Quarter Cup Bras

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What are quarter cup bras, and what are they for? These are usually look-at-me, sensual styles meant to reveal the top three-quarters of the breasts. They can either be entirely empty over the tops, or have sheer lace or mesh overlay. I recently sold a black front-close underwire bra (shown here at left) that had a single layer of lace over the tops.

These cups were lightly lined and molded at the bottoms, coming up below nipple height on a size 34C or 32D (the size was marked as Medium, so this was my estimate). The bra had metal hooks at the front. Now, this bra was unusual in more ways than one, being both front-close and low coverage; but, it's one example of this type of bra that I happen to have a photo of.

You can find bras of this type pretty much anywhere, in any price range. Expect to get what you pay for in terms of quality, just like you would with any other type of bra. They go from very inexpensive to bespoke custom-made.

But with this type, the emphasis tends to be on shaping, since it's sort of like a cake plate for your boobs. So you'll tend to see these bras mostly in underwire, or else having a clearly defined shape via halter or racerback straps. Brands to look for include Frederick's of Hollywood and Avidlove.

What you need to know about fit, with these, is that you do need to get the right size. They might not look like much of anything, but if you get one that is too big or too small, it's not going to work on you -- just like any other bra. If it's too small, the wires will cut in and/or you'll spill out over the tops of the cups to the point where you might as well not even bother. If it's too big, you'll have gaps around the edges, and the "shelf" won't actually act as one because you'll slip backwards from it. So, if you're ordering one online, make sure you can return it for a refund.