What Is a Plunge Bra (And Why Do You Need One)?

It’s date night. There’s a dress you really want to wear, but you’ve been avoiding it because it’s low cut and you’re worried about a possible wardrobe malfunction. Plus, all the strapless bras and tape you own don’t do a whole lot for your décolletage.

So what other options are there? Enter the plunge bra. What is a plunge bra, you might ask? It’s the solution to your deep neckline, unflattering lingerie, saggy breast nightmares.

What Is a Plunge Bra?

A plunge bra is an underwire bra whose angled cups are centered towards the deep V gore, and are, more often than not, padded. This angled push up style of the plunge bra leaves the center of the chest open to not show through clothes with plunging necklines.

It creates the illusion of larger breasts as it pushes them together, drawing a deep line of cleavage at the center, for a sultry, sexy yet natural look that’s great on many occasions.

​The bra is also designed with​ wide set straps​ for added support, so get ready to pull out your deepest v-necks and put this bra to the test!

You might have push-up or t-shirt bras that work for most of your wardrobe, so initially, a plunge bra may not seem very different ​from your ​current collection of bras.

But, this bra offers a couple key benefits that set it apart from its fellow bras. ​My favorite plunge bra is the Natori Women’s Sheer Convertible Ultra Light Contour Plunge Bra.

The cups are lightly lined and the bra is made from soft, stretchy mess with seamless underwire (meaning this bra is super comfortable). It’s really flexible too – converting to a criss-cross or halter style. Click here to check the price!

Unique Qualities 

​First, plunge bras allow you to wear those low cut dresses and tops without showing off your lingerie. Secondly, they provide a nice lift to accentuate your breasts in a natural way.

Work with Low Cut Necklines

Gone are the days when you need to hope and pray your boob tape or nipple petals will keep your girls hidden enough in those low cut outfits.

A plunge bra sits securely beneath low necklines, making it perfect for those special occasion dresses or tops to wear for photoshoots during golden hour or a night out on the town! While this bra works fantastically with low cut outfits, it’s more than a one-trick pony.

Because this bra is designed to sit comfortably on your skin without digging straps and gaping cups, it also works really well under your normal necklines (and dare I say, you might actually find it more comfortable than other bras!).

Help Accentuate Breasts

Women of most shapes and sizes can benefit from the way this bra highlights their cleavage. For women on the smaller side, this particular bra offers a lift without making breasts appear unnatural.

Think about how your boobs look if you push them together—that’s essentially what a plunge bra will do! For larger breasted women, namely C cups and up, a plunge bra offers shape without spillage.

Because the cups of this bra are angled, the outer portion of the breast will stay covered and supported. Plunge bras lift the breasts without pushing them up, allowing your assets to speak for themselves. 

Features of a Deep V Bra

The plunge bra has a few key features that help it highlight cleavage while hiding beneath necklines, making it an ideal undergarment for several occasions.

Deep Center Gore

The thing that makes a plunge bra unique is its deeply cut center gore. The gore of a bra is the middle part where the cups usually connect, and on a plunge bra this connection is much lower on your chest.

Instead of the gentle slope of the top of a normal bra, the plunge bra is a steep drop down towards the middle.

The middle of a plunge bra is typically a V or U shape, with some styles plunging lower than others. Your boobs go in between the lines of the V or the U, just like you’d want them to in a lower cut top.

The various gore shapes make it fairly easy to find a plunge bra that works with your personal style so it will look flattering under your clothes.

Wide Set Straps

Wide set straps are a V-necked wearing girl’s best friend! A plunge bra is supposed to ​be invisible so the straps have to be, too. These sit toward the outer edge of your collarbone and are closer to your shoulder than an average bra.

Even though they are closer to the edge of your shoulder, they’re designed to sit snugly (without digging into your arms) and not slip off. This means no more having to constantly readjust your straps as they try to slide down your arms!

Angled Cups

You might hear the word “plunge” and assume this type of bra provides less coverage than your standard bra. And, if you have a larger cup size, this might seem problematic since the coverage looks less than impressive. I’ve got good news, though!

The way the cups are angled, along with the V or U shape of the plunge, actually help to give you more coverage! Further, the angled cut allows your breasts to be fully supported, without having your boobs spill uncomfortably over the top, making it look like your boobs have boobs (no thanks!).

The wider coverage on the bottom and band of the bra keep everything in place without cutting you off or giving you unwanted bulges. Think of it as a gentle lift instead of a huge, padded push.

