Bra styles: a guide to types

Push-up, balconette, bardot, soft-cup, semi-padded, bralette… There are so many bra styles that it’s easy to get lost. Yet, it is the style that determines how a bra will shape your bust, how it will look under clothing, and whether it will be comfortable all day long. In this guide, we describe the most popular types of bras, their features, and who they are suitable for and for what purpose.

Basic Concepts

Before we move on to styles, here are two concepts that often appear in product descriptions:

• Padding is a layer of foam in the cup. A padded cup retains its shape even without a bust, while a soft-cup conforms to the body.
• Underwires are semi-circular wires sewn under the cup. They support and separate the breasts. Wireless bras rely on the band and cut for support.

Padded Bras

Foam cups have a ready, smooth shape. They prevent nipples or seams from showing through a fitted blouse, making them one of the most versatile everyday styles. They are best suited for symmetrical and moderately full busts. For very full or asymmetrical busts, a rigid cup might gap or dig in. See padded bras.

Semi-Padded Bras

The cup is constructed from several parts and is padded only in the lower or side section. The upper part, usually made of lace or tulle, conforms to the bust. This cut works well for larger cup sizes, as it combines support with flexibility. Semi-padded bras often have vertical seams, which may be visible under a thin blouse. Collection: semi-padded bras.

Push-up

A push-up bra has an extra insert or thicker foam in the lower and side parts of the cup. It lifts the bust and brings the breasts closer together, creating a more pronounced cleavage. This is a good choice for dresses with a décolletage and for smaller busts if you want to visually enlarge them. For everyday wear, it can be less comfortable than lighter styles over many hours. See push-up bras.

Balconette (Half-Corselet)

A balconette bra has shallower, horizontally cut cups and straps set wider apart, at the edges of the shoulders. It lifts the bust and exposes the upper part of the breasts, making it look good under wide necklines and Carmen-style blouses. It is particularly suitable for busts that are full at the bottom. For busts that are full at the top, the edge of the cup might dig in. Collection: balconette bras.

Bardot

A Bardot bra is a style similar to a balconette, but even more deeply cut. The cups mainly cover the lower part of the bust, and the straps are set wide apart. Bardot bras work well under deep and wide necklines. See Bardot bras.

Soft-Cup Bra (Wireless)

Soft-cup bras have no padding or underwires, and their cups are made of soft knit fabric or lace. They do not change the shape of the bust, but merely support it and allow it to sit naturally. This is a comfortable choice for long days, at home, and for those who find underwires bothersome. Many people also choose them for asymmetrical busts, as a soft cup adapts to both breasts. We write more in the guide wireless bra, and you can find models in the wireless bras collection.

Bralette

A bralette is a lightweight, usually unpadded and wireless bra, often made of lace, with decorative straps or inserts on the back. It offers gentle support, making it best suited for smaller and medium busts. It is also sometimes worn as a visible element of an outfit, e.g., under an unbuttoned shirt or jacket. Collection: bralettes.

Sports Bra

Sports bras limit bust movement during activity. They have wide straps, a wide band under the bust, and elastic, breathable fabric. They are chosen based on the intensity of the activity: for yoga, lighter support is sufficient, while for running and jumping, stronger support is needed. See sports bras.

Nursing Bra

It features cups that unclip at the strap or slide aside, allowing for feeding without removing the bra. It is usually soft, wireless, or with flexible underwires, and has several rows of hooks and eyes, as the chest circumference changes after childbirth. Collection: nursing bras.

Minimizer

A minimizer redistributes breast tissue over a larger area and brings it closer to the chest, making the bust appear optically smaller and preventing shirts from gapping between buttons. It usually has full, unpadded cups and wide straps. See minimizer bras.

Which Style for Which Outfit

Style and Bust Shape

There is no single style for everyone. General guidelines:

• Bust full at the bottom, empty at the top: balconettes, push-ups, padded cups.
• Bust full at the top: semi-padded cups with elastic top, full cups, soft-cup.
• Wide-set breasts: underwired models with a gore that brings the breasts together, e.g., push-up.
• Close-set breasts: models with a low, narrow gore.
• Large bust: semi-padded, minimizer, models with a wide band and straps. More in the guide bras for large busts.

How Many Bras in Your Drawer?

There's no strict rule, but a practical base includes several styles for different occasions: a smooth padded bra in a nude color for light and thin clothing, a black one for dark outfits, a comfortable soft-cup or bralette for days at home, and if you exercise, a sports bra. Add a model for special occasions, such as a balconette for a dress with a deep neckline. Wearing bras in rotation allows the elastic band to return to its shape and maintain support longer.

It's worth remembering that under a white blouse, a bra in a skin-like color is least visible, not a white one. To complete your bra set, choose briefs from the same series, e.g., from the lingerie sets collection.

Size and Style

The same size may fit differently in various styles. Balconettes and push-ups are often cut tighter in the cup, while soft-cup models are more forgiving. If you change styles, try on an adjacent size as well. Before ordering, check your size according to the guide how to choose your bra size or use the calculator on the size chart page.

All models can be found in the bras collection, and matching briefs in the briefs collection.