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Over the past few years, we have borne witness to a “bra-volution” of sorts. Gone are the days when wire-clad brassieres reigned supreme, as the time spent in quarantine put a spotlight on a different kind of bosom support: one that was structured, yet comfortable. It was during this time that wireless bras rose to popularity, but wire-clad and wire-free aren’t the only options. In fact, there are numerous types of bras on the market that cater to a wide variety of wearers' needs, and every one of them deserves an equal share of the spotlight.
If you’ve been grouping your bras into three main categories—everyday bras, sports bras, and lingerie—this article is about to expand your horizons tenfold. The types of bras you wear from day to day should vary depending on what you’re wearing. In other words: Not every style of the brassiere is created equal, but rather, each is designed with a specific purpose, for a specific breast size range and shape. It’s similar to the notion that you are what you eat. Your outfit is a direct reflection of its base layers, which include the bra you’re sporting.
This is, arguably, one of the fashion industry's greatest paradoxes. The more styles of bras there are, the more confusing it can be to choose the best option for a given outfit. At the same time, the more types of bras there are, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to identify the best undergarments for your breasts and wardrobe.
T-shirt bras are widely considered the “everyday” bra. According to the chief design officer at Adore Me, Helen Mears, they’re designed with seamless, molded cups to give off a smooth look under thin clothes, and can be wireless or have an underwire. “This type of bra is highly versatile and great to wear when you want a seamless look,” Mears tells Oprah Daily. “T-shirt bras are for everyone and perfect as an everyday casual and comfortable bra.”
When we think of a bralette, we’re met with visions of lace and the underwear-as-outerwear trend. Bralettes are decorative undergarments, often made with fun materials: lace, patterned, or brightly colored. Undergarment expert and educator at HurrayKimmay.com Kimmay Caldwell says they’re an especially great piece to add to your wardrobe if you’re seeking something less supportive or that adapts to your more natural shape. But be warned, these types of bras are more fashionable than they are functional.
“They're wonderful to show off as part of your outfit,” Caldwell explains, “but one of the cons is that if a bralette is not adjustable in the straps and band (an over-the-head style), it might not have the best fit.”
Regardless of whether you prefer low-, medium-, or high-intensity exercise, there’s a sports bra to keep your chest supported throughout any form of physical activity. Mears explains there are two main types of sports bras: compressive, which essentially packs the breasts against the chest, and encapsulating, designed to support each breast individually. Some sports bras are hybrids, offering benefits of both. They’re designed with performance fabrics, enhanced with moisture-wicking and fast-drying properties, and are available in styles suited for all breast sizes.
The name might not sound familiar, but you’ve likely seen this popular bra before. Caldwell says most breast shapes can work with the cut-and-sew bra but stresses it is especially supportive for those with fuller chests. “The seams that hold the bra together act like support beams on a bridge and provide shape forward instead of outward,” explains the undergarment educator.
We would consider strapless bras to be an underwear drawer staple. As their name would suggest, strapless bras are designed for strapless and shoulder-revealing clothing (think dresses, tank tops, tube tops, etc.), and, rather than offer support from straps, the support of these brassieres comes from their bands.
Some strapless bras come with removable/convertible straps (offering buyers more bang for their buck) and are typically constructed with silicone along the edge and boning at their sides. Colleen Leung, director of technical design and fit at Adore Me, tells Oprah Daily the style is best suited for small to medium busts (specifically cup sizes A through D), as the band may not provide enough support for those with fuller busts (cup sizes DD and larger).
Front-closure bras slip on like vests. Their fastening clasps are located at the front and center of the chest, and offer wearers a smooth look at the back. “These bras are great for those with mobility issues,” Mears notes, but, she adds, “they lack adjustability around the body.”
Shelf bras are aptly named as a nod to their construction. They are a type of bra designed to support the lower part of the breasts to lift and keep them up. According to Dana Donofree, founder and CEO of AnaOno, shelf bras have grown (and continue to see growth) in popularity because they’re comfortable to wear and easy to put on.
“Most wearers love shelf bras for their easy and simple fit and design,” Donofree tells Oprah Daily. But while shelf bras support many cup sizes, Donofree notes they’re limiting to larger cup sizes and can be restrictive due to their lack of customizing fit without strap adjustments or back closures.
A surefire way to enhance your cleavage is by wearing a push-up bra. This type of bra is designed with extra padding built into the bottom of the cup to literally “push” the breast tissue up, giving the illusion of a fuller chest. Bare Necessities bra fit expert Tracy Freno says push-up bras are especially great for small chests looking for some lift, as well as anyone who has “lost some of that fullness in their breast tissue due to breastfeeding, age, or weight loss.”
