
This is a woman wearing a half-cup bra.[1]
A balconette bra, also known as a shelf bra, is a type of either demi-cup or three-quarter-cup bra that lifts breasts in order to enhance their appearance, shape, and cleavage.[2]
Balconette means different things in different countries. In France and Germany, balconette is synonymous with demi-cup. On some US sites, it means quarter-cup bra, also known as chopper bra. In the UK, a balconette is usually a three-quarter-cup bra, or sometimes a demi-cup bra.
History[]
The bra's name came from the concept that when looking down from a balcony, a balconette bra cannot be seen.[3] It was first designed in the United States around 1938, but it didn't become fashionable in the mainstream until the 1950s.[2]
In Southern Germany and Austria halfcup bras are primarily worn under the tradtional Dirndl dress.
Manufacturers and products[]
Half-cup[]
- Bravissimo
- Demi Diva
- Mademoiselle
- Moulin Rose
- Parisien Plume
- Rococo Charm
- Panache
- Cleo Juna
- Cleo Martha
- Cleo Poppy
- Cleo Rihanna
- Cleo Rita
- Cleo Sadie
- Cleo Darcy
- Cleo Ellie
- Masquerade Rhea
- Masquerade Coco
- Masquerade Delphi
- Masquerade Anise
- Lepel
- Fiore Padded Balconette
- Freya
- Brooke Padded Halfcup
- Daphne Padded Halfcup
- Elize Padded Halfcup
- Erin Padded Halfcup
- Ginny Padded Halfcup
- Ingrid Padded Halfcup
- Keisha Padded Halfcup
- Lauren Padded Halfcup
- Libby Padded Halfcup
- Marina Padded Halfcup
- Martha Padded Halfcup
- Mimi Padded Half Cup
- Monet Padded Halfcup
- Patsy Padded Halfcup
- Summer Padded Halfcup
- Teagan Padded Halfcup
- Miss Mandalay
- Vava Bra
Three-quarter-cup[]
- Panache
- Tango II — 28-44; D-K