Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts

Monday, November 8, 2010

31 Common Types Of Bra Designs And Their Functions

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Developed late in the nineteenth century, the feminine icon has since been views as a symbol of a girl’s coming of age. The bra does not only covers, supports and elevates the breasts, but also shapes the wearer’s figure. The degree of which the bra frames the breasts varies between style, functionality, fashion and fabric. Most of the bras today fall into more than 1 category mentioned below. It is important to know the types of bras available so that you can pick the right one for the right time so as to protect the general health of your breasts.
Adhesive Bra

A bra which adheres to the breasts. It has no straps or bands of any sort and provide little support to the breasts. This type of bra is intended for backless and strapless fashions. There are two types. There is the disposable paper ones that use a strong adhesive and the reusable ones that use silicone that can be washed and reused.

Bandeau Bra



A simple band of cloth worn across the breasts, providing little support or shaping.

Belly Dance Bra



It is commonly assumed that a belly dancing bra size is the same as normal bra size. This is not necessarily so. For instance if you normally use a size 32C you may well find that a 34B will fit quite comfortably with a few minor adjustments to latch settings since most belly dancing bras are designed to cover very well.

are designed to cover very well.

  • Bridal Bra/Corset
  • bridal bra corset

    A bridal bra/corset mold and shape the upper body into a desired shape to fit the wedding dress. In addition to that, it promotes good posture and can be more comfortable as the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere’s shoulder straps.

  • Built-in Bra
  • built in bra

    Supportive brassiere-like structures on the inside of another garment, such as a swimsuit or tank top, which provide support for the bust without the need for a separate bra. In most such garments, these built-ins consist of a horizontal elastic strip, although some do have cups and underwires as with other bra types. In some cases these may easily be removed, if desired.

  • Convertible Bra
  • convertible

    It has straps which may be detached and rearranged in different ways depending on the outfit. Alternatives to regular straps for strapless bras are beaded bra straps or clear plastic bra straps that provide support and style.

  • Cupless Bra
  • cupless bra

    Consists of a brassiere frame with no support cups. They expose the nipples with notched or contoured support cups. Usually worn as erotic lingerie, a cupless bra can cause the shape of the nipples to be prominently visible on an outer garment.

  • Demi Bra
  • demi bra

    A half-cup bra style with wide-set straps and a horizontal bust line. Often seamed or boned, they give great cleavage and a frame-like effect. These offer less support, but enable low cut garments to be worn without the bra being seen. Demi bras may be designed to provide lift as do push-up bras.

  • Front Closure Bra
  • front closure bra

    Bras that have closures, usually hooks and eyes, on the front rather than at the back. These bras lie completely flat at the back under clothing. Some feature a racerback style back which is great for wear with tank tops and for lending a no-slip effect to the straps.

  • Full Support Bra
  • full support bra

    A type of bra designed to offer good support for the whole of the breasts and, as such, are a typical, practical bra for everyday wear.

  • Hand Bra
  • hand bra

    A modeling technique where a topless woman conceals her nipples by covering both breasts with her hands or fingers.

  • Mastectomy Bra
  • prosthesis bra

    Designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for individuals who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer.

  • Male Bra
  • man bra

    Bras worn by men with Gynecomastia, usually to flatten and conceal rather than lift and support.

  • Maternity Bra
  • maternity bra

    Designed such that they can be expanded to adjust as the breasts increase in size over the course of a pregnancy.

  • Minimizer Bra
  • minimizer bra

    Designed to play down the bust, in particular for women with cups of 34C and above. Minimizers, by compressing and shaping the breasts, help to create the illusion of being a cup size or two smaller, and are often more comfortable.

  • Novelty Bra
  • coconut bra

    Designed more for show and sensuality than for function. They may include unusual materials, such as leather, coconuts or be unusual in design.

  • Nursing Bra
  • nursing bra

    Designed to help make breastfeeding simpler by allowing the baby easy access to the nipple. Traditionally, the cups of nursing bras are covered with flaps of fabric that can be unclasped at the top and pulled down to expose the breast.

  • Padded Bra
  • padded bra

    Bras with padding inside the lining. They are designed to provide a fuller shape for small breasts and are an alternative to bra stuffing, a practice among teenage girls in which ‘falsies’ like tissues, sugar packets, cotton balls, or socks are placed inside a bra to simulate larger breasts. Unlike push-up bras, however, most padded bras support the breasts but do not significantly lift them.

