Best bras: what are the different bra types, and which is right for you?

Arguably the most important thing in your wardrobe, the best bras are there to ensure you get maximum uplift and support. Getting your foundations right ensures your clothes will sit on your body correctly, redefining your silhouette.

Finding the best bras for you can take some work, and the bra you'll need will differ from outfit to outfit. Giving a helping hand in lifting and shaping your bust line, you should think about the overall shape you're looking to create before selecting the bra for the job.

Lingerie expert for Next, Georgina Bibby, explains: "In order to cover all bases I recommend every woman invests in the following 4 types of bra:

• A sports bra for support when exercising
• A non-wired bra for comfort when lounging or for days off at home
• A good underwired supportive bra for every day at work
• A multiway bra for all occasions

Below we've listed all of the above and more, and tested dozens of them to deliver the best bras in every style. When testing we looked at the quality of the material, design, support, and arguably the most important factor – comfort.

We also took into consideration different body types, although we also have a dedicated guide to the best bras for large busts, the best bras for back fat, cup preferences, and budgets.

Quick list

If you're after the best bras from each category without all the added info, these are our top six picks on the market. From everyday styles to post-surgery designs, these are the best bras for your every need. Keep scrolling to read more about each style.

Georgina Bibby

Georgina Bibby is Senior Lingerie & Swimwear Technologist at Next. A branded lingerie technical designer with over 20 years experience, Georgina thrives on helping women find perfect fitting lingerie, swimwear & shapewear.

Best bras: Full cup

The most supportive and high coverage of all the bra types, a full-cup style will keep your boobs nice and secure. The straps sit a little closer together than your average bra, too – a handy detail if you find they normally slip and slide off your shoulders.

Full-cup bras are best suited to larger, fuller breasts, creating a nice rounded shape beneath your clothes. Smaller or less-full boobs may find full-cup bras dip in at the top.

"A full cup bra is one with fuller coverage, and is usually best suited to a larger bust, but can also be good to provide a smooth silhouette under clothing," Georgina explains. "The neckline of the bra would sit higher than a plunge or a balcony and some full cup styles have more coverage at the underarm.

"The centre front should sit flat to your breast bone at the front, the bust should be completely encased within the cups and the wire should not sit on the breast tissue at the underarm or the centre front."

By their very design, full-cup bras can feel a little functional, so look out for pretty patterns and lace detailing to add a fashion-forward touch.

Shop full cup bras

Best bras: Non-wired

When it comes to the best bras for comfort, non-wired styles are more often than not going to trump their wired counterparts. Because they don't include any hard materials underneath the cup, there's an added softness to them for comfort. With that in mind, they are usually best suited to women with smaller breasts, who don't need as much support. But that doesn't mean women with bigger boobs should avoid them.

"Non-wired means the bra has no wires around the cup, but the bra could still have side bones in the side seams for support," Georgina explains. "They are usually worn for comfort purposes, but a quality non-wired bra can still provide good support if fitted properly.

"Non-wired styles can come in all shapes – full cups, plunge, balcony, sports etc. After and during the pandemic, sales of non-wired bras increased due to the consumer wanting to be more comfortable everyday. Non wired bras can be worn by all ages, from teens in training bras to the more senior wearer."

Shop non-wired bras

Best bras: Strapless Bras

Strapless bras are brilliant for occasion wear - not so brilliant if they don't fit well. A good fit is key to a strapless bra, and to do that, you need to do a little more than just try it on for size.

A well-fitted strapless bra should sit along your rib cage and feel secure enough to not move or slide about when you're wearing it. If it doesn't stay in place, you may well need to try a size smaller to help keep it snug to your skin (but make sure you can breathe still!).

It should support your breast in a way where they are not slipping out of the bottom, but equally not spilling over the top. It's a definitely a bra type that requires a bit more thought, which starts when you try it on. Rather than just seeing how it looks and feels stationary, lift your arms up and down, jump up and down on the spot a few times and see how secure it is. It's also worth taking the garment you plan on wearing it with shopping with you, so you can see if it suits.

Women with a larger bust may also want to consider a strapless bra with a thicker band for additional support.

Shop strapless bras

Best bras: Front fastening

Front fastening bras are both extremely convenient and ideal for those who may struggle with their mobility. Just as comfortable and stylish as regular bras but with the added bonus of accessibility, everyone can benefit from having a front fastening bra in their arsenal.

