A front panel for a brassiere (10, 70, 100) comprising: a pair of bra cups, each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) in the pair of bra cups configured to hold one of a wearer's breasts; an inner layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) configured to contact the wearer's skin; an outer layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) opposing the inner layer: the front panel is characterized by comprising: a support shelf assembly spanning across at least a lower portion of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b), the support shelf assembly comprising: a plastic support component located proximate a lower edge (17a, 17b) of each respective bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b); a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both bra cups and along a full length of the support component; and a first supportive foam layer spanning between both bra cups and along the support component; and a shaping foam layer sandwiched between the outer layer and the inner layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b), wherein the shaping foam layer extends from the lower edge (17a, 17b) of each bra cup to an upper edge (15a, 15b) of each bra cup; wherein the support shelf assembly is molded between the inner and outer layers (50, 52) of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) such that the support shelf assembly is an embedded, integral part of the front panel; and wherein the inner and outer layers (50, 52) and the shaping foam layer of each bra cup and the first supportive foam layer and the stabilizer fabric layer of the support shelf assembly all extend below a lower edge of the support component. a pair of bra cups, each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) in the pair of bra cups configured to hold one of a wearer's breasts; an inner layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) configured to contact the wearer's skin; an outer layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) opposing the inner layer: the front panel is characterized by comprising: a support shelf assembly spanning across at least a lower portion of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b), the support shelf assembly comprising: a plastic support component located proximate a lower edge (17a, 17b) of each respective bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b); a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both bra cups and along a full length of the support component; and a first supportive foam layer spanning between both bra cups and along the support component; and a plastic support component located proximate a lower edge (17a, 17b) of each respective bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b); a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both bra cups and along a full length of the support component; and a first supportive foam layer spanning between both bra cups and along the support component; and a shaping foam layer sandwiched between the outer layer and the inner layer of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b), wherein the shaping foam layer extends from the lower edge (17a, 17b) of each bra cup to an upper edge (15a, 15b) of each bra cup; wherein the support shelf assembly is molded between the inner and outer layers (50, 52) of each bra cup (12a, 12b, 72a, 72b) such that the support shelf assembly is an embedded, integral part of the front panel; and wherein the inner and outer layers (50, 52) and the shaping foam layer of each bra cup and the first supportive foam layer and the stabilizer fabric layer of the support shelf assembly all extend below a lower edge of the support component.