A bustier ( , ) or bustiere is a form-fitting garment for

women A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functional u ...

traditionally worn as

lingerie Lingerie (, , ) is a category of primarily women's clothing including undergarments (mainly brassieres), sleepwear, and lightweight robes. The choice of the word is often motivated by an intention to imply that the garments are alluring, fashio ...

. Its primary purpose is to push up the bust by tightening against the upper

midriff In fashion, the midriff is the human abdomen. The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or some forms of swimwear or underwear. Etymology "Midriff" is a very old term in the English language, coming into use before 1000 AD. In Old Engl ...

and forcing the breasts up while gently shaping the waist. Nowadays, it might also be worn as a

push-up bra There are many brassiere designs suitable for a wide variety of business and social settings and suitable to wear with a variety of outer clothing. The bra's shape, coverage, functionality, fit, fashion, fabric, and color can vary widely. Some ...

under a low-backed dress or as a

camisole A camisole is a sleeveless undershirt typically worn by women, extending to the waist. The camisole is usually made of satin, nylon, silk, or cotton. Historical definition Historically, ''camisole'' referred to jackets of various kinds, incl ...

for outerwear. The bustier can also be worn as a half-slip under sheer upper garments if a bold display of the midriff is not desired.

Resemblance to the basque

A bustier resembles a

basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

, but it is shorter. It reaches down only to the ribs or waist.

Material

Modern bustiers are often made with mesh panels rather than the traditional boning.

References

{{clothing-stub 1980s fashion Clubwear Foundation garments Lingerie Women's clothing Midriff

Resemblance to the basque

Material

See also

References