  • Peephole Bras
  • peephole bra

    The type of bra that has cups loosely covering the breasts, which also includes holes around the nipples.

  • Push-up Bra
  • push up bra

    Structured so that the breasts are lifted and placed closer together to enhance the cleavage. The best known brand of push-up bra is the Wonderbra. Many push-up bras contain padding, typically made of foam or rubber, but some contain gel-filled pads. The main distinction between padded bras and push-up bras that incorporate padding is whether the padding is centred under each breast to simply lift them, or is centred outside the centre of each breast such that the padding pushes the breasts inwards.

  • Racerback Bra
  • racerback bra

    Has shoulder straps that come over the shouder in a V pattern very close to the neck. This design is sometimes worn under strapless dresses or tops where traditional straps would be very obviously exposed. Many Sport bras use the racerback.

  • Shelf Bra
  • shelf bra

    Essentially a rigid band, usually underwires, along the inframammary line that pushes up while covering none, or only a narrow strip, of the breast.

  • Softcup Bra
  • softcup bra

    Has no underwire support in the cups. Rather they rely on the strength of the underband to provide support to the bust.

  • Sport Bra
  • sport bra

    Provides firm support for the breasts, and are meant to prevent discomfort or embarrassment during vigorous exercise.

  • Strapless Bra
  • strapless bra

    With no shoulder straps, they are designed for wearing with clothes that reveal the shoulders, such as halterneck tops.

  • T-shirt Bra
  • tshirt bra

    Designed without raised seams, so that a tight t-shirt may be worn without the bra being visible. These often have padded cups to conceal nipples and to provide a smooth line under t-shirts.

  • Trainer Bra
  • trainer bra

    Designed for young girls who have begun to develop breasts but have yet to be considered ‘developed’ enough to allow for a standard-sized bra to fit properly. They are of simple construction and offer very little support.

  • U-plunge Bra
  • u plunge bra

    Allows you to wear clothes that have a deep plunging neckline.

  • Underwire Bra
  • underwire bra

    Designed to give extra support and endurance. They have a wire, metal or plastic, running under each cup to provide rigid support to the bust.

  • Vintage Bra
  • vintage bra

    A type of full support bra with cups in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with its axis perpendicular to the breast. Invented in the late 1940s, they were still being sold well into the 1960s.

  • Water Bra
  • water bra

    Bras which have water or silicon gel-filled cups to make your breasts look larger.


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    Post Title → 31 Common Types Of Bra Designs And Their Functions

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    What the Experts Know About the Proper Bra Fit

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    Expert Advice on the Proper Cup Size


    Bras for the most part are highly engineered and thoughtfully designed. It's not unusual for a bra design to be composed of as many as 40 pieces and findings. Though many bras are beautiful, bras are more about playing a supporting role than they are about fashion. We women need to understand what we are looking at when we try on a bra. Knowing what design features work best for our figure type will help us more easily identify the style of bra that suits our needs best.

    Choose the Proper Cup Size

    While the underwire defines your breast's diameter, a cup size defines your breast's projection or cup depth. Cup sizing is alphabetical - A, B, C, D etc. After the D size, however, manufacturers do not all agree on what to name subsequent sizes. Generally, American manufacturers prefer D, DD, DDD, DDDD. European manufacturers tend to prefer D, E, F, G. If your cup size is larger than a D, it can be confusing to determine what size bra to purchase, especially if the manufacturer has a unique sizing convention.

    HerRoom has made this easier for you. We've compiled a chart comparing all plus size manufacturers' cup sizing conventions. Simply refer to our chart to determine your correct cup size in that brand.

    It is also a good idea to know how many sizes larger than a D cup you are. That way if you come across a bra with unusual sizing, you can tell your salesperson you are 2, 5 or whatever cup sizes larger than a D cup. She will then be able to ascertain your correct cup size in that style.

    There are 2 important things to know about cup size.

    The first is that a cup size on one band size is not equal to the same cup size on another band size. In other words, a 32D bra has smaller cup volume and diameter than a 34D bra yet both are a D cup. So I bet you're wondering why the industry assigns the same cup size to both.

    Well, cup size is a measurement of how far your breasts project from your chest wall. Each cup size denotes a 1" increase in your body's circumference around your bust line. Knowing this fact can help you zero in on your correct bra size. For example, you try on a bra and the band feels comfortable, but your breasts are spilling out. Keep going up in cup sizes on the same band size until you find the bra that fits. Alternately, the cups fit great, but the band is too big. When you go down a band size, you now know that you need to go up a cup size to maintain the same underwire diameter and similar cup volume (Example: Go from a 40C to a 38D).

