SPOILED FOR CHOICE.....
Great morning my dear readers,
I have so missed us all.
It's been a quiet time ..pardon me....me sef experience no fuel drama in lagos....whew!!
We go on with our degree inUnderwearlogy as we learn about the different times of brassieres....happy reading!!!
BALCONETTE BRA:
The balconette bra is a type of demi/half cup bra, which basically means the cups are low to allow you wear fairly low cut clothing. A balconette bra usually has a more of a horizontal line along the top of the cups of the bra, has underwires and quite widely set straps.
BANDEAU BRA:
A bandeau bra is shaped like a strip over your breasts, sometimes with ruching (pleated or gathered) in the middle. They are kind of a cross between a strapless bra and a tube top and are made of stretch fabric. They don’t normally have fastening in the back, instead they go on over your head. They often come with detachable straps as well.
It isn’t a supportive bra and really only works well for smaller breasts.
CONTOUR / MOULDED CUP BRA:
A contour or moulded cup bra means the cups have been shaped by machine to fit the shape of your breasts.
Contour bra cups are shaped from fabric and a thin layer of foam, they will hold their shape whether they are on or off. Because each cup is shaped from one piece of material they are seamless across the cup making them good for wearing with any clothes where seams would show through. The thin layer of foam also helps to disguise any outline from the nipple, so they are popular for that reason too.
CONVERTIBLE / MULTIWAY BRA:
Convertible (also called multi way) bras are a must to own. The straps come off and have hooks so you can reattach them in different ways to wear with clothes where the straps of a standard bra would show.
Every convertible bra should be able to do a classic bra shape, halter neck and crossover back. Not all can go strapless or low back.
DEMI CUP BRA:
‘Demi’ describes a style of cup shape for a bra. It is quite low, it only just comes up over the nipple and usually plunges quite low to show cleavage. The shoulder straps are also set widely apart.
FULL CUP BRA:
Its cups completely cover the breasts. They offer the most support of any type of bra so are a popular choice for women with large cup sizes.
As they are designed for women who want more support and comfort, the shoulder straps are usually wider.
The cup comes up high enough that they will fully contain your breasts so you will get a smooth line.
The main downside to full cup bras is that they will be visible with anything that comes down even slightly low.
MASTECTOMY BRA:
Mastectomy bras are full cup bras that have a pocket inside the cups to insert breast forms (prosthesis). They are for women who have had one or both breasts removed. Some are also specially designed to be worn during the recovery process after surgery.
MATERNITY AND NURSING BRAS:
Strictly speaking maternity and nursing bras are different things, but the terms are often used interchangeably, or with ‘maternity’ meaning both maternity and nursing bras.
The difference between them is that a maternity bra is meant to offer you extra support and comfort while you are pregnant, a nursing bra is for when you have had the baby and has a flap that unclips for breastfeeding.
A good maternity bra should provide:
Soft, flexible/stretchy cups to allow for breasts growth and shape change. It should have enough rows of loops on the back fastening for adjustability.
Wide padded shoulder straps for a more comfortable fit.
Breathability, fabric like cotton can help with this.
Nursing bras
Comfort is also key here, however the bra has to have clips which are easy to undo.
Pockets for breast pads to stop milk leaking onto your clothes is also a feature of the nursing bra.
MINIMIZER BRA:
Minimizer bras are designed for women with average to large breasts who want them to appear smaller by reducing bust measurement by an inch or two. The cups offer full coverage and are made of elastic fabric which helps to compress the breasts, whilst still giving a good silhouette. Underwires are used for support.
Minimiser bras are great for clothes that look good with a sleek look, or to help you fit into clothes that are a bit too tight across the bust. They can also make the difference between being able to wear a button shirt without it gaping open and not.
Due to the full cups they won’t go well with anything low cut.
Noteworthy: the bra size should be same for a minimiser bra as a standard one, there is no need to get it smaller to squish everything in.
PADDED BRA:
A padded bra has padding in the base of the cup to lift the breast and give the appearance of larger breasts. Padding can also refer to a light padding through the cup to hide any nipple shape, but usually when talking about a padded bra, the type that makes your bust look larger is what is being referred to.
Padded bras come in a variety of different shapes and styles, they could be t-shirt bras, demi cup, push up or a combination of shapes.
The padding can be made of a variety of materials, some are foam or silicone rubber, others use gels and liquids that shape to the body and feel like real breasts. The padding is removable in some bras.
Noteworthy: Even though the breasts will look like a larger cup size when worn it is advised to buy same size that you are normally for a perfect fit.
PLUNGE BRA:
Plunge bras are designed so one can wear low cut clothes without the bra showing. The cups join together low between the breasts, with a thin centre piece. Usually the shoulder straps are wide.
Plunge bras can also be push-up bras, this will give a fuller cleavage than a plunge bra with wider set cups.
Noteworthy: Try leaning forward while wearing one of these, if your breasts fall out the front, then it isn’t the right fit.
