As the name suggests, a quarter cup bra provides less fabric and coverage than both a full and a half cup, resulting in a risqué bra exposing your nipples and leaving most of the breast uncovered, hence the name open cup bra also being used. Depending on your breast size, shape and natural perkiness, that quarter of fabric in the cup will still provide a little lift to your breasts especially if there is an underwire and higher side panels, this is why you may also have heard the design referred to as a shelf bra. It is up to you if you want to leave your nipples exposed or cover them with a set of teasing pasties or tassels for a seductive showgirl look. Most of the quarter bras we stock are underwired, but open cup bras are also found in non-wired, padded and soft cup varieties. Smaller bust sizes will be fine without an underwire and may even gain the look of a fuller bust in the shelf bra style as the breasts are lifted and pushed together. D cup sizes and above should look for an open cup bra with support such as underwires with side boning, wider straps and back band.
Terms such as open cup balconette, naked bra and shelf bra are regularly used to describe the same style which is somewhat confusing but what they all have in common is the feature of minimal coverage for the maximum erotic impact. A half-cup is the same as a demi-cup bra, the word “demi” being French for half and the candid cupless bra is the skimpiest of the open cup bras and sometimes called a frame or harness bra, as it is missing the cup completely. Don’t get too hung up on the terms used to describe your bra, as many of them can be used interchangeably, and let’s be honest; your partner will not care whether you wear a sexy cupless bra, open or quarter cup bra, as long as they can see your amazing assets on display!