    The second important point about cup size pertains to women with cup sizes larger than a D cup. Trying to find cup equivalents among brands can be very difficult. In one brand you are a DDDD, but this same cup size can be a G, F, or FF in other brands. The first thing you should know is that all manufacturers size their cups up by 1" circumference increases. They may call their sizing by different letters, but the increases between sizes are uniform. So, as mentioned above, find out how many cup sizes above a D you are. On our site, when you look at the sizes available in a particular bra, we display the cup sizes in order from smallest to largest. If you are 4 cup sizes larger than a D cup, you can count 4 sizes from D to find your correct size in that particular brand.

    The Cup Size Game.

    Finding a bra you love and discovering its size range stops just before your size can be frustrating. However, you may not be totally out of luck. Say you are a 40C and the bra you have found stops at 38DD. You MIGHT be able to wear the 38D or 38DD in that bra if the band doesn't feel too tight. Deviating from your traditional bra size is called the cup size game. Substituting bra sizes will work more successfully on women with band sizes 40 and above and D cups or larger because there is more breast tissue and body circumference to work with - a 2" band increase or a 1" bust line circumference increase is not as significant as it would be on a smaller framed person. However, having shared this game with you, it is always best to purchase your true size if you want to maximize proper fit.

    A final thought about cup sizes.

    When a manufacturer grades his patterns to create different sizes for a bra style, he moves the bust points slightly wider with each cup size increase. B cup bust points are 1/2" farther apart than A cups. Bust points get 1/4" farther apart between B, C and D cups, and 1/8" farther apart with larger cup sizes.

    Post Title → What the Experts Know About the Proper Bra Fit

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    Underwires and the Proper Bra Fit

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    Every woman who wears underwire bras needs to understand underwire sizing. Breasts have a diameter and a projection. When you select a cup size (e.g. B, DD etc.) you are making a breast projection selection.

    Each band size has a pre-determined breast diameter built into it in the form of an underwire. Changing your band size can change the underwire diameter. It is also a fact that the same size underwire is used in different cup sizes - the underwire in a 36C is the same underwire used in a 34D and a 38B cup sizes.

    Finding Your Underwire Size:

    Find your bra size on the chart below. Every bra size in the same diagonal color stripe uses the exact same underwire size.

    Now that you understand underwire sizing, here's how you can use this information. Say you've found a bra that fits you great in the cups, but is tight around your ribcage. You now know that when you go up a band size and down a cup size, you will have the same fitting cup diameter (the same wire will be used) but a larger band. This also explains why underwire swimsuits with just a cup size like a "C" don't fit all C cup women. And, for you analytical types who are probably wondering, the diameter increase between standard underwire sizes is approximately 3/8". A standard underwire's length increase between sizes is approximately 5/8".

    Underwire Bras Underwires are designed to have some spring. Made out of heavy gauge wire, sheet metal or plastic, they splay or spread wider once a bra is put on and fastened. Then they return to their original shape when the bra is taken off. This springing or splay gives additional support to your breasts. If your breasts are wider than the splayed diameter of the underwire, over time the pressure and weight of your breasts can cause an underwire to break in half. Wire breakage can also occur if your band size is too small and thus over-splaying the underwires.


    30A
    30B
    30C
    30D
    30E
    30F
    30G
    30H
    30I
    32A
    32B
    32C
    32D
    32E
    32F
    32G
    32H
    32I
    34A
    34B
    34C
    34D
    34E
    34F
    34G
    34H
    34I
    36A
    36B
    36C
    36D
    36E
    36F
    36G
    36H
    36I
    38A
    38B
    38C
    38D
    38E
    38F
    38G
    38H
    38I
    40A
    40B
    40C
    40D
    40E
    40F
    40G
    40H
    40I
    42A
    42B
    42C
    42D
    42E
    42F
    42G
    42H
    42I
    44A
    44B
    44C
    44D
    44E
    44F
    44G
    44H
    44I


    Underwire shapes can vary among brands. In fact, lingerie manufacturers claim their underwire grading and shaping to be the secret behind their unique fit. This is why you may find wire variations among manufacturers. This is also why one manufacturer may fit you better than another. Underwires also have different lengths - though their curve will maintain the same shape. For example, demi cup and low-plunge bra styles will have shorter wires. Underwires in petite bras will also be shorter in length to accommodate a shorter torso. Strapless bras tend to have the longest underwires. Since they do not have the benefit of strap support, strapless bras compensate by having more wire surrounding the breast to give more support.

