Balconette bras

What to look out for

The bust is lifted upwards and slightly towards the centre, which gives a lifted effect without a push-up pad.

Fabrics and comfort

The style is comfortable for anyone who finds that in full cups the fabric comes up high under the arm. A shorter cup gives more freedom of movement in the shoulders. Bear in mind, though, that a balconette supports from below, so the band has to be exactly right - a loose band ruins the whole effect immediately.

More about this category

On larger cups choose balconettes with a cup made from several panels and a wider band under the bust, because they spread the weight better. Widely set straps can show under the narrow straps of a dress - in many styles they can be adjusted or repositioned.

Delivery and returns

The collection has smooth and lace versions, moulded and soft-cup. Wash in a mesh bag at 30°C and dry flat. Dispatch within 1-2 working days, orders over PLN 199 ship free, and you have 14 days to return your order.

A balconette is a bra with a low, widely set cup and straps sewn in far from the centre. The top edge of the cup runs almost horizontally, which leaves the top of the bust open, and the breast is supported mainly from below. That is where the characteristic shape, flat at the top, comes from - one you cannot get in a full cup style.

The collection is small but spread across a wide range of sizes: from 70B to 95D, including a few styles in cups E and F. Most are underwired constructions with lace on the outside, and eight of the nine items have matching knickers in the same series.

A balconette works best under wide and square necklines and under dresses with bare shoulders, because the straps are set wide and do not show beyond the fabric. It works less well under a narrow V-neck, where it simply cannot be seen. On a fuller bust, watch the height of the side panel: a low side with a lot of volume lets tissue escape under the arm.

Check the fit standing up and moving around. If the breast escapes over the top when you raise your arms, you need a deeper cup, not a tighter band. A similar, even more horizontal cut is found in Bardot bras, and stronger cleavage lift comes from push-up styles. We describe how to measure on the bra sizes page.