A longline bra extends its underband downward — sometimes to the natural waist, sometimes just below the ribcage. The extra fabric provides torso shaping and smooths the midriff, bridging the line between bra and bustier.
Longlines were standard in the 1950s (worn under full-skirted dresses to cinch the waist) and returned in the 2010s as a romantic / vintage-revival style.
How to Identify
- Band extends well below the breast, often 4–8 inches or more
- Multiple rows of hook closures up the back
- Often underwired
- Boning may be visible through the fabric