Halter bras are similar to halter tops, in that the word “halter” refers to the staps sitting around the neck rather than along the shoulders. “This style is fabulous when you don’t want your straps to show, but you still want the support of having straps,” Freno tells Oprah Daily. It’s best worn with halter dresses and tops, and because the placement of the straps pushes the breast tissue up and toward the center of the chest, you can experience and enjoy some extra cleavage.
In terms of colors, a nude bra is a must. “Nude” refers to a shade that matches your skin tone, and these bras come in handy when you’re wearing a top or dress that is white, light-colored, see-through or has special detailing. “[When] color would interfere with the look or be distracting,” Sapna Palep, CEO of Journelle, says a nude bra is best.
If you’re looking for a discreet (aka invisible) brasserie for special occasions (think weddings or a nice dinner out) that call for strapless or backless ensembles, the stick-on bra is always an option. Also called “adhesive bras,” this type of bra is essentially purely fashion-focused. The sticky material offers little to no support or push; its purpose is, ultimately, to provide coverage around the nipple area and make strapless and backless ensembles more wearable.
Bandeau bras have a similar design to tube tops. They do not have straps or fasteners, go on overhead, and, rather than two distinct cups, offer support via stretchy material. In short, bandeau bras “exist for coverage as well as fashion,” according to Freno. “They impart a natural look, if not lift or a whole lot of support.”
To feel supported, not restricted, there’s the wireless bra, an innovation vice president of Le Mystere, Jessica Pfister says has improved over the past few years, thanks to innovative technological advancements that allow bras to be built from the inside out, providing better shaping, lift, and support from these lighter materials.
“Instead of adding components to gain lift, [designers] strategically print flocking that offers support, they imbed invisible panels that are thin and light for smoothing, and new bonding techniques that mimic the stretch and recovery traditional elastic,” explains Pfister. “For someone looking for that extra comfort, a good wireless bra is seamless, will lie flat, and can be worn under just about anything.”
A lacy number can be purely fashionable or also functional, depending on the style. They can be either seamed or seamless, supportive, or just aesthetically pleasing. Freno goes on to note that while seamed lace bras do offer great support, depending on what you’re wearing, the fabric and pattern can be seen under clothing. “You can still obtain that sexy lace look in a seamless lace style,” Freno says, “however, we recommend these styles for someone who has a more petite to average bust.”
This bra is specific to nursing mothers who need easy access when their little one is hungry. They’re often designed with snap-down clips that allow wearers to pull the cup of the bra down, and can be either wire-clad or wire-free. Freno tells Oprah Daily new moms should avoid underwire nursing bras for the first several weeks postpartum, as they can block the production of breast milk, “leading to mastitis and infection.”
The longline bra extends below the cups and band, touching the abdomen or just above the waistline. Freno mentions the style was once considered a smoothing tool for the breast and upper torso, most commonly recommended for fuller-figured body types, but is now considered a fashion piece and, in some cases, worn as outerwear.
The lightly lined bra falls between wire-clad and wireless. This type of bra contains a smooth or seamless cup and is lined with a layer of fabric that, according to Freno, provides wearers with just enough modesty to avoid nipple show-through, without adding extra volume to the cup (like a push-up style would). “This will help to maintain the natural shape and size of the bust, yet provide confidence to wear under clothing—even on cold days!”
Now here’s a bra that offers more bang for your buck. Convertible bras have adjustable straps, so they can be converted into a racerback, halter, straight, or strapless style. They’re top tier for anyone looking for versatility, though bra expert and founder of Bravolution Laura Tempesta notes wearers will find the bra typically fits best in one configuration over the others. That said, “it’s impossible to know which configuration fits best until you try it on and try the various configurations,” so trial and error will have to do.
You might think of the minimizer bra as the opposite of a push-up or plunge. The style doesn’t enhance the breasts but, rather, gives the impression of a decreased bust size by “redistributing breast tissue and taking away some of the projection,” Leung explains. It’s a solution bra for larger-busted people who want to decrease the appearance of their fullness, especially under formfitting tops and button-down blouses.
Plunge bras or deep-V bras are designed with angled cups that dip low in the center. Traditional plunge bras give a nice shape to the breasts, while push-up plunge bras offer “enhanced cleavage,” Leung notes. They’re best worn under low-cut tops and dresses, and most flattering for side-set and east-west breasts.
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