Women's Balconette & Demi (Bras)

Balconette cups end in a horizontal line rather than a curve, cutting across the breast at roughly nipple level and leaving the upper part bare. Demi is the broader family name and covers cups giving about half to three quarters of coverage. Balconette is the wide, straight-cut version within that family.

Support arrives from underneath. Wires curve wide and shallow, the cup is built from a lower panel that props the breast up, and straps attach far out at the shoulder corners instead of near the neck. That strap position is the practical payoff, since it clears a square or boat neckline. Many pairs convert to sit off the shoulder entirely.

Plunge bras answer a different neckline: they drop the center to open a V. Meanwhile, a balconette keeps the center higher and opens the sides. Full coverage cups continue up over the top of the breast, holding more but appearing above almost any wide neckline. Push-up styles share the shallow top edge and add a wedge of foam beneath it. So the top of the cup sits under pressure rather than resting.

Square necks, boat necks, sweetheart tops and dresses with wide-set straps are built for this cup. Shapes that are full at the top tend to spill over the straight edge, while shapes that are shallow at the top leave a visible gap there. This is a cut that rewards trying two sizes rather than one. High crew necks make a poor partner, because nothing about a wide strap position stays hidden.

Slide a finger under the outer end of the wire. This is the point that pokes first on this cut. Confirm the strap sits at the edge of your shoulder rather than creeping toward the arm. Lace along the straight edge crushes flat in a wash bag stuffed with other clothing, so wash it alone or by hand and lay it flat with the cups facing up.