Minimal Padding

A plunge bra differs from a push-up bra because the plunge bra typically has less padding. It features your natural assets with a clever support structure (the wide straps, angled cups, and deep gore) that gives you a little lift, making it a great bra choice for those who don’t love the huge bump of a push-up bra.

If you are smaller and are looking for a little boost, look for a plunge bra that includes push-up padding for some additional contour and shape. A padded plunge bra is basically a push-up bra on steroids–lots of padding plus minimal coverage at the front of your neckline!

Benefits of a Bra that Plunges

At this point you might be thinking to yourself, “This sounds fine, but I already own a drawer full of bras. What is a plunge bra for,_­ and why do I need to add another bra to my collection?” I’m glad you asked!

There are actually quite a few benefits to owning (and wearing) a plunge bra. And, you might come to find that this bra may even work better for you than your go-to strapless or your best push-up bra for lifting!

Natural Lift

According to Kelly Dunmore, a chief lingerie stylist, a plunge bra is basically like;

“putting your hands on the side of your boobs and pushing them in together. I have done all this and wished for the gorgeous cleavage in real life. Walking around in public and holding your chest would probably get you some attention, but it may not be the type you’re looking for. The plunge bra is the next best thing.”

Plunge bras are designed to push the breasts together—no hands needed! They provide a gentle squeeze and lift to give the appearance of younger, perkier breasts. Think of it as a boob lift with no surgery required!

When someone compliments you while you’re wearing your plunge bra, you can confidently reply that it’s all you.

Sexy Outfits without the Hassle

Some outfits can be tough to wear and nearly impossible to move around in. Putting tape for nipple coverage, nipple petals, wearing strapless bras so you don’t need to worry about straps showing, and backless bras may keep the girls covered, but at what cost?

It’s hard to feel comfortable dancing at a wedding or attending graduation if you’re worried you might expose yourself (plus, you know the minute you start sweating, that tape is slipping right off!).

A plunge bra is an easy alternative to achieving great cleavage without having to stuff, tape, or reposition your breasts. Most styles still have the straps and clasps women are familiar with, and these bras are actually supportive.

Worrying about clothes is a terrible way to spend an evening—wear a plunge bra and let your clothes work for you instead.

Comfortable for All-day Wear

Let’s face it, most bras kind of suck. There’s a good reason women are ditching push-up bras for unpadded ones and why you can’t wait to rip off your pesky strapless bra the second you step foot at home—they’re not very comfortable!

A plunge bra feels more like your favorite t-shirt bra. It can actually be comfortable enough to wear all day, and it offers a sexy, “perfect for a night on the town” visual appeal.

A lot of styles also feature lace, mesh, and other feminine details making it look just as good as it feels. Another perk of a plunge bra (in addition to the perkiness of your breasts) is shorter under wires.

This means less poking, less adjusting, and less discomfort than a standard bra. Plunge bras offer the support of underwire without the awful wiring feeling—rejoice!

Who Should Own a Plunging Bra?

Having a plunge bra in your lingerie arsenal can be beneficial for many women. While there are different breast sizes that work well with deep v bras, there are other distinguishing factors that help determine if you should own this bra as well.

Different Breast Sizes

Smaller Breasted Woman

They may love this style for a lift that accentuates the boobs and gently presses them together without a giant push from a standard push-up bra.

You’ll find the plunge bra pushes in from the sides, rather than from underneath. Click here to check the price on Amazon for my favorite push up plunge bra!

Larger Chested Women

They may opt for the plunge bra to get good coverage and support without painful wires. These bras are comfortable, supportive, flattering, and so versatile.

They can be worn under just about every top in your closet from the deepest of v-necks to the thinnest of t-shirts. Click here to see my favorite plunge bra for bigger breasts.

​How Deep V Plunging Bras Differ From Other Bras

​Now that I pointed out the defining characteristics of what makes a plunge bra, it’s time to take a ​deeper look into the other similar ​items ​often compared to this deep V bra, so that you know exactly what you need for ​the outfit you’re going to wear.

Comparing a Plunge Bra to Other Bras

Bra	Purpose	Cups
Plunge	Pushes breasts together	Angled towards the center
Contour	Lifts breasts up	Full-coverage
Balconette	Improves bust fullness	Cups between demi and full-coverage
T-shirt	Creates natural roundness	Soft, molded cups
Demi	Enhances cleavage	Angled throughout the bra

Plunge Bra vs Contour Cra

From the name itself, the contour bra works to shape the breasts into an ideal, round shape. This bra mostly has full coverage cups for even support and lift all throughout the chest.

​So while both the plunge bra and the contour bra provide​ that sexy look that’s great under tops, the contour bra mostly pushes your breasts up while the plunge bra pushes your breasts together.

