Bras have evolved from simple undergarments to nearly 20 different styles to suit women’s needs, including training, full cup, semi cup, padded, underwired, strapless, convertible, T-shirt, minimizer, maximizer/push up, sports, built-in, shelf, peephole, maternity, nursing, and mastectomy bras. Choosing the right bra is important for comfort and support.
When bras were first developed in the 1920s, they were simply undergarments that provided strong support for women’s breasts, preventing problems like sagging breasts and back pain. Today, designers and manufacturers around the world have added to the value of a bra by offering women nearly 20 different styles to suit their needs:
1. Training bra. This type of bra is designed for tween or teen girls who are in the early stages of breast development. It is smaller than standard bra sizes, and its cups come without underwire support. In addition to providing some measure of support for the breasts, it helps girls get used to wearing a bra.
2. Full cup bra. This bra provides full support as it comes with underwire cups and covers most of the breasts. It is recommended for all women, and especially those with heavier breasts.
3. Semi cup bra. A semi-cup bra covers only half of the breasts, with its cups rising above the nipples. This bra is suitable to wear with garments with plunging necklines. It is supportive, but provides maximum breast exposure.
4. Padded bra. This bra comes with padding inside the cup liners, adding volume to smaller breasts. Padded bras are popular with teenage girls, who may otherwise stuff bandanas into their training bras to make their breasts look fuller.
5. Underwired bra. Bras can come with or without underwire cups. An underwire bra provides strong support for the breasts and also maintains the shape of the bra. Some women claim that underwire bras lift their breasts, while others find these bras uncomfortable or painful.
6. Strapless bra. Strapless bras come without straps or straps that can be removed. This style is very useful for off-the-shoulder garments, such as sheath dresses and sleeveless tops.
7. Convertible bra. This bra comes with detachable straps that can be arranged according to one’s needs. It is usually worn with clothing that reveals the back and shoulders, such as backless dresses with halter necklines.
8. T-shirt bra. T-shirt bras are made without a raised seam to appear invisible when worn under a form-fitting T-shirt.
9. Minimizer bra. This bra is commonly sought after by large-breasted women who want to reduce the appearance of their breasts by a cup or two.
10. Maximizer / Push up bra. These bras lift the breasts and emphasize the cleavage through their unique structure and extra padding. The padding can come in various forms, such as water sacs or silicone inserts. The goal is to give a fuller, more natural appearance to breasts of all sizes.
11. Sports bra. Sports bras are made for active women who do rigorous physical exercise. They are designed to be comfortable and supportive by holding the breasts in place during movement, reducing damage to the soft tissues of the chest. These bras are usually made of stretchy material to provide a snug fit.
12. Built-in bra. A built-in bra is one that comes with clothing, eliminating the need for a separate bra. This style can be found attached to the inside of swimsuits and tube tops. Some built-in bras are just horizontal, stretchy fabric, but others also have padding and underwire cups.
13. Shelf Bra. This bra covers only the lower part of the breasts, leaving the nipples and the upper part of the breasts exposed. It is not supportive and is used in sexual situations.
14. Peephole holder. A peephole bra features holes around the nipples. Its loose coverage of the entire breast is insufficient to provide significant support. This type of bra is also used in sexual situations.
15. Maternity bra. Women’s breasts become more sensitive, heavier, and larger during pregnancy. Maternity bras are adjustable and can expand to account for these changes.
16. Nursing bra. These bras are worn to facilitate the lactation process. They are made with flaps that can be unbuttoned or pushed to the side, keeping the breasts supported while nursing.
17. Mastectomy bra. A mastectomy bra is intended for women who have had one or both breasts removed due to cancer treatments. Here, the cups are made with pockets to hold the breast forms in place and simulate the existence of breasts.
Choosing a suitable bra is really a challenge these days. One bra does not fit all and therefore it is best to invest in a good set of bras that cover the usual range of activities. For example, a regular jogger should buy a good sports bra, while a more outgoing woman should splurge on convertible bras to fit her formal evening wear.
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