Bras for fuller figures

One of the things that I talk to my wife about a lot is her having comfortable bras. Last month she took advantage of the sale at Lane Bryant and stocked up. We both are very happy that she can now buy bras out of the store instead of having to special order them.

Wearing a 42G from Lane Bryant fits her perfect and has her thinking about other types of bras specifically sports bras since she wants to start working out again. As we all know there are many styles out there so I set forth to find more information on bras for fuller figures. The next sale is already going on. Shop now to Save 20% on any plus-size intimates. Expires 4-12-07.

A full range of styles of bras exist that are worn in various situations. The degree of support varies between styles, with some being designed to be practical, and others to make enhance the look of the breast but don’t always provide the best support.

• Full support bras are a type of bra designed to offer good support for whole of the breasts, and as such are a typical, practical bra for everyday wear. Balconette or demi bras are similar, but have lower cut cups, covering approximately half the breasts. These offer less support, but enable low cut garments to be worn without the bra being seen.

• Shelf bras take the balconette concept to its logical conclusion, with cups covering only the bottom part of the breast, putting the nipples and breasts on display. Peep hole bras have cups which loosely cover the breasts, but holes around the nipples. These kinds of bra do not give the breasts much support, and are generally intended for wearing in sexual situations.

• Training bras, which are smaller than standard bra sizes, offer very little support and are generally have a simple fabric construction, without underwired cups. They are intended to be worn by girls in the early stages of breast development during puberty, and allow them to get used to the feeling of wearing a bra before their breasts develop to the point where significant support is required. Training bras were invented in the 1950s in response to the desire of adolescent and pre-adolescent girls to “fit in” amongst their more developed peers who could fill a standard bra. The acquisition of a training bra by a girl is often seen as a significant turning point in her development, and a first step toward motherhood and a sexually alluring figure, at least as it was defined in the 1950s. Some observers believe that training bras serve no functional purpose, and are exploitable in that they allow entrepreneurs to benefit from, and even encourage, precocious sexuality in young girls.

• Nursing or Maternity bras are specifically designed for breastfeeding mothers. Unlike most bras, they have cups which fold down allowing easy access to the nipple when the infant is to be fed. Many women find underwired bras uncomfortable during breastfeeding and the latter stages of pregnancy due to the increase in both size and sensitivity of the breasts, and so most, though not all, nursing bras are constructed of fabric only.

• Push-up bras, are a type of bra that has additional padding, and is structured so that the breasts are lifted and the cleavage emphasized. The most well known brand of push up bra is the Wonderbra. Minimizer bras have the opposite effect to push up bras, and are worn by large busted women who wish to make their busts appear smaller.

• Strapless bras, with no shoulder straps are designed for wearing with clothes that reveal the shoulders, such as halterneck tops. Convertible bras have straps which may be detached and rearranged in different ways depending on the outfit.

• T-shirt bras are designed without raised seams, so that a tight t-shirt may be worn without the bra being visible.

• Built-in bras (also sometimes known as shelf bras, although entirely different to those mentioned above) are a supportive brassiere like structure on the inside of another garment, such as a swimsuit or tank top, which provides support for the bust without the need for a separate bra. In most such garments, these consist of a horizontal elasticated fabric strip, although some do have cups and underwires as with other bra types.

• Jogging or sports bras are for women to wear during exercise. They are more sturdy in their construction than regular bras, and offer greater support for the chest, thus increasing comfort and reducing the chance of damage to the ligaments of the chest during high impact exercises such as jogging. They are usually made of a stretchable, absorbent fabric such as Lycra, and may be designed to draw perspiration away from the skin to reduce irritation. Many women, particularly those with large breasts, find sports bras essential for exercise, as breasts bouncing can cause pain and discomfort, as well as embarrassment. Some sports bras are meant to be worn as outerwear.

• Mastectomy bras are designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for women who have lost one or both breasts in masectomy treatment for breast cancer.