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Bras come in many shapes and sizes. There are sports bras, bralettes, adhesive stick-on, push-up bras, strapless bras, t-shirt bras, and several others.
If you’re unsure of your bra size, check out our guide to measuring your bra size!
This guide will discuss mainstream styles, share a few tips and tricks, and you’ll even get a bit of a history lesson! Let’s dig in.
The Bra: A Centuries-Old Origin Story
The term bra is a diminutive for brassiere, the full term for supportive breast gear we know and love (or hate!)
From decorative to restrictive, it’s long been a cultural and social norm for women all over the world to use garments to support, cover, or accentuate the breasts.
It’s well known that the corset or other long-form, restrictive shapewear was the garment of choice for centuries, rather than the supportive cup pieces that emerged around the late 1870s.
There were concerns over the comfort and safety of prolonged corset wear, and many individuals attempted to create a suitable replacement without much success. That is until French lingerie designer Hermenie Cadolle successfully invented and marketed a bra-and-panty piece designed as an alternative to harmful corsets.
This invention was viewed similarly to how a pair of compression socks would be viewed today – purely for health reasons and not necessarily sexy lingerie.
About 30 years would pass before the bra in the form we recognize it as now would be marketed as a sensual alternative to corsetry.
Women’s Bras – A Comprehensive Guide
When shopping for a new bra, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choices available. In fact, many brands and distributors don’t have a categorizing system and will either introduce their own spin on things or follow the trends – sometimes a mix of both.
While one can always rely, for the most part, on the cut and fit of a pair of panties – the same cannot be said for bras.
However, there are some universal characteristics. Let’s take a look:
Sports Bra
Sports bras are designed to provide ample support and coverage for that sweaty gym session.
Sports bras are often made of breathable, nylon material and will either have a scoop back or racerback – both provide excellent support.
Lounge Bra
Lounge bras are often confused with sports bras and can be used interchangeably, but these style bras are often made of soft cotton with a spaghetti strap back. Not as supportive and not as moisture-wicking. Great for comfortably lounging around the house!
Pro tip: Lounge bras are great for breast tenderness. They provide gentle support and protection while being comfortable enough to lounge in!
Bralette
Bralettes are often lacy and free of the dreaded underwire or cups. Often, bralettes are part of the ensemble. Wear them under a loose tank top for an extra flirty outfit!
T-Shirt
T-Shirt bras are meant to blend in under soft, loose cotton shirts or blouses. A good t-shirt bra will be seamless, have soft cups, and may or may not incorporate underwire.
Balconette
Think of a balcony, and think of your breasts – voila! These bras are structured to provide lift and support with very little by way of coverage. Cups are often very low-cut and may just be made of lace – which makes these bras a sexy addition to a spicy outfit!
Push-up
Push-up bras are supportive and provide padding on the lower part of the cup to push the breasts up and in to enhance the look of cleavage.
Great for low-cut tops and dresses!
Strapless
A strapless bra will rely entirely on the underwire and cups to support the breasts. Many brands include silicone around the band for extra support!
Great for strapless dresses and shirts!
Adhesive/Stick On
Think of adhesive bras or stick-on bras as nothing but the cup. They will often have flaps above the top of the breast to lift the breasts and will always have an adhesive back.
These are great for backless, strapless, or couture dresses.
Recommended Shops
The shops I recommend for buying bras include:
- Mary Young for soft, comfortable bras in an array of colors and cuts.
- Lavinia Lingerie for structured bras in a variety of styles.
What is your favorite type of bra?
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