How to Get Dressed by Alison Freer

Author:Alison Freer [Freer, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60774-707-9
Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Published: 2015-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

BRA STYLE GUIDE

If you are confused by all the styles of bra available, I’m not surprised—because there is really no standardized system of categorizing bras in the first place. Coverage, fit, and functionality vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, resulting in more styles than you can shake a stick at—but I’m going to take a crack at listing all the ones you’re most likely to come across.

ADHESIVE OR BACKLESS: A bra without straps that attaches to the underside of each breast and stays in place with medical-grade adhesive. Some adhesive bras incorporate silicone cups that pad and lift the breasts.

BALCONETTE: Also known as a shelf bra, this is a more revealing version of a demi-cup bra. While they offer little to no coverage, balconette bras are good for sweetheart necklines and tend to create dramatic uplift and cleavage. Balconette bras are so named because the shape of the cups is in fact a “little balcony” for each breast.

BANDEAU: A strapless band of fabric that covers the breasts. A bandeau is ultrastretchy and usually does not have built-in cups, making it a light, comfortable option for small-busted women who don’t have aggressive nipples. (Larger-busted women will find a bandeau doesn’t even begin to offer enough support.)

BRALETTE: An unlined, soft-cup, pullover style bra. Sometimes resembling a crop top, a bralette gives only very light support and is a comfortable alternative to traditional bras for smaller cup sizes.

BUSTIER/LONG-LINE: A highly structured undergarment that extends from bustline to high hip, distributing breast support over the entire lower torso instead of at the shoulders. This style of bra commonly closes at the back with a column of hooks and eyes and usually has flexible boning to help maintain its shape and stay wrinkle-free under clothes. Bustiers and long-line bras are perfect under special-occasion garments because they provide shaping, support, and lift without visible straps.

CONTOUR: A bra with shaped cups that mimics the natural shape of a woman’s body. They often have an underwire and are usually padded or foam lined. The contour bra is the perfect choice for any woman seeking a highly sculpted silhouette, because they offer a significant amount of coverage and control.

CONVERTIBLE: A bra with detachable straps that can be reattached in a myriad of ways, depending on the needs of a particular garment. It’s basically five bras in one; a convertible bra’s straps can be arranged in a one shoulder, criss-cross, strapless, halter, or low-back formation.

CORSET (OVERBUST): A form-fitted support undergarment meant to slim and shape the torso, waist, and upper body to emphasize a curvy figure. A proper corset is made by a professional corsetmaker and is often fitted specifically to an individual’s body. Corsets are tightened or loosened via laces at the back of the garment and often use a hook closure system at the front of the garment called a busk.

DEMI-CUP: A bra that covers half to three-quarters of the breast and extends about one inch above the nipple. This partial-cup style is designed with a slight tilt, which pushes the breasts together, creating a cleavage-enhancing shape.

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