Florence Uwaeme
Did you know that 64% of women are wearing the wrong bra? And ironically 24% know for a fact that they are wearing the wrong size. No wonder we just can’t wait to pull the bra off the moment we reach home! We all are doing something fundamentally wrong.
Simply put – start with a professional fitting, understand the different types out there and most importantly invest in a bra that’s meant for YOU. That takes care of all your bra woes and so does this article. Read on to find out all about it.
30 Best Different Types of Bra With Images and Names
Understanding the right size is one thing and matching it with your body type is another. Our anatomy might be the same but each of us is unique, so it is important to be fully aware of your body needs. So, let’s discuss the best from the lot and look at “30 Types Of Bra’s For Every Body Type”.
1. T-Shirt Bra
I’m not fussy about a lot of things in life, but a T-shirt bra is not one of them. Fishing for a seamless T-shirt bra did not come easily to me because I was always under the assumption that they were the padded bras. They are very similar, except they are not. These come with moulded protection, sometimes with an underwire, but not necessarily padded. They add rigidity, and depending on your bust size, give a minimized look. It is the underwire that offers complete coverage, and the whole idea is to take you far away from the fear of a double boob or a pop out.
2. Sports Bra
If I could put this better, I would, but choosing a sports bra has no magic formula. For most of us, it is tried and tested, simply because it is a deal breaker and can make your workout as comfortable or uncomfortable as your bra. So, we need to pay attention to the fundamentals – straps, cups, and the band. It needs to be snug and encompassing all around. However, it cannot suffocate your breasts or result in a uniboob. Choose a bra based on the activity – a low impact sports bra is suitable for yoga, hiking or walking, and a high impact one is needed for rigorous exercises like aerobics, running, zumba, etc.
3. Push Up Bra
For starters, a push-up bra helps women with a smaller bust line or those whose breasts do not stick high up at the chest. So, the myth that women with bigger breasts cannot wear push-ups remains untrue, because it does more than just making them fuller. These are available in every size starting from A to E, and come in myriad designs. Since most of the push-up bras are wired, make sure the underwire is not pinching your skin at the bottom but just snugly fits at the end of your bust line.
4. Padded Bra
The padded bra has been a saviour for so many reasons. It gives you complete nipple coverage and an overall fuller look. Some women, however, do not prefer it because it can sometimes make their boobs look double their size. The reason could be an error while choosing the size or the design. Another interesting variant that I personally love is the soft-padded bra. If you do not prefer padded, wired or push-ups – this is your best bet in winters, plus they are super soft and comfortable. You also have the semi-padded cup bras that will go with deep neck dresses. And, the demi bra is a good option for women with petite frames or smaller breasts or both.
5. Strapless Bra
I don’t know about you, but for me, wearing a strapless bra was a fiasco – every single time, until I had my first professional fitting. It is a real blessing if you get your basics right. Besides, always meddling with your bra is a real turn off. Apparently, you need to go down one step smaller because the band is like the one-man army holding the girls together, plus supporting your chest. Remember, your dress should be slightly looser near the chest and tighter near the waist, else we are back to square one.
6. Lace Bra
Lace is sensuous, and it just feels great to wear the fabric on your body, especially if it’s lingerie. You will never run out of options, but more often than not, they are known as a fancy variant than the actual functionality. So, check with the sales associate in the store or talk to a professional if you have questions on sporting these flawlessly unless you prefer your nipples pointy. On the contrary, lace fabric is used as an add-on outermost layer in everyday intimates like padded ones, push-ups, etc.
7. Halter Bra
As the name suggests, these go perfectly well with your tanks, tubes, strapless dresses or racerback T-shirts. Most of the convertibles give you a choice of clear strap, cross-over back or halter neck, so camouflaging those straps is oh-so-easy!
8. Soft Padded
These are basically well rounded yet seamless and natural. Not just T-shirts, these are ideal under flimsy fabrics like shirts, satin tops or dresses. You get a range of options in these like soft padded, padded, underwired, etc, so go with something depending on the size of your breasts.
9. Stick On Bra
When you go shopping and see some dresses, the first question that occurs to you is what bra you need to wear. The shapes, bodice, and necklines are so fancy that nothing seems to be a match. That’s when you need a stick-on bra. These silicone pads are adhesive sticks to your body and are intact. It gives just enough nipple coverage, but it’s not like your regular bras.
10. Bandeau Bra
We all know of tube tops, don’t we? So bandeau bras work similarly. They need to be worn on the head and have no hooks to fasten them. And probably that’s what makes these comfortable. The support is taken purely from your breast and shoulders, so ensure you try them out to be sure it sits there right. You get these in plain as well as superior material such as lace, satin and layered. You could also use the fancy ones as a layer for your racerback tops.
11. Shelf Bra
First things first, these bras are not meant for every day. These fall under the lingerie category because unlike the regular bras these do not give you nipple coverage. They usually come in fabrics like lace and satin that support the entire breast but are transparent near the breast. You get a lot of variants in these, so go check them out and invest in a couple of them. After all, we all need some self-pampering too.
12. Balconette Bra
Underwired bras often get the support from the bottom and offer very little coverage in comparison to the other bras. They are horizontal like the demi bra but are much fuller around the breasts. These reveal the top parts of your breasts, so keep this in mind and map this with your dresses. It’s usually suited for small and medium-sized breasts. The only support system for these come from the thick straps and underwire.
13. Longline Bra
Just as the name goes, longline bra extends till a little above your belly button or over it depending on the brand. These are usually snug and intact from the start till the very end, thus suitable for body-hugging, corset, evening wear dresses etc. The straps are thick and offer support to any breast sizes except you need to be sure of the size—If the bra is too tight, it looks bulgy and protruding.
14. Sheer Bra
Sheer bras basically show off a little bit of your skin with the fabrics used. These are usually made with fancy materials like satin, tulle, lace or chantilly lace etc with convoluted designs that are supportive yet fashionable. Unlike the lingerie and sensuous ones, these give nipple coverage and are well rounded.
15. Racerback Bra
This is pretty self-explanatory. The straps hover around the collarbone and not the arm, unlike your regular bras. And these bridge a huge gap for T-shirts, dresses, tanks and tops that have racerback necklines. The padded ones are comfortable and convenient during high-intensity workouts, either way, this is a bare essential.
In our next article, we’ll be looking at the other 15 types of Bras and who should wear which.
