Open Cup Bras & Ouvert Underwear
Open cup bras demand the same structural precision as any well-engineered bra — the cup frame works harder, the band supports without full coverage, and construction balances show with structure.
About this collection
Open cup bras are built around a simple principle: what's revealed can be more flattering than what's hidden. At Journelle we call them ouvert — from the French for open — because the category demands the same structural precision as any well-engineered bra. The cup frame has to work harder, the band has to support without full coverage, and the construction has to balance show with structure.
This collection brings together open-cup balconettes, peek-a-boo bras, ouvert harnesses, quarter-cup styles, and matching open-back briefs and suspenders from houses including Bordelle, Bluebella, Studio Pia, Fleur of England, and our own Journelle Collection. Sizing varies by maker; UK and European conventions dominate. Best for occasion-wear or moments where lingerie is the point rather than the layer underneath.
From the fitting room: open-cup styles depend on band fit far more than coverage styles do — the band is the entire support mechanism. Your usual band size is the right starting point, but if the band rides up at all, size down. The bras hold their shape best when worn with bands snug enough that the closure sits flat. We recommend a fitting consultation if you're new to the category; the construction differences from conventional bras are meaningful.
Open Cup Bras & Ouvert Underwear
Open cup bras demand the same structural precision as any well-engineered bra — the cup frame works harder, the band supports without full coverage, and construction balances show with structure.
About this collection
Open cup bras are built around a simple principle: what's revealed can be more flattering than what's hidden. At Journelle we call them ouvert — from the French for open — because the category demands the same structural precision as any well-engineered bra. The cup frame has to work harder, the band has to support without full coverage, and the construction has to balance show with structure.
This collection brings together open-cup balconettes, peek-a-boo bras, ouvert harnesses, quarter-cup styles, and matching open-back briefs and suspenders from houses including Bordelle, Bluebella, Studio Pia, Fleur of England, and our own Journelle Collection. Sizing varies by maker; UK and European conventions dominate. Best for occasion-wear or moments where lingerie is the point rather than the layer underneath.
From the fitting room: open-cup styles depend on band fit far more than coverage styles do — the band is the entire support mechanism. Your usual band size is the right starting point, but if the band rides up at all, size down. The bras hold their shape best when worn with bands snug enough that the closure sits flat. We recommend a fitting consultation if you're new to the category; the construction differences from conventional bras are meaningful.
Ask the Experts
Bra Fit
All Journelle fit advice is written and reviewed by our senior fitters: trained in bust anatomy, band mechanics, and cup-shape matching across every brand we stock.
Measure at Home
Our fitters walk you through the exact method we use in the fitting room: band measurement, bust measurement, cup-size math, and the S/M/L conversions for bralettes and wireless styles. Five minutes with a tape measure and you'll have the number we'd give you in person.
Measure Your Bra SizeFind Your Breast Shape
Size is only half the story. Full-on-top, full-on-bottom, wide-set, close-set, teardrop, asymmetric: each shape is better served by a specific cup cut. Our guide maps every shape to the styles our fitters pull for it in store.
Find Your Breast ShapeBook a Free Fitting
Our fitters have multiple years on the fitting-room floor and are certified across dozens of brands. Book a 45-minute session in-store or virtually: bring your questions, leave with a bra that fits.
Book a Bra FittingExplore Bra Styles
From everyday bras to elevated lingerie, explore styles designed for comfort, support, and fit. Shop DD+ bras, strapless bras, and matching sets to find your perfect silhouette.
Open Cup Bras & Ouvert Lingerie
Open cup bras — also called cupless bras or ouvert bras (from the French for "open") — are built like a standard underwire but with the cups cut away, leaving the bust framed and lifted but exposed. Shelf bras take a different approach: a rigid band supports from below, with no cups at all. At Journelle, this collection covers ouvert underwire bras with the full structural engineering of a regular bra, shelf bra and babydoll combinations, and coordinating open-front lingerie sets. The Journelle Cristiana Collection is the house specialty — a cupless underwire designed and produced specifically for this silhouette.
Open cup bras size identically to standard underwire bras: band around the ribcage, cup based on the bust-to-band difference. The underwire should sit flat at the breast root on all sides. Because there's no cup fabric to compensate for shape differences, rounder and fuller breast shapes tend to find the best results. If you're new to the style, start with an ouvert underwire in your usual size.
