The wrong bra can add pounds, make you look lumpy, and leave you sore and itchy at the end of the day. The right bra, on the other hand, can make you can look like a million bucks no matter what you're wearing – a T-shirt, button down shirt, or the infamous little black dress
. Lingerie and department stores can be bewildering places, overflowing with hundreds of styles and colors and teeming with salespeople hoping to upsell you into more bras than you need or fancier brands than you can afford. To help you pinpoint the exact bras you need, we asked lingerie expert Tomima Edmark, founder of herroom.com, for her take on the must-have bras every woman should have in her drawer (plus two extras to keep it sexy). Get the Look: Keep your décolletage soft and supple with Olay Ultra Moisture Lotion or get more personalized suggestions with Style360.
1. Everyday Bra The everyday bra is the equivalent of the cotton panty — not the sexiest garment, but the most reliable. "The major requirement of an everyday bra is that it look great under clothes," Edmark says. The only kicker of the everyday bra is that since you'll be wearing it most days, you need to have more than one. "Bras need 24 hours to recover their shape and breathe after a full day of wear, and need to be laundered after every few wears," Edmark says. So, to be exact, you need three everyday bras: one to wear, one to rest, and one that can be in the laundry without denying you a solid bra option. An everyday bra should have straps that are centered above the nipple (which gives your breasts the best lift and your shoulders the most comfort) and have a wide enough back strap to prevent any spillover that will look lumpy under your shirt. An optional feature is a light lining to keep your nipples from showing. If your cup size is DD or larger, Edmark advises having at least one everyday bra with seams in the cup. "Although they don't offer the smoothest line under clothes, seams are the best way to provide support." 2. Black Bra Not just for wearing under black clothing, a black bra is the right choice for clothing of any dark color — brown, grey, navy, burgundy, teal — and for clothes with awkward sight lines. (You know, those button downs with a tendency to bulge open at the bust or bat wing sleeves with peek-a-boo armholes.) A black bra won't show under your brightly colored clothes in photographs the way a white or nude bra will. And also, black looks nicer peeking out of necklines or armholes than lighter colors. "When people catch a glimpse of a white bra, they think, 'Uh oh, I just saw underwear.' But a black bra looks more like lingerie; it's less noticeable and more appropriate." 3. Strapless Bra Think strapless bras are only for strapless dresses? Think again. These little wonders make it possible to wear a wide range of necklines without fear of peekage: Boatneck, deep V, one-shoulder, scoop and square. And if you've heard that you should go down a size in a strapless bra, that's a myth. "If you go down a size in a strapless, you're probably wearing the wrong size in your everyday bra," Edmark says. Manufacturers design strapless bras to conform to the same size requirements as bras with straps. If you'd like a little more fun and versatility, consider adding: 4. Plunge Bra These are similar to everyday bras, but they have a lower center panel. "A plunge bra allows you to unbutton one more button or wear a deep V-neck with confidence," Edmark says. 5. Date-Night Bra For those nights when you want a little more oomph, consider a lacy number, or a bra in a fun color or pattern. Because, as Edmark says, "Every woman deserves a pretty bra."
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