There are a lot of terms used to describe different bra styles and their characteristics. Unfortunately, as you may have noticed, almost nothing is consistent when it comes to bras. That includes the words folks use when talking about them. So much of the vocabulary is vague or much broader than the user may realize, leading to confusion when a specific meaning is intending. We’ve discussed this phenomenon before with regards to support. Today, I want to talk about “padded bras” and everything that falls under that category.

Padding, or lack thereof, is an important personal preference consideration and one of the first things I ask about when discussing bra likes & dislikes with the clients I’m fitting. “Padding” doesn’t necessarily mean thick padding, however. In fact, it usually isn’t. Any bra that uses a foam cup construction can accurately be referred to as a padded bra. This includes all foam-molded T-shirt bras. “T-shirt bra” is another vague descriptor that can be applied to any bra that lays smooth under thin or fitted clothing, like a T-shirt. Most commonly, these smooth seamless bra cups are made from a foam material that is shaped by heat-pressing onto a form. The foam is often thin, possibly not more than a couple of millimeters, although its firmness and density can vary. This “padding” is not intended to add the appearance of extra volume to the bust. Its purpose is smoothness and nipple coverage. Some bra wearers may also call these styles “lightly lined.”

A subcategory of these foam-molded bras is “spacer bras”. Spacer foam is a relatively newer material used for constructing bra cups that is even thinner, lighter, and spongier than traditional dense foam bra cups. Its breathability is particularly nice during sweaty southern summers. Although spacer bras still technically fall under the padded bra category, they aren’t the best option for bra wearers who actually prefer a thicker cup.

Another version of the lightly lined bra combines thin foam pads with a lace or mesh overlay. Similar to the molded foam T-shirt bra cups shown above, the inner padding here is not really included for volume enhancement. Its job is to assist with shaping and to keep nipples concealed.

Sometimes, these thin pads are designed to be removable. This feature tends to show up in wireless styles, certain sports bras, and bralettes. Removable pads are also a major pet peeve for a lot of people! They don’t always like to stay put and may require frequent adjusting. The good news is that these pads often do not serve any structural function. Designers include them for nipple coverage, but you can dispose of them entirely if you prefer. Of course, once they’re gone, your garment is no longer padded.

Foam padding can be incorporated into non-molded bras as well. These styles have cups that are stitched together instead of being made from a single piece of formed foam, so they don’t emphasize a smooth profile in the same way. The foam has enough thickness that it begins to add the appearance of some extra volume. The actual shape of the bra cups hasn’t really changed from the other padded bras above; they’re still a generally breast-shaped shell.

Here’s an interesting example from Polish brand Ewa Michalak. This bra has a padded, seamed cup construction and additional removable pads in the cup lining. The wearer can decide how much extra padding they want, and the pads can also be used to balance the smaller side on bodies with pronounced breast asymmetry.

“Push-up bras” are padded bras that are specifically designed to lift the wearer’s tissue to the top of the cups, making the breasts look larger and possibly creating a cleavage effect. Some brands, and some bra wearers, will call any style with volume-enhancing levels of padding a push-up bra. There is still a large amount of variation in the amount and distribution of that padding, though. The bras below use a foam molded cup construction that isn’t much thicker than the average T-shirt bra, except for a modest push-up bump of extra padding at the base of the cups.

This push-up bra is padded all over. Only the neckline edge at the top of the cups tapers so that it can lay flay where it meets the wearer’s upper chest.

Lastly, there are bras with A LOT of extra padding! The cups are practically just a wedge of foam. Honestly, Grail doesn’t stock many of these. If someone prefers this level of padding, that’s a valid personal choice. It’s just that extremely padded bras aren’t really designed for a proper technical fit. The inside of the cups is essentially flat or even slightly convex at the bottom. It doesn’t allow the underwire to reach the breast base and create a supportive structure.

So there you have it! Any bra made from a foam-based material, or that isn’t just an unlined fabric, can correctly be termed a “padded bra.” Speaking conversationally, though, many folks really think of padding in the sense of extra volume padding. Neither is wrong; we just need to clarify our meaning a little bit so that we can communicate our preferences more clearly.