What is a Quarter Cup Bra?

What is a quarter cup bra

What is a Quarter Cup Bra?

Looking for the best quarter cup bras for plus size? This article is for you.

If you looking for a plus size bra, the most important factor to consider is the support offered by the garment you want to buy.  To find the best bra for plus size, consider its practicality. Here, you will realize that brand, material, and other factors don’t really matter if the bra is not supportive.

There are various types of lingerie on the market that are not practical. Instead, these garments are designed to be sexy.

A good lingerie should present your body in a tantalizing manner. After the presentation, you can consider other factors that you may want.

Today, there are many lingerie lines that offer bras for all body shapes and sizes, including plus size and full-figured. If you have a big bust, one of the pieces you may want to have in your wardrobe is the quarter cup bra.

quarter cup bra

The quarter cup bra is delicate and has very little supporting material. When you search online, you may come across various brands that offer quarter cup bras up to the D or DD range. However, you will be pressed to find the bra in any higher cups.

Most of the big lingerie brands do not produce full figure bras.

If you are interested in a quarter cup bra, this article if for you. Read on to find out what you should know about this bra.

What is a Quarter Cup Bra and When Should You Wear It?

A quarter cup bra, also known as a chopper, is a type of shelf bra.

Most bras have very little differences. However, a shelf bra generally props up the breasts from below to some degree. The bra’s cup covers less than half the breast.

Bra styles that are similar to the shelf bra include the open-cup and cupless bra, which leave part of the breast exposed.

Most quarter cup bras have an underwire that supports that underbust. Apart from this, their cups do not cover the nipple.

A quarter cup bra is primarily designed for aesthetics, with support coming as a secondary factor.

The quarter cup bra comes out as a more risqué version of some balconettes and the demi bra. If you’ve always felt that a demi bra covers too much of the breast, you will want to get the quarter bra.

rosme womens balconette

Both the demi cup and quarter bra reveal a lot of the breast since they are cut along the entire cup. However, the demi cup still has enough material to make it a practical option to be worn when you want to show off a revealing neckline. On the other hand, the quarter cup is generally for recreational wear under clothes.

Both the quarter and demi cup bra are worn in situations where you would want to show them off and the breasts. (Fill in the blanks for yourself!)

The quarter cup is not really designed to offer support. However, if you have a small bust, the bra could come in handy if you want to go braless under your clothes but want some kinds of support.

Aren’t Shelf Bras Built-in on Camis to Keep Boobs in Place?

Yes, shelf bras are the built-in bras on camis that keep the melons in place.

In the lingerie world, “shelf bras” refers to both the built-in bras on camis as well as the quarter cup type we’ve just discussed above. Both of these shelf bras support the bobs from the bottom.

You will easily find built-in shelf bras in workout wear, swimsuits, and tank tops. However, like is the case with the quarter cup shelf bras, it’s difficult to find the built-in shelf bras in DD+ too!

shelf bra in a shirt

How Does a Quarter Cup or Shelf Bra Look Like?

Shelf bras can largely be categorized into two designed based on their main components. These components can be mixed and matched to create different styles.

Soft Cup

Like the name suggests, soft cup quarter bras are typically made from some type of light materials, for example, lace. Some bras will have some level of boning on the cups to support the breasts from below.

Rigid Cup

The cups of rigid quarter bras are made from the same material used to make a t-shirt bra. The rigid cups may also be strengthened with some extra boning to provide support.

rigid-and-soft-shelf-bra

Some soft and rigid cup quarter bras may be paired with an overlay of lace for aesthetic reasons. The overlays may be sewed underneath or over the cup structure but do not provide any kind of additional support to the breasts.

What are Quarter Bras Made Of?

Quarter cup bras are made from all the things used to make a full cup bra. These materials include lace, natural materials such as silk and cotton, synthetic fabrics such as satin and nylon, as well as foam for supporting layers.

Some shelf bras may also be made of less common materials, such as leather and PVC.

Vinyl-Quarter-cup-bra

What is My Right Size?