The plunge bra ​is defined by its ​angled ​cup design while the contour bra is distinguished by a thick, straight band, and extra plush padding.

​Plunge bra vs Balconette bra

​When you’re looking for a balconette bra, the key characteristic you should try to find is the horizontal ​line or edge of the cups across the chest. The cups are often very low cut and only barely cover the nipple.

The bra is also usually defined by its wide set straps and demi cups which are similar to plunge bras, but just not quite the same. To compare, both balconette bras and plunge bras make use of the ​same shape, but ​in different ways.

The plunge bra’s cups are angled towards the center gore between the breasts while the balconette starts at the point where the straps and ​cups meet, and end where the cups meet at the center of the band.

​Plunge Bra vs T-shirt Bra

​A t-shirt bra is a type of molded cup bra built for comfort. It’s defining factors are its ​smooth, and seamless cups​ that are undetectable under clothing.

The bra can also have padding for shaping and underwire for support, but none of those are requirements as a t-shirt bra is called the way that it is for the way it is made.

​Between the two bras, there are one main difference purposes. The t-shirt bra is built for comfortable wear with any clothing, while the plunge bra is made for, you guessed it. plunge tops.

Aside from that, the t-shirt bra’s cup styles can range from demi to full coverage, while the plunge bra can only have one. A prominent factor also found in popular t-shirt bras i​s their lack of underwire and its soft, thin padding.

​Plunge bra vs Demi bra

​By the way it’s called, a demi bra ​only covers three fourths of the breasts due to its angled cups. It also usually has underwire and padding, which is why it can be mistaken as a push up bra.​

In comparison to the plunge bra, the demi bra is low cut and it’s angled cups span throughout the bust line, ​while the plunge bra ​only angles towards the center.

It has similar characteristics to the push up in that it has a similar structure and underwire, however, the demi bra has lighter padding making the look more natural.

When Should You Wear Plunge Bras?

There are 3 main reasons to wear a plunge bra:

• ​Wear with low cut clothing without showing off your lingerie
• ​Wear to give your breasts a little extra lift
• ​Wear to avoid pesky cup lines or showing straps

Wear with Low Neck Tops

What is a plunge bra good to wear under? It’s perfect for dresses, t-shirts, blouses, or jumpsuits. Throw one on under a V-neck, a scoop-neck, or any type of lower cut top.

If you want to wear the top but don’t want everyone to see your underwear, the best plunge bra is the way to go. Want a helpful tip for finding the right plunge bra?

Bring a top or two to the store and try them on over the bra(s) you like! This way, you’ll be certain the bra plunges enough and will remain completely hidden.

Wear to Boost Your Confidence

A plunge bra isn’t just for evening wear or plunging necklines. The support of a plunge bra provides a nice lift under any outfit. Choose this style under any clothing to create the appearance of young, full breasts.

Try a plunge bra under a button-up shirt or a t-shirt that may not fit as well with heavily padded bra. In fact, this style can generally serve as a super comfy alternative to push-up or heavily wired bras. ​

A good push-up bra to increase your chest size has always been a trusted method having a push up plunge bra is even better.

Wear to Avoid Bra Lines

You know that t-shirt in your closet that you love but also clearly shows the entire outline of your bra? A plunge style bra may help remedy that problem—even if the shirt isn’t low cut.

Remember those angled cups? They sit like a second skin so there will be no cup gaping and no cups seen through the sheer fabric. The wide set straps of a plunge bra also work for a lot more than deep necklines.

Boat necked tops, tank tops, and even shirts with shoulder cut-outs can utilize the invisibility and versatility of the plunge bra.

Wear with Other Clothing Styles

Plunge Tops

Women who ​wear tops that have a really low neckline can benefit from the plunge bra. ​​​Aside from it ​not showing through, the bra really works well to complement these ​tops as they accentuate ​your features in the same manner that these tops do.

​Deep v Dresses

Going out for a night in the town? Plunge bras offer the best type of lift and support second to the push up bra​ ​that can make your breasts look fuller and rounder for that party dress.

Underneath Cover-Ups

Thinking about wearing a sultry outfit by just ​putting on an oversized blazer or a button down top? ​​​A plunge bra is a good undergarment to go with it as it pushes your breasts together for a sexy cleavage that’s enough to support the look you’re going for.

Related Questions

Conclusion

Ultimately, a plunge bra is a really great article of clothing to have on hand. Throw one on and trust the secretive support of this invisible bra as you go to your next event with confidence. Oh, and be sure you’re prepared for compliments!