PUSH UP BRA:
Push-up bras do exactly what they say, they push your breasts up and together to give maximum cleavage. They are usually plunge bras as well, this means the cups join low between the breasts so one can wear something low to show them off.
They are padded so the breasts can appear a couple of cup sizes larger than they are.
They are great for small breasts and to draw attention to them and make them look bigger.
Some have removable padding or inserts,while other have in built padding.
RACERBACK / T-BACK / SPORTS BACK BRA:
This type of back is often used on sports bras as it quite secure.
The straps won’t fall down and one has a wide range of movement through the shoulders.
The other use is to wear with tops that have a racerback so the straps aren’t visible.
The shape in the back can make normal fastening impossible and as such they often do up at the front or are elasticated and go on over the head like a camisole.
SHELF BRA:
A shelf bra is also known as a platform bra, quarter-cup bra or cupless bra.
It has underwires and supports from underneath, but has no cups or very short cups to expose the breasts.
This bra is mainly just for fun.
If you want a bit of lift or are smaller and want them pushed up to appear larger then this could be for you.
SPORTS BRA:
Sports bras are designed to give support during physical activity and different types work for different activities.
For example; a sports bra for yoga should be really comfortable and offer greater movement, whereas one for jogging should be firm enough to remove bounce and also breathe well to reduce sweating.
Mesh sections are another way they can help keep one cool while active.
There are two main ways that a sports bra will keep the breasts in place.
Encapsulation, made with full moulded cups that separate and hold each breast in place separately,
or
Compression, made with stretchy fabric and are tight to hold one in. This type doesn’t traditionally have cups and usually goes on over your head like a crop top.
STICK ON / ADHESIVE BRA:
Most stick-on bras are made of silicone but there are ones made of foam.
One can also get fabric ones that look more like a strapless bra that has had the back cut off. These usually have adhesive on the side wings to hold them on.
STRAPLESS BRA:
Strapless bras often come as convertible bras with detachable straps or as bandeau bras. A classic style strapless bra like the one pictured below is recommended for a perfect fit for larger breasts.
T-SHIRT BRA:
A T-shirt bra has seamless contour cups that are designed to give a smooth look under tight or lightweight fabric.
The cups are lightly padded to stop the shape of your nipples showing through.
U PLUNGE BRA:
The U plunge bra is a speciality bra that is designed for really low cut necklines. These are the lowest you can get in the front and still be wearing a bra.
U plunge bras usually have underwires and side boning to add support.
WOW......a long read...I believe we have all learnt something from this read...till my next read, I say....
Have yourselves a fabulous week ahead. See you all in a few days.
I have so missed us all.
It's been a quiet time ..pardon me....me sef experience no fuel drama in lagos....whew!!
We go on with our degree in
BALCONETTE BRA:
The balconette bra is a type of demi/half cup bra, which basically means the cups are low to allow you wear fairly low cut clothing. A balconette bra usually has a more of a horizontal line along the top of the cups of the bra, has underwires and quite widely set straps.
BANDEAU BRA:
A bandeau bra is shaped like a strip over your breasts, sometimes with ruching (pleated or gathered) in the middle. They are kind of a cross between a strapless bra and a tube top and are made of stretch fabric. They don’t normally have fastening in the back, instead they go on over your head. They often come with detachable straps as well.
It isn’t a supportive bra and really only works well for smaller breasts.
CONTOUR / MOULDED CUP BRA:
A contour or moulded cup bra means the cups have been shaped by machine to fit the shape of your breasts.
Contour bra cups are shaped from fabric and a thin layer of foam, they will hold their shape whether they are on or off. Because each cup is shaped from one piece of material they are seamless across the cup making them good for wearing with any clothes where seams would show through. The thin layer of foam also helps to disguise any outline from the nipple, so they are popular for that reason too.
CONVERTIBLE / MULTIWAY BRA:
Convertible (also called multi way) bras are a must to own. The straps come off and have hooks so you can reattach them in different ways to wear with clothes where the straps of a standard bra would show.
DEMI CUP BRA:
‘Demi’ describes a style of cup shape for a bra. It is quite low, it only just comes up over the nipple and usually plunges quite low to show cleavage. The shoulder straps are also set widely apart.
FULL CUP BRA:
Its cups completely cover the breasts. They offer the most support of any type of bra so are a popular choice for women with large cup sizes.
As they are designed for women who want more support and comfort, the shoulder straps are usually wider.
The cup comes up high enough that they will fully contain your breasts so you will get a smooth line.
The main downside to full cup bras is that they will be visible with anything that comes down even slightly low.
MASTECTOMY BRA:
Mastectomy bras are full cup bras that have a pocket inside the cups to insert breast forms (prosthesis). They are for women who have had one or both breasts removed. Some are also specially designed to be worn during the recovery process after surgery.
MATERNITY AND NURSING BRAS:
Strictly speaking maternity and nursing bras are different things, but the terms are often used interchangeably, or with ‘maternity’ meaning both maternity and nursing bras.