    Post Title → Underwires and the Proper Bra Fit

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    How Panels, Bands & Backs Affect Fit

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    Support Panels


    Bottom Support Panels Women with cup sizes larger than a C may need more support than a regular well-fitting bra can give. For example, they may have pendulous breasts, or have a massive amount of breast tissue in proportion to their body's frame. When more support is needed, support panels are the answer.

    Encircling Support Panel A support panel is an additional panel of stiff fabric placed along the arm edge, along the bottom or around all the sides of a bra cup. Support panels can be internal or external. If external, they are incorporated into the cup design itself.

    When selecting a bra with support panels, look to see where the support panel is located. If it is along the outer edge of the cup, its purpose is to move breast tissue out from under the arm and move it towards your center. If located along the bottom of the cup, its purpose is to give better breast lift. If it encircles the edge of the cup, its purpose is to create clear breast definition and move the tissue towards a forward position. See support bras here.

    Center Panels:


    Bra Center Panel The center panel can be a triangular shape, or be an extension of a bra's band. It is important to look at where the center panel falls in relation to the apex or horizontal nipple line of your bust line. A well-supporting bra will have a center panel both above and below this line. At HerRoom, every bra is photographed on a mannequin with a graphic overlay that includes the apex line (note: if the bra has lower cup padding, the bra will sit lower on the mannequin). Apart from providing additional measurements, it will also help you understand the center panel placement and size. Simply click on the "measured" link at the bottom of each bra photo on our site.

    The center panel actually decreases in width as the cup sizes increase. This makes sense when you remember that as breasts get larger, they also get closer together. The center panel width at the Apex line generally measures as follows: AA=1-1/2", A= 1-1/4", B=1", C= 3/4", D and larger =1/2". Also, the center panel increases in height as the cup size increases.

    Bands:


    A bra band or bra frame is that part of the bra that goes around the ribcage. The band is engineered to carry the weight and thrust of breasts. Cups are sewn either into or onto the band. It can have several configurations; continuous single piece, stop at the cups' sides, contain several pieces, include boning etc.

    The band is engineered to act as the foundation of a bra. It carries the weight of the breasts and provides the basic framework to establish breast support. This is why it's so important to find your correct band size - too tight, and underwires dig into your ribcage, too loose, and breasts won't have proper support.

    A band that goes all the way around your ribcage (including under your cups) will always provide the best support because it's the most stabilizing design. And, if that band is made with powernet, you have the strongest support possible. Powernet (known as girdle fabric) is a two-way stretch nylon fabric that provides compressive support. It is the same fabric found in most shapewear.??Women with weight can have a problem with the bottom edge of the band under their arms folding up over itself. This problem can be overcome with side boning placed vertically in the band's side seams. If you are short-waisted or petite and this boning pokes into you, look for a bra with a band made of heavier gauge fabric to act more firmly to prevent the rolling.

    Bra Backs:


    The bra back is truly the backbone of any bra, yet it's given little, if any, attention by most women during the bra shopping exercise. This is unfortunate since there are two key bra back features to consider before purchasing a bra. They are the fabric and closure. The fabric used to make the bra back is what really separates a cheap bra from a quality bra. An inferior fabric that is somewhat flimsy and overly stretchy fatigues quickly. The bra's cups may be fine, but the back fabric quickly stretches to its maximum. The bra must be thrown away after only a few months of wearing. A bra back made with sturdy quality shapewear-like fabric such as powernet, will provide great support without stretching to its maximum with each wearing. Bras with quality bra back fabric last years longer. When choosing a bra, give a tug on the back fabric. If it stretches easily, its lifespan is limited.

    Bra Back Types About Bra Backs Most women desire bras with single hook bra backs because they think it's more youthful-looking. Guess what? These backs look terrible on most women. Skimpy bra backs must be worn tighter to provide support. The resulting bulges above and below make the wearer look lumpy from behind. And, thin bra backs almost never sit straight across your back. Most women should be wearing a bra with at least a 2-hook closure, but really 3 or more to achieve adequate support and smoothness. A wider bra back will always give greater support. And, because it is wider, will smooth out or eliminate back bulges making you look better under clothes. You may think it looks like a harness from behind, but with your clothes on, no one will know. You'll look smooth, supported and slimmer.

