Bras

• Wacoal
• Freya
• Elomi
• Chantelle
• Vanity Fair
• Fantasie
• Prima Donna
• Glamorise
• Panache
• Bali
• Amoena
• Calvin Klein
• Curvy Kate
• Goddess
• La Perla
• Le Mystère
• Maidenform
• Marie Jo
• Natori
• Olga
• OnGossamer
• Playtex
• Rhonda Shear
• Simone Perele

Adhesive
Bra cups with surgical-quality reusable adhesive on the inside of the cups. Great for backless styles and styles where no regular bra will work.
Shop all adhesive bras

Bralette
Unlined wireless bra worn for leisure and sleeping. Often doesn't have a closure, so is pulled on over your head.
Shop all bralettes

Convertible
Straps either come off or are detachable on one end so they can be worn over one shoulder, criss-crossed in the back, as a halter, racerback, or strapless.
Shop all convertible bras

Corset/Bustier
Typically a longline strapless or convertible bra where the band can be cinched in by laces or multiple rows of hook & eye closures. Cups are usually demi style to show off upper breast tissue.
Shop all corsets
Shop all bustiers

Demi cup
Cups have shorter underwires, less upper breast coverage and wide-set straps.
Shop all demi bras

Front closure
The closure is in the front between the cups instead of in the back.
Shop all front closure bras

Long-line
Bra bands extend to the waist or lower.
Shop all long-line bras

Minimizer
Designed to reduce breast projection and cup size.
Shop all minimizer bras

Multi-part cup
Cup design made up of two or more fabric pieces sewn together. The most supportive bra style available, with seaming to center breast tissue and give breasts a beautiful shape.
Shop all multi-part cup bras

Padded
Padding added to the inside of the cups to add size and eliminate nipple definition.
Shop all padded bras

Petite
Designed for women with petite frames, with cups closer together and pared down, shorter straps and shorter underwires.
Shop all petite bras

Plunge
A low center panel to allow for plunging necklines and the appearance of more cleavage.
Shop all plunge bras

Push-up
Cups with various pads to push breasts up and inward to optimize cleavage and bust size.
Shop all push-up bras

Racerback
Also called T-back and sports back bras. Straps attach in the center of the back to keep them hidden under sleeveless and cut-away tops.
Shop all racerback bras

Seamless (molded)
Cups made with a single piece of fabric without seams, molded and shaped over a pre-determined breast form.
Shop all seamless bras

Shelf
Underwire bra with a very small lower cup that doesn't cover the nipples.
Shop all shelf bras

Sports
Specially designed to minimize breast movement during exercise.
Shop all sports bras

Strapless
Bras without straps, often with removeable and convertible straps.
Shop all strapless bras

T-shirt/contour
Molded, seamless cups with a layer of foam for shape and modesty.
Shop all T-shirt bras

Underwire
Bras with underwires for breast support and definition.
Shop all underwire bras

Wireless
Bras without underwires.
Shop all wireless bras

Learn more about bra styles here.

HerRoom Bra Size Calculator
Universal Cup Sizing™ (UCS®)
Parts of a Bra
Bra Styles
Bra FAQ
Full-Figure Bra FAQ
Lingerie Laundering FAQ
Sports Bras FAQ

How To Measure Your Bra Size
Minimizer Bras 101
Top Bra Styles Every Women Should Own
Finding The Right Sports Bra
Plus Size Bra Fitting

Welcome to 2018! Let's start the new year off thinking about refreshing your lingerie drawer and how it can help you achieve your resolutions. I am a firm believer in an expansive bra collection for different applications, therefore I have compiled my list for the top bra styles that every woman should own.

The key to success is fit. If it has been over a year since you have shopped for a bra, I recommend re-measuring yourself to make sure you're wearing the correct size. To expand upon your perfect fit, take your breast attributes into consideration. At HerRoom, I created the Know Your Breasts (KYB) Quiz to help women learn what features they should look for in a bra that are specific to their unique breast attributes. The bra suggestions at the end of the KYB Quiz are very carefully chosen from extensive research based upon your answers.

Let's meet the styles I know you'll use, all year long:

Everyday Underwire Bra

Underwire bras optimize your bust line while remaining comfortable and well-fitting. The support comes directly from the underwire itself. You need an underwire bra to look your best. Your breasts will be in the right place and will remain properly supported all at once in your everyday underwire bra. To keep these bras in good shape, you'll need three or more. You should not wear the same bra everyday. If you do so, your bra will lose its shape quicker. After you wear a bra all day, you need to set it aside for about 48 hours to allow it to return to it's original shape. Wearing the same bra day after day puts a lot of stress on the bra and doesn't allow it to spring back. Therefore owning three at one time, that you love equally, will allow you to wear one, as one is left unworn and the third can be washed throughout the week.

