Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Latest Issue
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Style

    What bra style is best for… [insert relevant boob shape here]

    Turns out there is such a thing

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 17 August 2017 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    bra shape style
    (Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Turns out there is such a thing

    We're learning a lot about boobs this month, aren't we? If you're not aware yet, this is how to find the right bra size every time, and this is how often you need to go for bra fittings. Now onto the fun stuff: lingerie shopping. Is there such a thing as a specific bra style to suit a specific bust size?

    Kind of, according to Figleaves Garment Technologist Victoria Shelton, who explains that although there is no hard and fast rule (it really depends on your boob shape rather than size), there are certainly some guidelines.

    Balconette bras: Best for wide set breasts

    Often available in either padded or non-padded versions, a balconette bra's key features include wide set straps, rounded more open wires and a horizontal neckline ideal for slightly wider set breasts or a low cut neckline.

    Plunge bras: Best for small breasts and narrow shoulders

    This style has a low centre front which helps push breasts together to reveal cleavage. It often features narrow straps ideal for people with narrow shoulders, and with the low wires at the centre front this should help to eliminate wires rubbing.

    T-shirt bras: Best for all breasts

    It's often moulded to create a smooth clean finish, a great option for the majority of breast shapes., though those with very full cups may find that the moulds dig in on the neck edge.

    Non-wire bras: Best for small breasts

    Sometimes known as a soft bra, this is ideal for small sizes that do not need wired support and also large styles where wires might be found to be uncomfortable.

    Strapless and multiway bras: Best for all breasts

    These styles are great solution product and suit a variety of breast shapes.

    Non padded bras: Best for big breasts

    Larger busts often prefer this style, without any foam lining in the cups. It often comes in sheerer fabrics and is lightweight so easier to wear.

    Full cup bras: Best for big breasts (cup size F and above)

    A fuller coverage style, with a deeper cup to give great support especially for the larger sizes (F cup and above). Some styles are available with a stretch lace top cup ideal for breasts with shallow top cups.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

    Read more
    Best sports bras: woman wearing red matching set bra and leggings
    Fitness We’re Fitness Editors Who’ve Spent Nine Years Testing for the Perfect Sports Bra—These 15 Get Our Vote
    Personality Dressing
    Fashion Bored of Beige? Personality Dressing Is the One Thing All the Most Stylish Women Have in Common
     
     
    Flowers, a woman's torso and a hand against a wall
    Female health I'm an Oncologist: 5 Breast Cancer Symptoms That Are Consistently Overlooked
    Shield Sunglasses
    Shopping Shield Sunglasses Are the Go-To Shape for Giving Even the Most Feminine Outfits an Edge
     
     
    Latest in Style
    collage of October fashion collaborations
    Fashion From Rixo to Burberry and M&S Lingerie, These are the Fashion Collaborations We’re Excited About Right Now
    Olivia Munn trench coat black trousers
    Fashion Olivia Munn’s Swing Trench Is the Rainy-Weather Layer That Adds Ladylike Polish to Every Outfit
     
     
    A scattering of gift guide products on a beige background
    Shopping A Gift Guide for the Eras
    image of Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface with gift guide products around it
    Shopping Gifts for the Woman... in Her ‘Less Is More’ Era
     
     
    Latest in Buying Guides
    3 Hair devices steaming
    Hair Thermal Brush, Hair Waver, or Flat Iron? Which Wavytalk Styler Is Right for You?
    A scattering of gift guide products on a beige background
    Shopping A Gift Guide for the Eras
     
     
    A photo of the e.l.f. 2026 Advent calendar and makeup and skincare products
    Beauty The Body Shop and e.l.f.'s Advent Calendars Let Beauty Lovers Treat Themselves All Through December
    image of Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface with gift guide products around it
    Shopping Gifts for the Woman... in Her ‘Less Is More’ Era
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.