There are a number of different types of bras available for girls and women in India, which is why it tends to get quite difficult for them to make a selection that is best-suited for their breasts, and body frame.

Bras were first developed for girls some time late in the nineteenth century, and have often been seen as a sign of feminineness, and as a symbol of a girl’s coming of age.

That being said, no Indian girl or woman wear bras or panties for that reason. Bras, especially, are important for the breasts since they provide support that keeps one breasts from sagging prematurely. They also help to shape and tone one’s body frame, without causing detrimental effects on one’s back and posture.

There are many types of bras in India today; they vary on aspects of cup sizes, style, fashion, functionality, and also fabric.

Most of the bras that women wear today aren’t merely of any one given type, instead they borrow certain aspects from a number of types to provide the perfect fit, support, and comfort.

It is important for Indian women and girls to know of the different types, so that they can make a better, more informed decision about the bras they wear on a day-to-day basis. Below mentioned are the many types of bras available for girls and women in India today:

One of the more basic types available, the Bandeau bra isn’t anything more than a cloth that is fastened around the bust. They provide little to no support, and are best used for only certain kind of dresses.

It can be fastened in the front or back, or if it’s made of elastic material, it might not need a fastener at all. A wider bandeau, that also cover more than a traditional bra, is sometimes referred to as a tube top, which is especially popular among girls.

Wedding and marriage ceremonies are big in India, which is why bridal corsets are an important part of most Indian marriages.

Much like the corsets of the yesteryears, bridal corsets too are great for molding and shaping the body into a desired shape in order to fit into the often tight and heavy wedding attire.

These corsets aren’t really recommended for extended usage, primarily since they are far too uncomfortable. While this piece of lingerie does promote good posture and support, it is not very easy to do everyday functions while wearing it.

Literally put, adhesive bras simply stick or adhere to the breasts. There are no straps or bands found here, and they therefore little to no support to one’s assets.

This type is best worn with backless and/or strapless dresses. Women can choose between the disposable paper ones, or the silicone based bra, which is reusable and washable.

This style is more for effect, rather than functionality. The cup size of these bras isn’t the same as its normal sized counterparts. The primary reason for this difference is that these are worn while dancing and gyrating vigorously, which makes it necessary for them to be comfortable and tight-fitting.

These bras have straps that may be detached and rearranged in different ways. It’s great for those of you who tend to done some innovative fashion choices.

Instead of opting for the regular, boring straps, you can also go for something strapless, or even beaded or clear plastic straps for added support.

There are no cups sizes to worry about here, because this brassiere only consists of frame. They specially expose the nipples by causing them protrude, thereby making them the shape of the nipples quite visible on additional garments.

Cupless brassieres are generally worn for spice things up in the bedroom, as for some very specific kind of dresses.

A number of t-shirts and tops now come with a supportive brassiere-like frame on the inside, which provides adequate support for bust, without the need of wearing a bra.

Most of these garments consist of a horizontal elastic strip to secure the breasts in place. Some even come with cups and underwires included. What’s great about this built-in option is that you can also remove the padding if required.

Most bras need to have hooks or buttons to secure them in place. While majority of them have these located at the back, this type places it conveniently on the front.

The obvious advantage of this is that the clip wouldn’t show through your outer clothes, therefore making a great wear with tank tops.

This is a half-cup style that has wide straps, and a horizontal bust line. It’s often seamed or bones, and is especially great for making the cleavage look deep, yet natural.

It does however offer less support, but is a great choice to wear with clothes that have a low cut, since they are specially designed to provide ample lift. This demi-bra style is among the more popular types of bras in India.

These bras are specially designed to off women that extra much-needed support. This type is without a doubt the best for everyday practical usage.

If you too want to play down your bust, and appear smaller than you actually are, then this is the design you’re looking for.

Best put to use by women with a cup size greater than 34C, minimizers are great for compressing and molding the breasts into a more manageable shape. It also helps to create the illusion of your bust being a good one or two cup sized smaller.

Since pregnancy is an important part of the lives of most women, there was a need for a brassier that made breastfeedign easier and more accessible.

The nursing bras are great for a lactating mother since they allow the baby easy access to the nipple. The cups are generally covered with flaps of fabric, that can be unclasped at the top to expose the breast.

The design of this bra is quite simple, except for the fact that it loosely covers the breasts, with holes around the nipples.

These are basically bras that have padding inside the lining. They are designed to provide a fuller shape, and are a great alternative option for girls who tend to stuff.

Unlike the push-up variant, most padded bras support the breasts, but don’t really lift them up a lot.

Push-up bras are great for lifting the breasts, and enhancing cleavage. As most women would know, the most popular brand undoubtedly the Wonderbra.

The cups are typically made of foam or rubber, and some even contain pads filled with gels. The major difference between padded and push-up bras is with the pads, where in the latter the padding is centered under each breast to lift them significantly.

This type doesn’t really cover much of one’s bust; it is essentially a rigid band, or underwires, that improves the cleavage without really hiding much of the assets.

Racerbacks have shoulder straps that come over the shoulder in a V-shaped pattern. This design is at times preffered with certain kind of strapless dresses, or even with some tops, where with a normal design the straps would be blatantly exposed.

Don’t go expecting any underwires support in the cups if you pick up a softcup bra. They depend on the strength of the band to provide the necessary support.

You’ll find no should straps here; these bras are specially designed for wear with clothes that show off the shoulders. Also used extensively with halter-neck tops, which is a current fashion trend among teenage Indian girls.

Quite literally, these bras are great for Indian women who are athletic, and tend to move around considerably. It keeps the breasts firmly in place, and prevent them from weighing one down, or getting uncomfortable during vigorous physical activity.

Without any raised seams, this type is perfect for any woman who wants to wear a tight t-shirt without showing off any lines or creases.

You can also find variants that have padded cups to conceal the nipples. Step out in a tight-fitting t-shirt without a second thought!

Specially designed for young girls, this piece of lingerie isn’t really made to provide either support or lift. It’s basically meant for girls whose breasts are still developing.

Expect some extra support when you go with a underwire. With a wire, made of metal or plastic, running under each cup, your breasts will have more than adequate support.

As the name suggests, the U-plunge design is great for wearing all those dresses that have a deep plunging neckline.

Remember the yesteryears, with this vintage design bra, that comes with full support, with cups the shape of a paraboloid.

Invented in the late 1940s, you wouldn’t find these designs in a lot of Indian stores today.

Instead of tradional padding, some bra brands in India use water or silicon gel for padding in the cups. It helps to breasts to look larger. These types are definitely more durable than their cotton counterparts, and are great for Indian girls and women looking for good, yet “supportive” fit.

Selecting one among the many types of bras isn’t as easy as it may seem. Given these numerous types, it often gets difficult for Indian girls and women to make the right choice.

It is important to remember that the idea of wearing a bra is primarily about comfort and functionality, which is why, while choosing between the different types of bras in India, girls and women should first opt for trial, while keeping the purpose of the bra in mind.