T-Shirt Bra

The need to own a t-shirt bra, otherwise known as a contour cup bra, comes from the seamless foam cups that give your breasts a flattering pre-defined rounded shape under form fitting clothing. Your t-shirt bra can be one of your three underwire bras, if you choose this to be a style you're in need of on a daily basis. The different foam types within t-shirt bras found on the market today are memory foam, firm foam and spacer foam. Memory foam gives a custom fit to the breast, which is best for uneven breast tissue. Firm foam is most supportive and spacer foam is special because it breathes and keeps you cool.

Sports Bra

For every type of exercise activity there is an associated impact level, and for every impact level there is a bra you should own to minimize painful breast bounce. For more detailed information on impact level, read HerRoom's blog post on finding your best sports bra here. The categories of sports bra breast containment are encapsulation and compression. It is these two factors that create the right sports bra for you. Compression refers to the bras that hold your breast tissue tightly against your rib cage and encapsulation refers to those bras that hold each breast separately within its own cup. The best sports bras combine the two to create better support and shape. Many women larger than a D(D1) cup often ask which sports bra type is best for them, and the answer is: a bra with the encapsulation and compression combination. This is because the volume of larger and fuller breasts require much more support, and those bras offering the combination can provide the most comfort and minimize bounce during an intense workout.

Plunge Bra

Every woman should own a plunge bra to allow her to wear lower cut tops with confidence and comfort. Plunge bras provide support and lift, but are not optimal for women with deflated breasts and are best suited for women with fuller breasts. Push-up plunge bras are also great for creating cleavage for an extra boost of confidence. If you are accustomed to wearing lower neck lines, a plunge bra would be a great choice to add to your daily underwire rotation.

Bralette

You should own a comfortable bralette to lounge in around the house. It is important to note that these bras offer moderate comfortable support, therefore are not an option for an everyday underwire bra. Their construction can differ from a sports bra silhouette to more constructed cups with seamed cups and lace. Bralettes or leisure bras are ultimately the favorite among women, due to their high level of comfort. In the last couple of years bralettes have emerged in fashion as decorative wardrobe transformers. See the b.tempt'd by Wacoal AfterHours bralette below for a very youthful example.

Strapless Bras & Convertible Bras

These bras are essential to expanding your wardrobe and meeting the needs of different garments. You should own the right strapless bra for your bust line and lifestyle to accommodate events you may attend throughout the year. On the market today, there are several different types of strapless and convertible bras. Those being: traditional strapless bras, full torso strapless longline bras, waist length longline strapless bras and multiple styles of convertible bras that can change silhouette (all shown below). Consider the event you plan on wearing one of these bras to before purchasing to ensure you buy one that fits your needs. A few features I recommend looking for in any strapless bra as as follows:

• Side boning for additional breast support.
• Removable push up padding, to help create the cleavage you wish.
• A thick band for support and side smoothing.
• Consider the cup height for your attire, which you can view exclusively at HerRoom for each bra using the "See it Under" feature.
• 3 or more hooks are a promising feature for larger cup sizes.
• Seamless cups for an invisible look under clothes.
• Long underwire for additional breast support.
• An additional feature is silicone gripper tape to help gently stop slippage, some bras that offer this are the Prima Donna Satin Strapless Bra and Lise Charmel Eprise Personal Beauty Convertible Strapless Bra.

Center Pull Strap Bra

Center pull strap bras pull up and in at the strap, giving you more neckline options, like tank tops and v-necks, without putting strain on your trapezius muscle (near the base of your neck and shoulders), unlike traditional racer back bras. Center pull strap bras are a must have because they are the most supportive bras due to their design of the straps attaching directly above the apex, or point of each breast. Below you can see the difference in shape from a center pull strap bra and a t-shirt bra.

Back and Side Smoothing Bras

Smoothing bras are one of the secrets to everyday confidence, as they help reduce side and back bulge for a more flattering silhouette in tight fitting clothing. These bras feature either tall sides or back panels lined with compression material to help secure you comfortably. The most important keyword to look for when shopping for these bras is: powermesh. Powermesh is a specific type of fabric often used in lingerie, known for its compression capabilities. You can even find powermesh in swimwear, sports bras, leggings and shapewear, so you can hit the beach, gym or the office with smoothing confidence. Other features to look for if you are attracted to this style are higher sides, wider straps, leotard back styling and basically more body coverage. Additionally, any thin features on a bra will increase overall bulging. A smoothing bra can even become one of your daily bras, as many underwire bras have this fantastic feature as well.

