[Ultimate Guide]Types of Bras Every Woman Should Have at Least Once in their Lifetime
How many types of bras do you have? Do you even know more than 5 types of bras? This ultimate guide has images of the most common types of bras that you may need for different occasions.
There are various types of bras that you will need to wear, depending on the activity you are doing or event you are attending. In this guide, we have listed various types of bras with images to help you understand the various options available.
This is braeducation at its best!
20 Types of Bras With Images and Names
1. Balconette Bra
A balconette bra is mainly characterized by the cups. The bra’s coverage is slightly more than a half cup, just covering an inch above the nipple line. Moreover, its straps are wide set to compliment your broad neckline outfits.
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2. Bandeau Bra
Bandeaus are strapless, stretchy pieces of fabric with a thick band on the top and bottom. The elastic is meant to hold everything in place, while the soft fabric ensures you are comfortable all day long.
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Best Bandeau Bras
3. Training/Beginner’s Bra
A training or beginner’s bra is lightweight and specifically designed for girls in the developing stage. The bra is made of soft fabric and lacks defined cups that give a regular bra shape and lift. A training bra is a bra version of a camisole or slip.
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4. Bralette
A bralette is an undergarment designed to cover but not really support the sisters. It is more of a breast cover than supportive undergarment. A bralette looks like a bra in shape or style but lacks the engineering or construction of a bra. Bralettes are popular alternatives to a regular bra for the less endowed.
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5. Bridal Bra
Bridal bras are designed to create a sleek silhouette underneath a wedding gown. The bras have an extra-long band that offers shaping at the waist and creates a smooth, seamless line underneath the gown. These bras also offer great support without straps, especially for large bust women.
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6. Built-in Bra
Some tops have hidden support bras built into them. The most common type of built-in bra is called a shelf bra (not to be confused with a cupless shelf bra). A second layer of fabric is sewn underneath the singlet. This fabric stops just under the bust and is pulled in with a line of elastic.
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7. Cage Bra
A cage bra has the elements of both classic and contemporary styles. Any number of bras can be called cage bras, as long as a portion of them has crisscrossed strips that form a literal cage.
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Best Cage Bras
8. Convertible Bra
A convertible bra is a bra whose straps are designed to be worn in different ways or removed entirely. Some convertible bras can be worn with straps while others are strapless. These bras bring great versatility to your wardrobe.
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9. Cupless Bra (Open-Tip or Shelf Bra)
If you’re looking for something sexy, cupless bras are the way to go. These unique and innovative bras come in all sorts of designs – some with 1/4 cups, others with a peek-a-boo style, and others with completely open cup bras.
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Best Cupless Bras
10. Demi Bra
a demi-cup bra is sometimes referred to as a half- or shelf bra. This is a partial-cup bra style that covers half to three-quarters of the breast, creating cleavage and uplift. Most demi-cup bras are designed with a slight tilt to push the breasts towards the center to display more cleavage.
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11. Front Closure Bra (Front-Open Bra)
A front closure bra has a clasp between the breasts rather than the back. The versatile design is used for everything, from supportive sports bras to sexy push up styles. Front closure bras are popular because they are easy to wear.
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12. Full Coverage Bra
A full coverage bra has a high neckline that is designed to cover almost all of the breast tissue. These bras are available in various cup styles, including molded cups, stretch fabric cups, and seamed fabric cups.
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13. Full Figure Bra
Full figure bras are specifically designed to offer maximum comfort and support for larger breasts. The bras typically feature molded or padded cups, wider comfort straps, and larger hook-and-eye closures.
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14. Halter Bra
A halter bra has a strap that goes around the neck or two straps that can be tied together at the back of the neck. This can be a padded bra or a non-padded bra.
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Best Halter Bras
15. Longline Bra
A longline bra extends down to the waist or hips. This category includes a wide range of bras, from practical basics to bridal lingerie. A longline bra has an extra wide band that provides more support than a regular bra. Many longlines also offer shaping for the waist.
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16. Mastectomy Bra
A mastectomy bra is specially designed for women who have undergone a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. The bra can be worn with breast prostheses. Also known as post-surgical bras, the undergarments have specially designed discreet pockets inside the cups.
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17. Maternity Bra
A maternity bra is designed to be safe and comfortable for pregnant women. During pregnancy, the breasts get heavier and more sensitive than usual. These bras provide excellent support.
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18. Nursing Bra
A nursing bra provides additional support to lactating women, enabling them to breastfeed comfortably without having to remove the bra. The bra has specially designed cups with flaps that can be opened with one hand to expose the nipple.
