When it comes to style, what you see is often influenced by what you don’t see. For instance, if you think your outfit is the “star” of the show, your bra fills a major “supporting” role—lifting, shaping and helping you look fabulous.
But unlike a favorite dress, handbag or pair of shoes, your bra often gets the most wear and the least attention of any other clothing item you own. An important point to remember when shopping for a bra—it’s not only how it fits that matters, but also what job it’s meant to do and the design technology involved in accomplishing that job.
When deciding what bra styles work best for your individual needs, you should always keep in mind those other three “F”s—fashion, function and feel.
No matter what type of support you’re seeking, today’s bra technology offers innovative solutions.
The Celebrate-Your-Curves Full Figure Bra
Gone are the “granny bras” of days past. Modern full-figure bras offer maximum support and comfort in any number of attractive styles. Key features include wide, adjustable comfort straps paired with cushioned underwire support or supportive wire-free styling—resulting in a bra that hugs every curve in the best way possible.
The Invisible T-Shirt Bra
The main goal for this bra style is to be virtually invisible, even under lightweight clothing or form-hugging fabrics. Designed for comfort and ultra-smooth coverage, it features contoured lines and seamless molded cups with light padding—all meant to show off a more streamlined silhouette. Most t-shirt bras come in lighter colors that won’t be seen through thin fabrics.
The Cleavage-Enhancing Push-Up Bra
Another sexy style, the options for this bra range from a light push-up that gives your bust a natural-looking lift to a more dramatic push-up for maximum enhancement. Lined and angled cups help form a beautiful silhouette, while some push-up bras also feature convertible straps for added versatility.
Today’s bra designs make comfort a priority without sacrificing cleavage-enhancing lift and support.
The Ultra-Comfortable Wireless Bra
If comfort is your key concern, most wireless bras provide an average amount of support with the all-day comfort you crave. Designed with structured cups that give you a gentle lift, many wireless bras also have comfy wide straps your shoulders will love. Soft fabrics add to the seamless look and feel.
The Ultra-Sexy Plunge Bra
This style is all about showing off your cleavage, not your bra. The deep v-cut silhouette, narrow center and subtle, cleavage-enhancing lift make plunge bras your go-to option for almost any outfit with a revealing neckline. Shoulder straps are generally set wide apart to stay discreetly tucked away. If you want to take a deeper plunge, try a U plunge bra designed for really low-cut necklines.
Extra-Support Underwire Bra
A well-fitting underwire bra is especially helpful for women with larger busts. A thin, flexible wire, generally made of metal or plastic, is sewn into the underside of each bra cup to help lift, shape and define your bust. Once considered uncomfortable at best, today’s underwire bra has evolved into a more easy-wear style that focuses on both comfort and added support.
Even with a versatile bra, your bra wardrobe should also include styles that meet particular needs.
The Wear-With-Anything Convertible Bra
It’s the most versatile style in the bra world—a multipurpose bra you can wear in different ways with clothing that would otherwise leave your conventional bra straps showing. Detachable/re-attachable straps mean that most convertible bras can be worn at least three ways: classic, halter and cross-back. Many take it even further with cross-front, one-shoulder, low-back or strapless.
The No-Show Balconette Bra
A favorite for lower-cut necklines, the balconette is a more revealing form of the demi-cup bra, designed for subtle uplift and flattering cleavage. This fun-and-flirty bra style usually features a horizontal silhouette all the way across the front, exposing more of the chest and shoulder area with lower-cut cups, underwire support and widely set-apart straps.
The Workout-Ready Sports Bra
Most sports bras offer game-changing features like moisture-wicking fabrics and a comfort-driven design. Support that’s specifically tailored for low- to high-impact physical activities is also a key factor. For better bounce control, choose between soft-and-seamless compression styles or non-stretch molded cups. If you want something that allows for a good range of movement, try a sports bra with racerback styling.
Function, fashion, fit and feel—with modern bra technology, it’s possible to have it all.
The On-the-Go Nursing Bra
This bra design is a nursing mother’s best friend, focusing on comfort, support and convenient drop-cup styling. Cushioned underwire or wireless support, padded cups and soft, stretchy fabrics are key—plus, drop-cup clips can be released one-handed. Tip: Nursing and maternity bras have a lot of similarities but aren’t always interchangeable. For the best nursing-bra fit, wait until the last month of your pregnancy to determine the size you’ll need.
The Shoulder-Baring Racerback Bra
If constantly slipping bra straps are a problem, the racerback bra could easily save your day. For women with narrow or sloping shoulders—or those who love wearing tank tops or other shoulder-revealing styles, it’s an ideal option. The trademark feature is a “T” shape formed by straps that cross or meet in the middle of the back, with the added benefit of reducing shoulder strain. Front designs can vary, from plunge to full coverage.
The Sleek-Silhouette Minimizer Bra
If your workday calls for a tailored silhouette, a minimizer bra could be just the right style for the job. Primarily worn by women with larger bust sizes, it features smooth lines and specially designed cups that lift and redistribute, or compress to make your bust size look 1-2 inches smaller. It’s a shape-flattering solution to that pesky “gap” problem that often comes with wearing button-front shirts.
When it comes to bras, there’s clearly no one-style-fits-all solution. The good news? With today’s bra technology and all the choices that are now available, you won’t have to compromise anymore.
