low front cut tops and dresses.
 Balconette/Decollete (shelf) Bras Explained
The Balconette bra is very similar to the half cup or demi but has just over half the coverage of the breasts and adds a sexier more luxurious look. It is more revealing than that of a demi bra and offers very little covering. It is a style with very low cut front panel thus creating a dramatic cleavage enhancing appearance and the exposing of a large portion of the décolleté, which is also why it is sometimes called “Decollete bra”. The middle of the bra is slightly different in design to the half cup and appears not to be as straight across the breasts and the chest below, instead it is contoured with an underwire design with the aim to add more shape and curves to the bust line. This style of bra is suitable for all women and can be worn under any collection of clothing, but is especially useful when the top of a garment is cut low, wide or square. It is sometimes known as a shelf bra because of its minimal coverage and works like shelving the breasts . It is good for the creation of a dramatic uplift and cleavage.
 Body Lingerie/Suits Explained
It is an all-in-one leotard like garment which has snap fasteners at the crotch. Bodysuits are skin-tight and give a smooth line. They are designed to help flatten out tummies and smooth out our curves, thereby giving an overall smoother and curvaceous silhouette. They have a variety of uses and styles. Some provide support and shaping to help hide excess weight and have a slimming effect. They come with thong backs, brief backs or even G-strings backs to cater to different palettes and needs. They also come in a wide variety of designs and styles to suit the different outfits they are to be worn under. Some of them are designed with fitted cups with under-wires to give enhancement to the bust. Most if not all bodies have press button fastening in the gusset and some have a bra clasp on the back.
They can be worn under clothing for extra support or as a shirt itself. There are also those sexy body suits that can be worn as intimate apparel. Many body suits are actually clothing and are used as a shirt that cannot become untucked while pursuing daily activities. Some of these body suits cover the entire body from neck to ankle and are usually opaque. Some are made into sexy lingerie, such as teddies.
 Teddies Explained
A teddy is a form of bodysuit-like lingerie, often worn in the boudoir. By definition, a teddy is an undergarment which combines a camisole and panty in one piece. Unlike a bodysuit, it is typically looser and of sheer fabric. It may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch. Teddies can also take the form of something resembling a harness, to a full fledged zippered, hooked, and laced corset with an attached thong. . It may be body fitting too and some are designed for shaping as well.
 Babydolls Explained
A babydoll is a short nightgown or negligee that is sometimes designed to have a opening in the front like a flyaway. It is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, appliques or even marabou fur, bows and ribbons and many more, usually in spaghetti straps, or even halter neck. It can also be made of sheer or translucent fabrics like chiffon or silk, or satin and more. This night lingerie is usually about six inches above the knee just like a minidress and is highly sexy. It is often sold as a set with a matching panties.
 Camisoles Explained
Camisoles, depending on designs and fabric used, can be worn as innerwear or outerwear, day or night according to different occasions. They come in an array of designs and fittings, from tight fitted to loose fit and most of them are made to flatter the feminine curves. Some of them are designed to have front or back fastening like corsets. However, they are mostly worn just like a pullover. Some of them have even bralet sewn to it so it can be worn as is!
 Chemise Lingerie Explained
A Chemise can be worn as nightwear, or it can also double up as a long lining under a dress. They are designed in different lengths – from short to mid-thigh and even up to calves or ankle length.
 Corsets Explained
Corset – A corset is a highly structured, form fitting support garment that extends from the bust to the hip. Some are, however, designed to be worn to cover the bust as well, but all of these are made specially for the sake of accentuating the bust line. Most corsets have lace up details, flexible boning throughout the body of the garment to give additional shaping, and close in the back with a long row of hooks and eyes.
The corset has a long history and is now gaining popularity again what with all the new styles and designs. Corsets are not restricted to be worn only as an undergarment today. They too, are embraced by women who wear them as outerwear and they have never been sexier!
As a general guide, corsets should be anything ranging from 2 to 4 inches smaller than your normal waist size to achieve the form fitting and enhance the curvaceous body form.
 Bustiers Explained
Bustier is garment which is structured to be body form fitting and conforms to curves which usually extends from the bust to the waistline. It resembles a corset, although it tends to be less restrictive. Most of them have flexible boning throughout the body of the garment to enhance shaping and uplift of the bust. They usually close in the back with a long row of hooks and eyes, but some are designed with fasterners or laced up in the front. To add versatility, some bustiers may even come with removable or convertible straps or garters. Most of them are also designed with cups or even padded cups, while others do not. Bustiers can be worn with almost under any kind of outfit to enhance the shapeliness of the wearer. A bustier serves two primary functions. The first function offers support to the breasts, both making the wearer more comfortable and creating cleavage. A bustier also shapes the waistline slightly.
  Merry Widows/Basques Explained
A merry widow is a short, usually strapless corset, and usually with half-cups bra and long garters to which hosiery can be kept in place. It is the also generally known as a torsolette and is usually used in bridal lingerie, and it is also like a bustier. In the U.S. it is the general term for a corselette bra. It is intended to smooth the waist and stomach area while giving the bust a push-up.
Merry Widow is often thought to work like a corset since they both come with boning. However, a merry widow does not fasten as tightly as does a corset. The garment starts at the chest and ends at the top of the hips or waistline.
 Corselette/Girdle Bras Explained
A corselette, also spelled corselet, is sometimes called an all in one, or a girdle/bra. Some may mistakenly call it a merry widow as well. The corselette should be a tight fitting garment that fits the busts, and covers the body with usually tight elastic or boning down to the thighs.
