This is definitely a "padded" bra.  Someone had written a review saying it was soft.  I guess I took that to mean not a hard padded bra.  But this is a hard padded bra.  I won't wear them a lot but it's nice having so many extras with color choices.  The bras are well made, seem to wash fine.  I did mine in a bag in the washer and they held up well.  I just wish they weren't so "hard".  But 6 bras for that price really can't be beat.