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19. Minimizer Bra
A minimizer bra designed to make the breasts appear smaller. These bras work in two ways: either by lifting and redistributing your breast tissue to look flatter or by simply squeezing the bust in an attempt to reduce protrusion.
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20. Molded Cup Bra
A molded cup bra has seamless cups with thicker lining than a traditional bra. The term ‘molded’ refers to how this type of bra is made. These bras keep their shape when you take them off. When you wear a molded cup, the breasts conforms to the shape of the bra.
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Best Molded Cup Bras
21. Padded Bra
Padded bras have padded cups. The padding inside the cups helps to add fullness to the bust line, thus enhancing the appearance of your bust. Padded bras can make your breasts look larger and firmer.
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22. Peep Hole Bra
Peephole bras feature holes around the nipples, sideways or otherwise. The functional aspect of a bra is absent in these bras as they may or may not have cups.
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23. Plunge Bra
A plunge bra has cups that are very low at the center, forming a deep V-neckline. This bra is a must-have for low cut tops that would show the top of a regular bra. The shape of the cup push the breasts together and upwards to provide maximum cleavage in the most natural way.
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24. Push Up Bra
Push-up bras create the appearance of increased cleavage. The bras have padded angled cups that push the breasts inwards and upwards, towards the centre of the chest. A push-up bra is usually a demi-cup bra. The Wonderbra was the first push-up bra made.
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25. Racerback Bra
A racerback bra features a racerback style. The style is simply a central strap that comes up from the center back of the bra, and then splits into a Y or V shape between the shoulder blades to cross over the shoulder on either side of the neck.
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26. Seamless Bra
A seamless bra is designed to be invisible under your clothes. The bra has no seams that might show through. Seamless bras feature cups that are usually covered with a single piece of seamless and stitch-free fabric. These types of bras typically feature a molded cup for shaping and support.
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27. Silicone Bra
Silicone bras are in vogue and really multi-purpose. The bras are strapless, backless, self adhesive and self supportive. These bras are made up of a special gel called silicone that looks seamless and gives your breasts a smooth finish.
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28. Strapless Bra
A strapless bra is designed to be worn with no shoulder straps. The bras typically include design features like silicone or rubber linings that prevent slippage and provide support.
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29. Stick On Bra
Stick-on bra, sticky bra, adhesive bra. Three words, one meaning: a bra without a band or straps that stick to your breasts. A stick-on bra supports the bra but is invisible. The bra is perfect under backless and low-cut tops and dresses!
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30. Sports Bra
A sports bra supports the breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, the bras minimize breast movement and alleviate discomfort.
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31. Transparent Bra
Transparent bras come with transparent straps. Unlike the name suggests, these bras are not invisible. Instead, they feature straps that are less visible than those of regular bras.
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32. Triangle Bra
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33. T-Shirt Bra
A t-shirt bra is a kind of seamless, molded cup bra. The cups are designed not to show any lumps, bumps, or textures through your clothing — even when worn under the most form-fitting t-shirt or tee. Some t-shirt bras are not molded or padded.
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34. Underwire Bra
An underwire bra (also known as an underwire bra, underwire bra, or an underwire bra) has a thin, semi-circular strip of rigid material fitted inside the fabric. The wire may be made of metal, plastic, or resin and helps to lift, separate, shape, and support the woman.
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35. Unlined Bra
An unlined bra lacks any lining or padding. This bra is free of the extra layers of fabric and padding that lined bras have in the cups.
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36. Wireless Bra
A wireless bra has no underwire. Bralettes and sports bras without wire can also be considered as wireless bras.
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37. Full Support Bra
Full support bras are engineered to provide maximum comfort without spillage or ill-fit issue. At the bottom of every bra, there is a broadband for reinforced support. The shaper panels of these super support bras offer a lift to the sagging breasts.
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38. Low Back Bra
As the name suggests, a low back bra is designed to be worn with dress with low backs. The bra’s straps are typically sewn lower than those of the regular bra to ensure they can be seen when you are wearing a low back dress.
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39. Belly Dance Bra
A belly dance bra is a beautiful bra with embellishments that is meant to be worn with club wear or a bellydance costume. The bras are typically come in sequin, beaded, lace, velvet, studded, rhinestone, fringe and other designs.
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40. Tank Bra
A tank bra is a comfortable bra that is soft, double-layered and supportive. The bra has an elastic band for a perfect fit and does not push nor have any padding.
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41. Sheer Bra
A sheer bra is fashion bra made of translucent material that reveals the nipples. The bra can be padded or unpadded, or wired or non-wired.
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42. Shelf Bra
A shelf bra is a type of bra that usually does not (or can barely) cover the nipples or the upper portion of the breasts. Its function is to lift the breasts up and provide some form of support.
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Best Shelf Bras
