Understanding Breast Shapes

Understanding different breast shapes and sizes is essential when choosing the right bra style. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you find the perfect bra based on various breast shapes, volumes, and characteristics.

Different breast shapes may require specific bra styles to achieve the best fit and support. First, take a look at the breast shapes below. Your own personal shape will help determine which style of bra will work best for you. When you’ve figured out which breast shape you have, you can read through this post titled The Different Bra Styles & How To Choose One For Your Breast Shape.

Before you continue reading, please know that there is no “right” breast shape. In fact, researchers have found that asymmetry in breasts is super common, with the left typically being slightly larger than the right side.

Which Breast Shape Are You?

Round and Symmetrical Breasts:

This shape has an equal amount of fullness on both the top and bottom. Women with round and symmetrical breasts can typically wear a wide range of bra styles, including T-shirt bras, balconette bras, and full-coverage bras, as their breasts tend to have a balanced shape.

Asymmetrical Breasts:

Asymmetry occurs when one breast is slightly larger or smaller than the other. This is perfectly natural! For those with breasts of different sizes, consider styles with removable padding or inserts, as they can help create a more balanced appearance by adding extra volume to the smaller breast.

Pendulous Breasts:

Pendulous, “Relaxed”, or sagging breasts (Ptosis) have relaxed tissue and normally have the nipples pointing downwards. This shape may benefit from bras with full coverage, strong support, and wide, adjustable straps. Minimizer bras and full-coverage bras can help lift and shape sagging breasts, providing a more youthful and uplifted look.

Wide-Set Breasts:

Sometimes this shape is called side-set. Women with wide-set breasts usually have a larger space in between the breasts. Wide set breasts can really be any shape depending on where they sit on your chest. Women with this shape may find that plunge bras and bras with closer-set cups help create a more centered and lifted shape.

Balconette bras, which have wide-set straps and horizontal cup seams, can help bring the breasts closer together, creating a more centered and rounded shape.

Top Heavy:

Women with top-heavy breasts have more volume in the upper portion of their breasts. Balconette bras and push-up bras work well for this shape as they provide lift and enhance the lower portion, creating a more balanced look and eliminating spillage that some other styles may cause.

Bottom Heavy:

Bottom heavy breasts can also take the shape of Tear Drop shaped breasts, as they have less fullness in the top portion. For women with more volume in the lower part of their breasts, full-coverage bras are a good option. They offer support and help lift the breasts, ensuring a more even and balanced appearance.

Full Breasts:

These breasts are on the larger spectrum and typically have an equal amount of volume in the top and bottom, like their “round” counterpart. Bras that cater to the full breasted women have additional side support, coverage, and seaming. Full-coverage bras, minimizer bras, and T-shirt bras offer excellent support and coverage for full breasts, providing a rounded and lifted shape.

East West Breasts:

These type of breasts point left and right. Balconette bras with side support or push-up bras can help bring east-west breasts closer together, creating a more centered look.

Center Heavy:

This type of breast has the majority of its tissue in the center as opposed to the outer sides. Balconette or balcony bras or styles with wider-set cups can help distribute the breast tissue more evenly for center-heavy breasts.

Breast Tissue Type

Breast tissue can be classified as firm or soft, and the right bra style can accommodate different tissue types.

Firm Tissue:

Women with firm breast tissue often have breasts that feel dense and have less flexibility. Firm breast tissue tends to hold its shape well and may have less natural sagging. Here are some considerations for choosing bras for firm breast tissue.

Balconette Bras: Balconette bras provide excellent support and shaping for firm breasts. They have cups that lift and separate the breasts, creating a rounded and uplifted look.
Full-Coverage Bras: Full-coverage bras with underwire are suitable for firm breast tissue as they offer maximum support and help maintain the shape of the breasts.
Molded or Contour Bras: Molded or contour bras with padding or foam cups can provide added structure and shaping for firm breasts.

Soft Tissue

Soft breast tissue tends to be more malleable and pliable, with a tendency to conform to the shape of a bra. It may require bras that offer gentle support and shaping. Consider the following bra styles for soft breast tissue: bras with contour cups or padded styles help provide additional structure and support for soft breast tissue.

Contour Bras: Contour bras with padded cups help provide structure and shaping for soft breast tissue.
Wireless Bras: Wireless bras offer a comfortable and flexible option for soft breast tissue, providing gentle support and a natural shape.
Bralettes: Bralettes made from soft, stretchy fabric can be a great choice for women with soft breast tissue as they offer light support and a relaxed fit.

Combination of Firm and Soft Tissue

Many women have a combination of firm and soft breast tissue, with different areas of the breasts exhibiting varying levels of firmness. In such cases, finding the right bra style can involve a balance between support and comfort. Consider the following options:

Balconette Bras: Balconette bras with underwire provide support and shaping for the firm areas of the breasts while accommodating the soft areas.
Demi-Cup Bras: Demi-cup bras offer a balance between coverage and support, making them suitable for a combination of firm and soft breast tissue.
Hybrid Bras: Some bras combine features of different styles, such as a padded bottom cup and a stretchy top cup, providing support and accommodating varying breast tissue types.

It’s important to remember that breast tissue type can change over time due to factors like hormonal fluctuations, weight fluctuations, and pregnancy. Regularly reassessing your breast tissue type and getting professional bra fittings can help ensure you’re wearing the right size and style for your current needs.

Breast Root Width and Height

Breast root refers to the area where the breast attaches to the chest wall. Understanding your breast root width and height can help determine the best bra style. For more information about breast roots, check out this post by Curvy Kate.

Wide Root: Women with a wider root may find that full-coverage bras and bras with wide-set straps offer better coverage and support.

Narrow Root: For those with a narrower root, balconette bras and styles with closer-set straps can provide a more centered and supportive fit.

High Root: Women with a higher breast root may benefit from plunge bras and styles with lower-cut cups to accommodate the higher placement of breast tissue.

Low Root: Bras with full-coverage cups and side support panels can help lift and shape breasts with a lower root.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and it’s important to try on different styles and sizes to find what works best for your unique body. Professional bra fittings can provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

By considering your breast shape, volume, tissue type, root width and height, and other characteristics, you can select bras that provide the desired support, comfort, and aesthetic appeal, making you feel confident and fabulous!