You wear bras every day. They are as vital as they seem inconspicuous. So, selecting the right one becomes a herculean task. You’ve probably read a lot about various styles and what they are best suited for, but the jargon may have seemed a little intimidating. Don’t worry, it happens a lot!
To help you out, we decided to break down the basics of what constitutes a bra to help you out.
Bridge or Centre Gore :
The bridge is a central panel that connects the bra cups. It retains the perfect distance between your breasts, as well as the shape of your breast root, by ensuring that the underwires stay put. In high strength bras designed for curvier women, this center panel is longer to adequately support a larger bust size.
Cups :
As you know, cups encase the breasts and create shape and silhouette. This makes them almost solely responsible for determining the size and comfort of your bra. They come in lots of designs and necklines, but they are mainly categorized as padded and non-padded. For example, t-shirt bras are padded for a seamless finish whereas minimiser bras aren’t.
Underwires:
The underwire provides support and ensures the breasts don’t sag. Often a metal u-shaped wire is sewn into the bra underneath the breasts. It distributes the weight of the breast on the bra whilst maintaining the cup shape so that the entire bra remains stable.
Underband and Wings:
Another size decider, the underband is the part of a bra that is wrapped around your body. Along with the straps, it works to hold the bra in place on your body. The wings are at the side and when fastened, bring the underband into a position which helps carry the weight of the breasts.
Straps and Sliders:
The straps hold the bra up and in the correct position. They may be sewn-in or detachable so that you can wear it in a strapless or a multiway style. The length of the straps is adjustable, so you can tighten or loosen them as per your convenience.
Hook-and-Eye Closures:
Hook and eye closures are used to fasten the bra around your body. They may be situated at the back or in the front (as in front open bras). Make sure to start from the last column of hooks and work your way in gradually as the underband slowly loosens up. Sometimes, these are traded for zippers in sports bras.
Well, that’s all there is. Armed with this knowledge, shop our collections with renewed confidence!
Team Zivame
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