Bra Styles: How to Pick the Perfect Sexy Bra

In this guide: How to choose the right style | What styles are there? | More styles to know about

Whether you’re big-busted, a member of the itty-bitty titty committee, or just a straight-up C-cup, there’s no need to settle on a plain, practical bra. Instead, you can curate your very own collection of bras from styles that offer everyday comfort to smouldering lingerie styles that will set sparks flying.

We’re here to break down the different bra styles to help you find a bra that leaves you feeling confident, comfortable, and seductive, should the mood strike.

If you’ve been rocking a rack for several years, you’re probably all too aware that choosing the right bra is no easy feat. But when it comes to selecting a bra fit for your cleave, it often helps to consider two key questions:

How do you plan on wearing it?

You might be looking for something simple for everyday wear or something that suits a particular item of clothing. Of course, our favourite styles are a little more risqué. As you’ll see below, sexy bra styles include plunge, push up, and open-cup to name a few; there are plenty of options to accentuate your shape and get your partner’s pulse racing.

What’s your breast size and shape?

Based on your physique, you might find that certain bras or lingerie styles suit your boobs better. Breasts come in many shapes and often change with time. Some common shapes include:

• East-west breasts are wide-set, with the nipples pointing outwards.

• Athletic shapes tend to be more muscle than soft flesh with a broader base and smaller cup.

• Close-set breasts sit very close together on the chest, often with less than two fingers’ width between them.

• Bell-shaped boobs are slimmer up top and fuller down the bottom (much like the shape of a beautiful bell), with low-set nipples.

• Teardrop cans have more volume or fullness below the nipple, giving them a teardrop appearance.

• Round melons have just as much volume up top as they do down below, providing a full, proportionate shape.

There’s more to finding a good bra than simply matching it to the shape and size of your tatas. Instead, the magic of sensational lingerie lies in finding a piece that looks good and makes you feel even better. Because sexy is a mindset, and it all starts with feeling comfortable and confident.

Let’s take a look at some of the sexy bra styles you can find on Lovehoney to help you choose lingerie for your body shape (or for your mood).

Underwired bra

Underwired bras feature a metal wire that sits beneath each cup to provide lift and support for your boobs. Underwired bras can come with or without padding depending on just how much extra lift and shape you’re chasing.

Best for: The extra lift and support offered by the underwire means they’re a popular choice for bigger boobies, particularly bell, teardrop, or round shapes. If your breasts are a little on the smaller side, you might be able to do without the support of an underwired bra.

Padded bra

Padded bras are designed with light padding or moulded cups to provide shape, lift, and support. You can tell a bra is padded if it holds its shape without a boob in it. These bras smooth over the nipples without adding too much to the size of your breast, so they’re pretty versatile under clothing.

Best for: Low maintenance, everyday support. Got a pair of east-west nips that point in opposite directions? Or bell-shaped breasts that sit low on your chest? A padded bra can help gather your tatas and angle them, so they sit at the front and centre of your body.

Push-up bra

Using underwire and extra padding, push-up bras do exactly as they say – lift up the twins to create show-stopping cleavage. Where padded bras offer modest shaping, push-up bras are their dramatic cousin, providing even more luscious fullness.

Best for: Providing lift while creating “volume”, aka killer cleavage, particularly if you’ve got smaller, east-west, or athletic tiddies. Use a push-up bra with removable padding to enhance your cleavage depending on your mood.

Longline bra

Longline bras feature a generous underbust band that defines your breasts and smooths your shape from your norks to the top of your waist. The longer band has an elongating effect, particularly when paired with matching panties.

Some longline styles are front-fastening, so you can wear it half-undone to tease your tatas or quickly whip it off in the heat of the moment.

Best for: Creating a sultry, sculpted silhouette with a little extra support and coverage through the torso. Thanks to its longer silhouette, a longline bra can easily be styled as a top on its own – perfect for festivals, parties, and warm-weather events.

Soft cup bra

Soft cup bras are free from padding and underwire to provide an extra-comfortable ride for your boobs. And while this style is oh-so comfortable, just keep in mind that soft cup bras offer very little in the way of support or lift. Your nips may also peak through your t-shirt... if you’re wearing one...

Best for: Embracing your natural shape with minimal structure. Wear a lacy, soft cup bra in the bedroom to show off the sensuous silhouette of your cupcakes, no matter what breast shape you have.

Triangle bra

With two triangular pieces of fabric to cover your twins, triangle bras are usually constructed from barely-there fabric, with next to no padding and zero underwire. That said, some triangle bras have moulded cups to provide a little extra shape and support.

Best for: When you want something a little sexy to wear under your sheer or mesh shirt. Athletic, round, and teardrop breasts tend to look phenomenal in triangle bras.