The difference between them is that a maternity bra is meant to offer you extra support and comfort while you are pregnant, a nursing bra is for when you have had the baby and has a flap that unclips for breastfeeding.
 |
| Maternity Bra |
A good maternity bra should provide:
Soft, flexible/stretchy cups to allow for breasts growth and shape change. It should have enough rows of loops on the back fastening for adjustability.
Wide padded shoulder straps for a more comfortable fit.
Breathability, fabric like cotton can help with this.
Nursing bras
Comfort is also key here, however the bra has to have clips which are easy to undo.
Pockets for breast pads to stop milk leaking onto your clothes is also a feature of the nursing bra.
MINIMIZER BRA:
Minimizer bras are designed for women with average to large breasts who want them to appear smaller by reducing bust measurement by an inch or two. The cups offer full coverage and are made of elastic fabric which helps to compress the breasts, whilst still giving a good silhouette. Underwires are used for support.
Minimiser bras are great for clothes that look good with a sleek look, or to help you fit into clothes that are a bit too tight across the bust. They can also make the difference between being able to wear a button shirt without it gaping open and not.
Due to the full cups they won’t go well with anything low cut.
Noteworthy: the bra size should be same for a minimiser bra as a standard one, there is no need to get it smaller to squish everything in.
PADDED BRA:
A padded bra has padding in the base of the cup to lift the breast and give the appearance of larger breasts. Padding can also refer to a light padding through the cup to hide any nipple shape, but usually when talking about a padded bra, the type that makes your bust look larger is what is being referred to.
Padded bras come in a variety of different shapes and styles, they could be t-shirt bras, demi cup, push up or a combination of shapes.
The padding can be made of a variety of materials, some are foam or silicone rubber, others use gels and liquids that shape to the body and feel like real breasts. The padding is removable in some bras.
Noteworthy: Even though the breasts will look like a larger cup size when worn it is advised to buy same size that you are normally for a perfect fit.
PLUNGE BRA:
Plunge bras are designed so one can wear low cut clothes without the bra showing. The cups join together low between the breasts, with a thin centre piece. Usually the shoulder straps are wide.
Plunge bras can also be push-up bras, this will give a fuller cleavage than a plunge bra with wider set cups.
Noteworthy: Try leaning forward while wearing one of these, if your breasts fall out the front, then it isn’t the right fit.
PUSH UP BRA:
Push-up bras do exactly what they say, they push your breasts up and together to give maximum cleavage. They are usually plunge bras as well, this means the cups join low between the breasts so one can wear something low to show them off.
They are padded so the breasts can appear a couple of cup sizes larger than they are.
They are great for small breasts and to draw attention to them and make them look bigger.
Some have removable padding or inserts,while other have in built padding.
RACERBACK / T-BACK / SPORTS BACK BRA:
 |
| Racer Back Bra |
 |
| Sports Back Bra |
This type of back is often used on sports bras as it quite secure.
The straps won’t fall down and one has a wide range of movement through the shoulders.
The other use is to wear with tops that have a racerback so the straps aren’t visible.
The shape in the back can make normal fastening impossible and as such they often do up at the front or are elasticated and go on over the head like a camisole.
SHELF BRA:
A shelf bra is also known as a platform bra, quarter-cup bra or cupless bra.
It has underwires and supports from underneath, but has no cups or very short cups to expose the breasts.
This bra is mainly just for fun.
If you want a bit of lift or are smaller and want them pushed up to appear larger then this could be for you.
SPORTS BRA:
 |
| Encapsulation |
 |
| Compression |
For example; a sports bra for yoga should be really comfortable and offer greater movement, whereas one for jogging should be firm enough to remove bounce and also breathe well to reduce sweating.
Mesh sections are another way they can help keep one cool while active.
There are two main ways that a sports bra will keep the breasts in place.
Encapsulation, made with full moulded cups that separate and hold each breast in place separately,
or
Compression, made with stretchy fabric and are tight to hold one in. This type doesn’t traditionally have cups and usually goes on over your head like a crop top.
STICK ON / ADHESIVE BRA:
Most stick-on bras are made of silicone but there are ones made of foam.
One can also get fabric ones that look more like a strapless bra that has had the back cut off. These usually have adhesive on the side wings to hold them on.
STRAPLESS BRA:
Strapless bras often come as convertible bras with detachable straps or as bandeau bras. A classic style strapless bra like the one pictured below is recommended for a perfect fit for larger breasts.
T-SHIRT BRA:
A T-shirt bra has seamless contour cups that are designed to give a smooth look under tight or lightweight fabric.
The cups are lightly padded to stop the shape of your nipples showing through.
U PLUNGE BRA:
The U plunge bra is a speciality bra that is designed for really low cut necklines. These are the lowest you can get in the front and still be wearing a bra.
U plunge bras usually have underwires and side boning to add support.
WOW......a long read...I believe we have all learnt something from this read...till my next read, I say....
Have yourselves a fabulous week ahead. See you all in a few days.
Very good read
ReplyDeleteThank you...smile smile
Delete