In contrast to the corselette, the merry widow tends to stop at the waist or above the hip and may be worn with underpants. In the nebulous world of defining women’s lingerie you may see the corselette referred to as a merry widow, or vice versa. Generally, the merry window is shorter and might be more properly titled a bustier and it does not cover the hips. Some corselette strapless or are designed with removable straps making them more versatile. They are best worn under formal wear such as a ball gown and are most popular on bridal occasions in particular for women who require some degree of constriction to achieve the nip and tuck purpose in oder to look fab on their special days or events.
 Nursing (Drop cup) Bras Explained
Drop cup bras are broadly known as nursing bras designed with an easy to use clip at the top of each cup to enable the ease of dropping down the individual cup for breastfeeding. As each cup can be dropped individually it makes breast feeding more discreet for both Mother and Baby. These bras are now designed to look beautiful for mother, a departure from the conventional plain and simple bras seen years ago.
 Full Cup Bras Explained
The Full Cup bra covers the entire breast and makes a bra look larger than it is. It is designed to better support the breasts keeping them in shape and fullness and is ideal for women with larger breast sizes or for expectant mothers who need better supporting bras to prevent the sagging and backaches in the long run.
 Front Fastening Bras Explained
Front fastening bras are made with clasps in the front instead of back fastenings thus they are easier to use. Struggling with hooks around the back can get quite uncomfortable and awkward for some. Some men may agree that front fastening bras are easier to undo! These bras can be wired or non-wired and come in a gamut of styles, designs and colors. They can be worn under any type and style of clothing including day wear and evening wear whether it is a skirt and jacket suit or a sumptuous and sexy evening gown.
 Halter Neck Bras Explained
The halter neck bra has clasps on the straps, which attach at the back of the neck and also around the back as a normal bra does. The coverage of the breasts is similar to the half cup cut. The Halterneck bra is most suited for outfits such as those of strapless tops or dresses and off-the-shoulder items of clothing.
  Racerback Bras Explained
Racerback – A back silhouette, which curves in between the shoulder blades. Most convertible bras can be worn racerback, but a true racerback bra is a must-have to pair with racerback tanks. It is also a best fit for under tank tops and sleeveless dresses and shirts. This keeps the straps from being visible with lighter strapped attire.
 Liquid Bras Explained
The liquid bras contain a small pouch of liquid gel in each cup. The liquid bra helps to give the illusion of more cleavage and improve lift for the bust and they can sometimes add almost a whole cup size to your bust. They come in designs that are made with or without removable inserts. There is a more natural look and feel with these bras.
 Maternity Bras Explained
Maternity Bras are worn by women while pregnant and they are designed to help give as much support as possible during pregnancy. A few bras of different sizes may be needed throughout the 9 months of gestation to give the breasts the appropriate support while they grow in size gradually to help reduce sagging. Maternity bras are made in varying designs and are designed to look fashionable nowadays with different colors and styles. There are even Multi-way maternity bras now, so expectant mothers can look stunning in evening wear and day wear whether you are trying to feel cool or look glamorous.
  MultiWay Bras Explained
The Multiway Bra is very versatile in that it can be worn in various ways, be it halterneck, low back or a normal two strap to accompany the different outfit it is to be worn under. The Multiway bra can also be worn as any standard bra with T shirt tops and dresses. What makes Multiway bras so wonderful is the shoulder straps that can be removed altogether.
 The Minimiser Bras Explained
The minimiser, as the word itself suggests, are meant more for larger cup sizes DD and above as they are designed to make the breasts appeared to be smaller than normal. The minimiser also helps to prevent ‘spill over’ and ‘gaping button’ syndrome in shirts and blouses. Given the right size, this bra helps to even out the lumps and bumps under an outfit. Not only does this bra aids in the reduction of breasts size, it too, provides the added support for larger sizes thus reduction the helps to reduce the size of the breasts and give added uplift and support for larger sizes.
 Padded Bras Explained
Padded bra is self-explanatory by how it’s been named, however, the degree of padding does vary slightly - some with padding that are thicker than others. They offer anything from a slight lift to the bust line or a more push up effect to give a fuller appearance to the bust. Some padded bras are made with insert pads, while others are padded more on the lower part of the cup help give the effect of more cleavage.
 Push-up Bras Explained
The push up has more padding in a slightly different place and so gives more uplift and add more cleavage to the bust. This padding is usually in the form of inserts (or fillets) that are fitted into the pocket on the inside of each cup. These pads or fillets are usually made of sponge or some other material that will give a more natural look and feel to the breasts. The pads can sometimes be removable
 Seamless Bras Explained
The seamless bra has no seams on the cups - some are designed with wire for additional support while some are without. They would give slight support but are not as much compared to under-wired bras. This bra gives a cleaner line and smoother look under tight or close fitting clothing.
 Sports Bras Explained
The sports bras are designed to give breast tissue the necessary support during sporting activities so the degree of bounce is kept in check and minimized and it helps prevent the sagging and formation of stretch marks caused by excessive sagging. It is aimed at keeping the breasts in place and takes the strain off the breast and chest muscles. Sports bras do come in many variations from low impact sports bra to high impact ones for strenuous sports.
 Triangle Bras Explained
The triangle bra is self-explanatory, viz: there is a triangular shape to the fabric that forms the cups of the bra. This bra is usually without under-wire although some manufacturers do underwire some of them. The bra is joined in the centre like a connection to the chest strap of the bra. Although they are not wired, they still give support to the breasts with a more natural look.
 Underwired Bras Explained
The underwired bra is designed to give the bust good support and keeping them in shape thereby help the reduction of sagging. |
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