Bra Styles
Bras come in a range of styles and you will probably find that you need bras in at least two or three styles to suit different outfits and occasions. Everyday comfort and support is one thing, but there will always be ocasions when you need something with a little more 'get up and go' and this is when you might want to try out a daring plunge bra, sexy balconette or gel bra. We've put together the low down on styles to unravel some of the mystery, together with some quick links to take the strain out of searching.
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Balconette - A classic, sexy style of bra, designed to give a 'push up' effect to create a very flattering cleavage. Balconette bras have a straight bust line and wide set straps and are usually underwired for support.
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Full Cup - Classically cut, full cup bras cover most of the breast area, showing less decolletage and giving support rather than uplift. A great bra for everyday comfort and support, it works well with all clothes except for low cut tops. |
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Maternity & Nursing - Maternity bras are specially designed to offer breast support during the changes of pregnancy. Nursing bras come with clever drop down panels to allow discreet and comfortable breastfeeding - thankfully, there are now much prettier ones available, for instance the Elle Macpherson 'La Mere'. Our maternity essentials guide gives more information on choosing a maternity bra.
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Minimiser - A cleverly constructed bra, designed to redistribute the breast tissue to create a neater silhouette and give the appearance of a smaller bust.
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Multiway - An absolute essential when you want to wear strappy, backless or halter tops, but don't want to go au natrel underneath it. Multiways usually have detachable straps, so that bras can be worn strapless or with a halter and some even have fiendishly clever straps that fasten around the waist - essential for sexy backless numbers!
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Plunge - An ultra sexy bra, ideally suited for low cut tops and dresses, bras are of the plunge family if the lower band that joins the cups is below nipple level. Plunge bras give a great cleavage and have bags of va va voom.
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Sports - If you take part in any sports, you most definitely need a sports bra, whilst the rest of you is moving, your breasts shouldn't be. Sports bra come in different 'impact levels' suitable for different sports. A low impact level such as one, would be OK for non aerobic activities such as yoga, but for keep fit, you should go for a high impact, level 4 or 5.
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T-shirt - Tight fitting t-shirts call for ultra smooth silhouettes and this is where the t-shirt bra comes into its own. Often of a smooth moulded construction, t-shirt bras are seam free and lacking in the lacey detail of most bras, to keep things neat and tidy up front.
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