How it's put together
- 1Strap
Runs over the shoulder to stabilize the cup and carry a small share of the load — typically around 20% of total support, less than most people assume.
- 2Ring & slider
The small hardware that lets a strap lengthen or shorten, adjusting fit without altering the garment itself. A 1920s-era innovation that's barely changed since.
- 3Cup
Holds and shapes the bust. Modern cups are usually built from two or three molded or sewn panels rather than a single piece of fabric, for a smoother, rounder profile.
- 4Apex
The fullest point of the cup. A well-fitted bra positions the apex to point forward — the classic marker of "inward and upward" fit that fitters check for.
- 5Underwire
A curved band — plastic or metal — sewn along the base of the cup to lift and separate. Introduced commercially in the 1930s, though early patents date to the 1890s. Optional: plenty of styles skip it entirely.
- 6Gore
The panel of fabric bridging the two cups at the center front. A short gore sits flat against the sternum; taller gores appear on fuller-support or plunge styles.
- 7Band
The horizontal base encircling the ribcage. It does the majority of the structural work — often cited at around 70–80% of total support — which is why a snug, level band matters more to fit than cup size alone.
- 8Closure
The hook-and-eye (or occasionally front-clasp) fastening at the back or front. Multiple columns of hooks allow the band to be taken in as elastic relaxes with wear.
