With every outfit, we put on one thing we may not realise is that there are various types of bras that are most appropriate for our outfits. Before we look at each type of bra, it is important to note that some bras have special circumstances, and some bras are not designed for women who have larger breasts.
The mastectomy bra is specially designed for women who have gone through partial, or total mastectomies, either unilateral or bilateral. With the mastectomy bra, a breast prosthesis is placed on one sleeve of the bra because of a unilateral mastectomy, or both sleeves of the bra because of a bilateral mastectomy. This bra gives women who have not completed reconstruction more confidence in themselves.
The nursing bra is exactly what it says. It is designed for mothers who are nursing their young. There is a hook by the strap that allows the cup of the bra to open in the front allowing the mother, and baby, easy access to nurse/feed. If you are not nursing, purchasing a nursing bra will do you no good.
One bra that is highly purchased, but not large breast friendly, is the adhesive bra. This type of bra is great to wear with an outfit that is backless. While some women do not mind having their bra, band show on their back when wearing something backless, it can be distracting and take away from the beauty of the garment. In the same way, the plunge bra is great for outfits that cut low, and expose the sternum. Wearing a regular bra with a frontal low-cut top is tacky and might insinuate that you are part of a profession you might not be participating in.
If you can only have one type of bra to go with most of your wardrobe, allow me to recommend the convertible bra. The convertible bra can act as a regular bra, strapless, halter, or racerback. As you can imagine, this type of bra will go great with a regular top, a tube top/strapless top, a halter top, or a racerback top, even a one shouldered top. Similarly, the strapless bra, alone, is specially designed with adhesives on the bra to stick to skin. It also provides the support and lift of a regular bra. The bandeau is also a strapless bra that can be worn with any strapless outfit, halter, racerback, or spaghetti strap top. However, the bandeau gives little to no support, it is merely a covering suitable for smaller breasts.
Depending on how low your top goes in the front you may want to check out a full cup bra (for full coverage tops), a balconette bra (for tops that accentuate the top half of the breasts), a demi cup bra (for tops that cut low and show cleavage), a t shirt bra (cut like a regular bra without, but appears seamless underneath shirts), or a push up bra (for tops that show cleavage but do not cut too low).
When you want to wear something more intimate for that special someone, consider a shelf bra (as it lifts, but does not cover half or all the areolae), or a bralette (full lace bra with no wires or support that can be worn with a loose tank top or with various types of lingerie).
Whatever your outfit style, there is a bra that can suit you well.
