Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
Are you looking for lingerie that can emphasize your cleavage or give a lift to your small bust? Or would you like to try something new for your boudoir wear?
Cupless or open cup bras are worth considering if you answered yes to any of the three questions. While they offer little to no coverage, these bras can provide the support or freedom your breasts need, depending on the open cup type you choose to wear. The extent of their bust coverage varies, with the most intimate pieces offering only a “frame” to your bosom. Let’s take a closer look at this type of brassiere.
What Is an Open Cup Bra?
An open cup bra is a kind of bra that has little to no material covering your breasts and nipples. Some quarter and half-cup bras have underwires but most frame-only cupless bras feature sturdy straps and an elastic band in place of the underwire.
Types of Open Cup Bras
Open Cup Bra
This bra covers none of the breast and instead hugs around it. Open cup bras show off a lot, sometimes showing the nipple, flash, sometimes not. They are not designed for support, sometimes not even comfort – but you will be taking it off soon anyway 😉
Quarter-cup bra
A quarter-cup bra features cups covering the lower half of your bust. The highest point of this bra’s padded cups reaches the nipple. As these bras only seem to give your breasts something to perch on instead, they’re also referred to as shelf or platform bras.
Built-in shelf bras are like push-up bras, but they’re seamless and have no underwires. They’re found in most swimsuits or camisole tops and shirts with built-in padded bra cups. They’re best for casual attire and sportswear involving low-impact activities. Thus, they shouldn’t be worn for activities with intense body movements like yoga and HIIT.
Meanwhile, shelf bras are great to wear for tops or dresses with deep V shape or plunging necklines. If you’re small-chested, these bras can give your breasts a lift. Platform bras for women with a small bustline usually have narrower straps and thinner elastic bands than those for large or full-breasted ones.
Half-cup bra
As its name denotes, a half-cup bra only covers half of your breasts. If you have bell-shaped breasts (shallow on top and full at the bottom or sagging as a result of breastfeeding and aging), half-cup bras can provide a more rounded and flattering shape. Some of these bras, which are also called demi bras, have padding that brings the breasts toward the center, to display more cleavage.
Like quarter bras, half-cup bras are ideally worn for low-cut blouses or clothes as well as tops with square or broad necklines. Half-cup brassieres also usually have underwiring.
Demi bras are sometimes interchanged with balconettes or balcony bras. What usually distinguishes the demi from the balconette is the former’s more squarish neckline compared to the latter’s heart shape. The straps of a balconette are also set wider apart, nearly to the edge of your shoulders. Meanwhile, a plunge bra is another low-cut bra with a V neckline.
Cut-out bra
A cut-out bra falls under risqué lingerie as it has daring holes that bare more of your flesh. This type includes peephole bras featuring openings in the nipple area. The cups of cut-out bras are usually made of sheer mesh and lace.
Halter bra
A single-strap halter bra is what you need to pair with your halter-neck top or dress as wearing a regular bra will expose its dual straps.
Some halters have very sexy cutouts that will allow you to wear them over a sheer shirt or open-front jacket.
Cage or Strappy bra
Although its name may connote restriction, a cage bra doesn’t compress your breasts. It features multiple straps that run above or underneath the cups. Sometimes, the strappy design goes all the way to the back. There are also caged bras that are cupless, with just the straps and band supporting your bust.
Why Wear Open Cup Bras?
Putting on open-cup bras can boost your confidence in several ways:
Fuller looking breasts
While the standards of female attractiveness have changed through time, more European and American men and women still consider average to large-sized breasts more ideal than a smaller-sized bosom.
Half-cup and quarter-cup bras can sculpt your breasts to make them look fuller. Their underwires provide the structure to push up a small or sagging bust.
Comfort
The best quarter-cup and half-cup bras have padding that doesn’t dig into your skin as some push-up bras do. They allow your breasts to just sit well and feel rested. You also don’t feel any pressure on the shoulders.
Increased seduction
Wearing right-sized open cup bras can enhance your look when you’re wearing low-necked attire.
Meanwhile, you can wear the more daring pieces on their own or under your negligee, especially if you want to direct your partner’s attention toward your breasts.
Accessory piece
Open cup bras can also become instant accessories. You can wear a built-in shelf bra with a crisscross or other multi-strap back on its own or pick a non-built-in platform bra, which you can put on beneath your backless dress.
Meanwhile, you can wear a cage bra beneath a mesh top or dress for an edgier look.
If you’re into Gothic fashion, these bras (also called harness bras) can also be worn over tops and dresses.
Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of your open cup bras:
Avoid sizing up.
A cupless bra should be snug instead of loose for it to raise your bust and not make you look baggy. But just like choosing your regular bras, make sure they don’t chafe your skin or cause pain on your rib cage, shoulders, or neck.
Remember that they’re not for typical, daily use.
Reserve your open cup bras for those occasions when you’ll wear low-neckline tops and clothing. Boudoir pieces offer little support, so they’re best donned as intimate wear instead of everyday wear.
Don’t stick to one open bra style.
There are endless options to try from sheer and lace to leather types.
Avoid storing them carelessly.
Care for your open cup bras the way you do your regular ones—avoid folding them in half when keeping them in your closet. Separate them from your other undergarments. Group your cupless bras together if you have a box or drawer devoted to your bras.
Where to Buy Open Cup Bras
My favorite places to buy all kinds of open cup bras include:
- Bluebella – open cup and strappy bras galore here. And at amazing prices.
- Lavinia Lingerie – has a decent selection of open cup bras.
- Etsy – lots of beautiful, handmade lingerie here.
- Yandy and Wicked Temptations have a good selection.
Leave a Reply