Seamed Cup Bras

Women with larger bust sizes (over a D cup) should without a doubt own a seamed cup bra. This is because seamed cup bras, also known as multi-part cup bras, will give you your best shape and support. Women with C cup sizes and larger will benefit from a seamed cup bra with support panels or slings - especially if their breasts are pendulous, are large or fall to the sides. In these cases, panels can lift, center and support your breasts for your best silhouette; the seaming in the cups gives the bra strength while remaining bulk-free and expressing a light look on the breasts. These bras were the original bras on the market before molded contour cups came along and are considered the most attractive. Seamed cup bras are a great choice for women of all bust sizes.

Feel Special Bras

I feel that it is important for every woman to own a couple of "feel special" bras. It helps shake you out of the boring day-to-day routine and can give a boost of confidence by making you feel especially pretty and attractive. It doesn't hurt to complete a set with the matching panty and garter belt from time to time. You could even allocate one of your daily underwire bras as a special option for when you're feeling vivacious or if you need an extra push to take on the day! These bras are not only functional with supportive underwire and multi-part cups, but also have a gorgeous design to them that is sure to give you that confidence boost you're in need of some days.

There you have it ladies, my ultimate list of bra styles every woman needs to ensure their best year in lingerie. Leave the old you in 2017 and start new – beginning with new bras and then moving on to bigger and better things! Happy New Year everyone.

Around the web you'll find list after list regarding "bra mistakes," but they all have the same figurative bra commandments. We wanted to take this a step further and speak about issues real women are experiencing daily when it comes to bra mistakes, and then as your bra fit expert – offer real tried and true advice.

Let's get started:

Bra Mistake #1 You're Ignoring the Fit

We could drag this point out to the length of a book, or you could come to terms with the fact that your bra isn't fitting you. Examples: your straps are too loose; your cups are gapping or your band is digging in so tight that you can't breathe. Believe it or not, this is not how your everyday underwire bra should feel. Your bra should be comfortable to the point that you forget about it completely, if you're not at this point of Zen with your underwear – keep reading.

Need more info on fit specifics?

Please visit our bra fit center for 2-step measuring instructions, breast attribution information and more to find out just how your bra should fit here. Stop living in the past and suffering – make better bra choices immediately.

Bra Mistake #2 You're Washing Your Bras Wrong

Most women are privy to the delicate cycle on the washing machine. The truth of the matter is that when it comes to washing your bras, the delicate cycle is not intended for every piece of lingerie you own. If you have found your perfect bra, treasure it. Please hand wash your lingerie. Some brands like Prima Donna specifically state, "hand wash only" for a very important reason: bras are and investment and you need to protect your assets.

The seaming, underwire, straps and beyond are all put together with purpose, so if/when you roughly wash or apply stress at the connecting seams, you are dancing on a fine line of destruction. Be very gentle, wash with cold water, with a mild detergent, avoid fabric softeners and hang to dry in a dry area.

Bra Mistake #3 Your Bra is Too Old

How old is the bra you're wearing? If you said anything over a year take it off and kindly replace it. Bras are meant to last around eight months with proper care. Think about it – you're wearing a seamed piece of fabric directly against your body everyday with ever-so-often washing periods. If you wore the same three shirts over and over for a year straight, there would be obvious signs of destruction. Same goes for your bras. The support will break down, the elastic will stop springing back and the fit will become uncomfortable. Replace your bras at least once a year, but make sure you're remeasuring yourself before every purchase.

Bra Mistake #4 You're Wearing the Same Bra Everyday

This point comes as a shock to many women. You need at least three everyday underwire bras to keep in rotation. One to wash, one to wear, and one to let rest or spring back, as we say here at HerRoom. Bras are made of elastic and as that elastic stretches you lose that great fit you fell in love with.

Bra Mistake #5 You Don't Have Enough Bras

Most women don't have enough bras. Aside from your minimum of three underwire bras you should own a strapless or at least a convertible bra. What about when you engage in athletic activities? Are you covered there too? Take into consideration what you're wearing daily and make your bra collection conform to your needs. Going on a date in a low-cut dress? You'll need a plunge bra to accommodate that neckline. The bottom line is that we can guarantee that you don't have enough bras to make you feel confident enough to wear what you want, when you want, as we've stated previously not all bras work with every piece of clothing.

Bra Mistake #6 You Only Have White/Nude Colored Bras

This is a big mistake. Women have a belief that attractive, colorful and lacy bras that fit comfortably don't exist. We say otherwise – brands like Curvy Couture, Wacoal and Goddess have some of the most beautiful designs, that work perfectly as an everyday bra. It's a big deal when you buy something pretty for yourself that works as a utility. It's a huge confidence boost to look in the mirror and see the girls decorated to the nines for that Monday morning meeting. Do yourself a huge favor and pick something wild and thrilling that fits like a glove.

