Have you ever bought a last-minute outfit on the day of a special occasion or big event, only to discover that you don’t have the right bra? At one time or another, we’ve all been caught without the right piece of lingerie when we need it most.
This is why I created the 10 Must-Have Bra Styles Checklist. This comprehensive checklist includes all the bra styles you need in your drawer to ensure that you’re covered for every situation. You may not need every one of the bras below, but this list makes it easy for you to compare certain bra styles to your wardrobe needs.
- TOMIMA
A woman should have a collection of bras that she draws from for everyday wear - a week's supply at a minimum.
The reason? A bra should have a day off between wearings. Body heat tends to relax the fabric and it needs time to return to its original shape. Also, an extra day lets the bra air out and feel fresher the next time you put it on.
Everyday bras can be seamless or seamed. The important thing is that they support you, look good under your clothes and are comfortable.
Also, consider stocking up on different types of bras for winter and summer. During colder weather, padded bras provide extra warmth. When it's hotter out, it's good to have a supply of bras made with cotton, padded bras with spacer foam for breathability, or bras with wicking qualities - they're cooler and more comfortable in the heat.
A convertible bra has modifiable straps that can be transformed into a halter, racerback, one-shoulder, or strapless style.
This is a great, versatile style to have in your wardrobe in case you need a quick and easy solution under a tricky top and don't have the time to go shopping.
Instead of straps, strapless bras have wide sides and sewn-in silicone strips to keep them in place.
This style is great when worn under strapless tops, evening gowns, tops with cut in arm holes and outfits where a normal bra would show.
Contour, or T-shirt bras, have cups molded out of thin foam, allowing them to maintain a breast shape whether on or off.
Besides giving your breast a great predetermined shape, these bras eliminate any nipple show-through. They are invisible under clothing which is why they are so popular. If you care about modesty, a contour or T-shirt bra is a great option for you.
The truth is, men love demi bras. This contoured, underwire bra has cups partially cut away to expose the top of the breast. This bra style almost always has wide-set shoulder straps as well.
It's a very flattering style and comes in handy when you find yourself in a low cut, wide scoop or square neckline where your everyday bra will show.
Not to mention... it's a great date bra!
Push-up bras are designed with additional padding at the bottom of the cup, which lifts breasts to give the illusion of a fuller bustline.
This type of bra comes in handy when an outfit calls for a more filled-out look. Most push-up bras come in C cups or smaller and have wide-set straps. However, HerRoom has some push-up bras that go up to DD cups.
Even if you're only moderately active, a sports bra is a must-have in your wardrobe. Your breasts are supported by the non-elastic Cooper's ligaments. Frequent breast bounce can break these ligaments down and cause permanent sagging in your breasts if they're not supported. Wearing a sports bra will help prevent damage to the breast tissue.
Manufacturers often categorize their sports bras by the level of impact and exercise intensity. If you participate in various sports or physical activities, you may need several different sports bras.
A bra with widely-spaced shoulder straps is a great style to have for boat neck and wide, square necklines. Many demi cup and push-up bras have wide-set straps.
It's tempting to get up every morning and slip into one of your everyday go-to bras. But if you're feeling blue or a little less feminine, there's no better way to lift your spirits and make you feel great than by putting on a beautiful lacy bra.
Every woman needs a pretty lacy bra... and men love them too, especially in black!
A good backless bra is a must-have for formal attire. Some styles can even be converted to low back with the addition of a strap accessory.
If you don't wear low-back clothing, this bra won't be necessary for your lingerie wardrobe.
Unless you're going for the "Sex and the City" look, you probably want your lingerie to be unobtrusive. So, your lingerie wardrobe should include the color basics - a nude or flesh tone (as close to the color of your skin as possible), and black. White is no longer on the list. Why? Because a flesh tone color is a much better "invisible" color than white, and white tends to turn yellow or gray with time. If you wear a lot of a particular color, you'll probably want lingerie in that color as well.
A black bra strap or slip peeking out of a red dress is more of a fashion statement these days, and less of a mistake like white or nude can be.
Color in panties and thongs is also a good idea. Since clothing styles can generate unexpected viewings of your panties, it's more fun to expose a colored pair rather than a white or nude one. So, by all means, select fun, lacy, colorful panties if you know there's a chance they might be seen.