Bralette

Bralettes can come in a whole range of shapes, including triangles, scoop-neck, longline, or racerback styles. Designed for comfort, bralettes are usually wireless with light support. And while they make for great loungewear, there are plenty of sexy, lacy options available, too.

Best for: Wearing all day, especially if you want to wear something more revealing later without the impression marks left by underwire. Bralettes work particularly well for athletic and close-set breasts, though anyone who's comfortable without much support can wear them.

Peek-a-boo bra

Sometimes a glimpse of skin is even sexier than baring all! Peek-a-boo bras have sheer panels or strategically placed cutouts, keeping things classy while teasing your lover with a hint of what’s underneath. Peek-a-boo bras are usually soft cupped and can come with or without the support of underwire.

Best for: Putting on a show without a full reveal. Peek-a-boo styles are a great way to dip your toe into the world of erotic lingerie while still leaving a little to the imagination.

Plunge bra

Featuring angled cups and a low-cut centre, plunge bras help create a barely-there look under clothing with deep necklines. Rather than relying on padding to create cleavage, the angled cups naturally create a fuller shape. The low centre gore also sits flush against your sternum, below the breast tissue, which can be much more comfortable than other bra styles.

Best for: Keeping your bra band hidden under clothing with deep, V-shaped necklines. Plunge bras can help if you find other bra styles tend to gape up top, especially for close-set and bell-shaped chesticles.

Balconette

Also known as half cup or demi cup, balconette or balcony bras feature lower-cut cups that support your bust from the base to create a lifted, rounded shape. With wide-set straps and less coverage than a regular bra, balconette styles stay hidden under open neck clothing. Think: Sweetheart, square, or scoop neck tops.

Best for: Adding a little lift and enhancing your natural shape, particularly for east west, bell, or teardrop shaped breasts. Demi or half cup styles have even less coverage if you don’t mind flashing a bit of nippage.

Open cup bra

If you like feeling the wind tickle your nips, then an open cup bra is for you. In no surprise to anyone at all, an open cup bra has no fabric whatsoever between the bustline and the straps, leaving your knockers on full display. But with the lack of fabric also comes next to no support, so an open cup bra certainly isn’t for everyone.

Best for: When you want to be the centre of attention in the bedroom. Open cup bras leave absolutely nothing to the imagination, so you can flaunt your torpedoes in all their glory. Pair your open cup bra with some nipple tassels or pasties for an extra playful look.

Front-fastening bra

Front-fastening bras are designed with hook-and-eye fastenings, zips, or clips at the front. Some people find this an easier option than struggling with rear fastenings. Not to mention, by bringing your breasts together to fasten your bra in front, this style tends to offer great support and shape, making for a comfortable rack restraint.

Best for: Treating your boo to a seductive striptease as you slowly undo the front of your bra to reveal the goods. Front-fastening bras also work well for wide-set breasts, as the motion of putting one on literally helps guide the twins together.

Some breasts – or scenarios – need specialist gear. Although you won’t find these bra styles on Lovehoney or in any of our lingerie advice guides, it helps to know what’s out there when figuring out how to choose the right bra size and style for your lifestyle.

Minimiser bra

Ideal for big busts, minimiser bras are designed with full, structured cups to help your breasts appear smaller. By spreading your breast tissue across your chest, these bras help to flatten your melons, so they may appear up to a whole cup-size smaller.

Strapless bra

Designed to be worn under low-cut or strapless clothing, strapless bras often feature removable straps or no straps at all. Your rack is supported by an extra-firm backband and silicone strips to help prevent the bra from slipping down.

Nursing bra

Also known as a maternity bra, these bras typically feature one-handed clasps where each strap meets the cup to allow for easy breastfeeding. That said, some styles use a crossover or pull-aside design to expose the nip. Most nursing bras are wire-free with wide underbust bands for extra comfort and support.

T-shirt bra

A popular choice for everyday wear, t-shirt bras often feature moulded or lightly padded cups that create a rounded, natural shape. With no visible seams, these bras are almost invisible under clothing, making them a great choice for thin fabrics or fitted pieces.

Sports bra

Sports bras often combine a range of different features to keep your melons supported while you exercise. Think: thick shoulder straps, a wide underbust band, full-coverage cups, and moisture-wicking material to keep you comfortable while you work up a sweat. A quick heads-up: some sports bras are better at keeping the girls under control than others, so choose one that matches your activity of choice.

Post-surgery bras

Designed to be worn while recovering from breast procedures like augmentations, reductions, lifts, or mastectomies, post-surgery bras provide gentle compression and maximum comfort to support tender breasts. Some designs may even aid in the healing process by promoting blood circulation and minimising swelling.