Generally, shelf bras are sized by band and cup, just like is the case with bras with more coverage. However, with some bras, you will only see the band size. Other bras come in generic S – XL sizing.

Shelf bras are available in different sizes. However, finding a full figure shelf bra can be quite difficult.

What are the Available Shelf Bra Sizes?

If you are size A – C, you will be pleased to know that quarter cup bras are easily available. You will also not struggle a lot to find quarter cup bras for D cups. Manufacturers are also starting to make quarter cup bras for plus size women.

Quarter-cup size

Still, you will struggle to find shelf bras for DD cups or higher. Moreover, your preferences will also play a role when it comes to aesthetics and support.

If you have big breasts, you can wear a shelf bra and get away with it if your boots are raised or self-supporting, and full on top. Otherwise, wearing the bra will be tough.

If you’d like to wear a shelf bra and have big melons, consider the kind of support offered as you usually do with regular bras. Generally, you want a shelf bra with a wide band and sturdy straps.

Can I Get a Shelf Bra for Plus Size?

Since there are not many shelf bras for plus size, you should get your voice heard to change the way things are. You can write to manufacturers so that they know there is interest in plus size shelf bras.

Lane Bryant makes plus size shelf bras, all the way up to 44DD. Check our top pick of the best shelf bras for plus size.

 

 

quarter-cup bra

 Available on Lane Bryant

One thing that is evident is that most shelf bras for large breasts do not have strong supporting/boning material. Majority of the bras have the standard thin metal or plastic.

With a stronger support material, your larger bust will be well supported to create more projection. You will be sure of excellent support if the stronger support materials are incorporated in a cage-type bra.

If you cannot find a suitable bra, there are various alternatives to a shelf bra for full figured women that will expose your breasts and make you feel sexy.

Get a Strappy Bra

One of the strappy bras I recommend is the Olivia Strappy Lace Bra by Hips and Curves. See it below.

strappy-bra

This bra stands out for its excellent strappy detailing together with the demi cup that offers support up to a band size 46/G cup.

Get a Cut Out Bra

A cut-out bra is any type of bra that exposes a portion of your breast, usually including the nipple. Cut out bras do not leave the breasts uncovered as much as quarter bras but wearing them will still give the melons the attention you want.

Cut out bras are available in various cup styles and, therefore, are great options for women in DD-G cup size. I recommend the Peel & Beau Faye Lilac Peek Cup Bra, which you can find at Playful Promises.

Peek Cup Bra

You can also go for the Miranda Black and Ivory Peep-Hole Bra from Playful Promises. This bra shows less skin but is just as sexy as a quarter cup bra.

Miranda-Black-and-Ivory-Peep-Hole-Bra

Wear a Two-Part Cup with Sheer, Unlined Fabric

The Oh La La La Cheri Eyelash Lace Strappy Bra from Hips and Curves is another great pick. This strappy cut-out bra is an excellent quarter cup bra alternative given that its molded part provides just as much coverage as a quarter bra does.

The Oh La La bra provides shape and extra support thanks to an added lace that goes above the nipple line. However, it does not expose the nipple completely and only goes up to a DD.

Oh-lala-bra

Another gorgeous pick that offers more coverage is the Emerald Strappy Curve bra from Playful Promises. This bra goes up to a HH.

Emerald-strappy-curve-bra

Wear a Demi Cup Bra

While a demi cup bra still covers the breasts more than a quarter cup bra, it provides the shelf look and leaves the upper par entirely exposed. Check the Isabella half cup bra below from Hips and Curves.

half-cup-bra-hips-and-curves

Get a Cupless Bra

Cupless bras do not have any kind of support. However, their bondage-y look is sure to make heads turn.

Check the Jelinda Alluring Cupless Bra below.

Jelinda-Alluring-Women-Harness-Bra-Elastic-Strappy-Hollow-Out-Bra-Cupless-Bra

If you prefer a more “traditional” style cupless bra, check the VX Intimates Open Cup Bra by Playful Promises.

Burnout Open-Cup Bra

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