    Post Title → How Panels, Bands & Backs Affect Fit

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    Bra Strap Design and Fit

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    Bra straps come in a number of variations. They can be all or part elastic, all or part rigid, wide, narrow, padded, and usually length adjustable. Whatever the style, bra straps are meant to act as stabilizers for the bra. At most, they should carry no more than 10% of the breast's weight. Take the bra strap test in the sidebar.

    Whatever the style, bra straps should lie flat against your chest (unless you have implants) and not fall off your shoulders. Generally speaking, straps fall off shoulders because the straps are too wide-set both in the front and back of the bra; the straps have been sewn on at an angle; or the straps are attached to rings that allow too much swiveling. If strap slippage is a common problem for you, the trick is to find a bra where the straps are either sewn closer to the center in the front or the back. HerRoom is the only website that shows back views on all bras. (See the sidebar below).

    You've probably never really noticed how your straps attach to the back of your bra. Well, after reading this, I hope it becomes one of the first things you look at. How the shoulder straps are attached in back can tell you a lot about how the bra will fit. There are basically two types of strap attachments: camisole and leotard.

    Camisole Strap :



    Camisole Strap The camisole strap attachment style has the straps sewn onto the back at a right angle - creating a box-like shape with the bra back. This strap attachment style has been around the longest and is also used on traditional camisoles and slips. The camisole attachment style works for all bra sizes, and is particularly good for larger bra sizes because it allows the bra back to have as many hook closings as necessary; allows the straps to be made out of elastic or a rigid material; and can be easily altered. When a bra has a very narrow back with only one or two hooks for closing, the camisole attachment can pull up on the bra back making it look uneven and out-of-place (ride high on the back).

    Leotard Strap The leotard strap attachment is a fairly new design in bras. Rather than a rectangle shape like the camisole attachment, the leotard attachment gives a round look on the back - similar to the look of a leotard. It has fast become the most commonly found strap attachment technique in today's ready-to-wear offerings. Besides looking different, the leotard back style almost always includes some elastic to achieve the rounded shape. Consequently, this elastic gives the wearer flexibility to raise her arms or bend over without having to adjust her bra afterwards.

    There are a few challenges to a leotard strap attachment. The straps attach to the back at a bit of an angle to keep the arch styling. If the "U" shape is too wide , the straps can fall off the wearer's shoulders. The number of back fasteners is also limited with this strap design.

    Finally, any adjusting bra strap has metal or plastic rings on each strap to aid in the length of your bra straps. When this ring is sewn directly on to either the top of the cup or the bra back, it will allow the strap to swivel to the right or left, and fall in a more comfortable location for the wearer. If you have sloping shoulders or are prone to having your straps fall off, avoid bras with rings placed in either of these locations.

    As for how the straps attach to the front of the bra, there are two things to look for. For the best support, the straps should attach directly above the apex or point of each breast. Balconnette and demi-cup bras have the straps attached closer to the arm. There are two reasons: first, wider straps will accommodate a wider neckline, and second, straps attached on the outside of the bra cup create more cleavage by spilling the breast tissue towards the center. If you are prone to having straps fall off your shoulders, you should not select bras with wide-set front straps.

    Front, back, overlay and measured bra views

    Only At HerRoom

    We are the only lingerie website that shows straight on back and front views of all the bras we offer. This, along with our exclusive blouse overlay shots, allows you to see how the bra straps will work with your clothes. Additionally, you can search on "leotard back" or "camisole back" when looking at bras if you have a specific back preference.


    Post Title → Bra Strap Design and Fit

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    Latest model BRA designs

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    Post Title → Latest model BRA designs

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    Unusual Fashion Bra Sets

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    Brassiere is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting a woman’s breasts.

    Women wear bras for a variety of purposes, for support, to improve the shape of breasts, to reduce or to enlarge the perceived breast size, to restrain breast movement during an activity such as during exercise, to enhance their cleavage or to facilitate nursing.

    Most bras are designed to be form-fitting and to lift the breasts off the chest wall if they sag and to restrain their movement. Bra designers strive to produce a garment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

    So today we are presenting 36 unique and creative bra set designs. I hope you will enjoy the artistic work done by some great minds.


    Post Title → Unusual Fashion Bra Sets

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