Bra Mistake #7 You Don't Have Leisure Bras

Leisure bras are one of our favorite topics. We could talk for days about how amazing a lounge bra feels on our days off. Most women either know of the leisure bra too well, or know nothing of it's magic. If you are one of those non-knowers, you're seriously missing out. Look at some of favorites here and you'll see what makes them so great for lounging.

Bra Mistake #8 You Only Wear Push Up Bras

We've met countless women that only wear push-up bras. The reason usually deals with modesty or shaping, but after closer inspection we usually find it deals with fit. Is your cup size on the smaller side? Are your breasts not filling your cups completely? Are you thinking that if you wear a padded bra that will help? If you said yes to all of these questions, you're not in the right size. Wearing a push-up bra is a great option for certain silhouettes and women with a certain breast attribution; but if you're only wearing one to try and give yourself a better fit, you need to remeasure yourself, and get into the correct bra size.

Bra Mistake #9 You Refuse to Wear an Underwire

Many women think that underwire bras don't serve a real purpose and in turn they wear a wire-free bra every day. Those same women are unhappy with their silhouette and complain about the support of their bra. Underwire bras keep your breast tissue in place, all day, therefore if you'd enjoy a more youthful bust line, an underwire bra is your best friend. A shapeless bra will leave you shapeless as well. If you're interested in learning more about lifting and sculpting bras, click here.

Bra Mistake #10 You Hate Your Bra

This is the most common mistake. We talked to a group of women recently and not a single person in that group had something positive to say about their bra. We knew exactly why; those women were making all the bra mistakes above. After we educated the group on what fits them best and the different styles that are available, they were more than excited to start shopping for a bra again. That's what it's all about for us, helping women every day to love their bra through our expert advice and educational videos. Are you one of those women who hate their bra? Message us anytime on Facebook here and someone will be able to answer your burning questions and even help curate a shopping list to get you back on the right track.

How many of the above mistakes are you currently making? We're going to guess more than two. You have the tools to remedy any of the above issues right here at HerRoom, so what are you waiting for?

In order to get the best fit in your bra, it's helpful to understand the how's and why's of the way bras are made. A seemingly simple article of clothing is so very complicated. Here's a quick glimpse at the Anatomy of a Bra (you can see the more detailed descriptions here).

1) Cups. A letter A-D denotes your cup size (ladies with a DD or larger, your cup size can be a many different letters depending on brand, so we suggest using our Universal Cup Size™ system). This letter translates to a measurement of the distance from the tip of your breasts to the breastplate or chest wall. This measurement is why there are "sister" bra sizes because changing a band size can greatly impact the projected measurement. You can learn more about "sister" bra sizes here.

2) Multi-Part Cups. Always the most supportive, this cup style is typically found in lace bras, where multiple pieces of fabric are sewn together to make the cup. These can be 2-part, 3-part or 4-part cup bras, each offering a different approach to lifting and supporting the breasts.

3) Underwires. This can be the bane of a woman's disdain for bra wearing or it can be the best uplifting quality of a bra. The key is to find an underwire that works for you. Underwires provide the best shape and definition to breasts, so a little work to find a good fit will go a long way. It's important to consider band size in relation to cup size when selecting a bra with an underwire. Going up a band size means you need to go down a cup size. Check out the chart here.

4) Bra Band. This is the part of the bra that goes around the rib cage—sometimes called the "bra frame." While you can find "bandless" bra styles, where the cups are sewn from the side into a band, the greatest support comes from a band that wraps around your entire torso.

5) Center Panel (Bridge). Determining how your breasts sit in relation to one another can help you decide which type of center panel will work best for you. Wider-set breasts need a wider center panel and conversely with closer-set breasts. Depending on your specific goals, consider how the center panel will impact the overall bra support.

6) Bra Sides/Back (Bra Wings). The quality of the fabric used in this piece of the bra puzzle plays greatly into the longevity of a bra. You want this section of fabric to be stretch resistant. It's important to let your bra "rest" for 24 hours to allow this fabric to come back to original form.

7) Bra Hooks. Ideally, your bra will fit snug on the first set of hooks. As the bra ages and stretches, you can enlist the help of the other hooks to extend the life of the bra. More hooks don't always mean more support. A culmination of the entire bra construction determines the supportive quality.

8) Bra Straps. Those that are prone to strap slips are always on the hunt for a solution to this mishap. Finding a bra that features straps sewn more closely to the center of the front or back can be the key to less slips. Also, ring hardware can affect the swivel of the strap.