"Front fastening bras can be beneficial for the older wearer and those with mobility issues," agrees Georgina. "They can be easier to fit and comfortable to wear and are sometimes medically recommended." But even practical picks can be stylish and make you feel your best whilst providing that all-important support.

"A front fastening bra can have a hook and eye fastening, a clasp or even a zip," explains Georgina, so it's easy to find a style that will work best for you and your needs. Plus, "as the fastening is at the front, this will mean the back of the bra is completely smooth under clothing," she says.

Look out for styles with a stretchy back if you want as much support as possible and the perfect fit underneath your bust.

Shop front fastening bras

Best bras: Post-surgery

"Post-surgery bras are made from super soft materials and are designed with special seam constructions for maximum comfort when the skin can be particularly delicate around the bust after an operation," explains Georgina.

"The coverage and support of a post-surgery bra is also important depending on what type of surgery the wearer has had," she says. Finding the right post-surgery bra will be a very personal thing, but there are a few key features to look out for to ensure it doesn't cause any discomfort.

"Post-surgery bras are usually non-wired and come with a pocket at the inner cup which can be used to hold a prosthesis. A prosthesis can sometimes be quite heavy, so ensuring supportive linings are used, that are still soft for comfort, is key."

Shop post-surgery bras

How we selected and tested the best bras

There's no universally held standard of 'the best bra' - everybody has a different idea of how a good bra should fit, flatter and support. But there are some common qualities we firmly believe all of the best bras should share:

• Fit - when it comes to bras, fit is everything. If you're finding that your current bras aren't doing what they need to, then it's definitely time for a new one. With our guide on how to measure bra size in mind, we wore the bras through work and the weekend, to really test their fit, support, and wearability.
• The quality of the materials - if cared for properly, the best bras should also prove excellent value for wear. This is why we rigorously tested the quality of their materials, their washability (following expert guidance on how to wash bras, of course), and longevity, to see if they really step up to the plate.
• Style - who said supportive bras had to be boring? From pretty lace balcony bras to wow-worthy push-up bras, we tried them all - to help you find the bras that will make your boobs look amazing, both in and out of clothes.

Learn more on how we test bras at woman&home in this detailed guide.

FAQs

What is the best bra to wear with a V-neck dress?

"When wearing a V-neck dress, it is best to opt for a plunge bra as it has a lower front and a neckline more in line with a V shape," says Georgina. You can also opt for a strapless or bandeau style to ensure that no straps are on show.

For particularly low or unusual cuts, a stick-on bra may be necessary. However, these usually don't offer as much support as traditional bras. A strapless or plunge style in a matching colour to your dress will both look and feel good.

What bras offer the best support?

"The bras with the most support are either a full-cup bra, as the cups provide the most coverage and therefore more support, or a high-impact sports bra," explains Georgina. Both of these styles can be trusted to deliver lasting support, especially styles with thicker straps.

What is the best bra for sagging breasts?

"For sagging breasts, I recommend a full cup bra as they have higher coverage and will therefore provide support to a softer bust," says Georgina. "At Next, we have developed a range of Total Support bras, especially for this."

Any bra with ample support and coverage is likely to work well and provide comfort, but the best bra for you is the one that looks and feels the best for your lifestyle.

How to find the best bra

"The best bra is an investment. Like anything you want to last for a long time, you need to invest and go for a brand that has a wide size range from back bands and cup sizes, to ensure the perfect fit", says Curvy Kate's PR and Content Manager and resident 'Bra Whisperer', Katie Weir.

"Seek professional advice, many lingerie retailers offer both in-person and virtual bra fittings - such as an appointment with Curvy Kates Bra Whisperer. Taking less than 30 minutes over Zoom, you can find your perfect fit and leave feeling really knowledgable about your bra".

And what should you look out for?

"(Particularly) if you have big boobs, the comfort and design of a bra is integral to a great fit and shape. Look for wide straps as these will feel super comfy across your shoulders, a wide, firm back band to hug and hold your body from the underarm right around to your back, as 80% of support comes from the band".

How do I know if a bra fits properly?

So you've found the best bra, but you're still unsure about how a bra should fit. We totally get it - finding a bra that fits like a glove takes time and a lot of trying on, but according to Priya Downes, CEO and co-founder of fit first lingerie brand Nudea, there are a number of tell-tale signs that will indicate whether or not your bra fits as it should.

• Your bust is bulging out of cups and is showing through your top - giving the double boob effect.
• The center front of the bra is not sitting against your sternum and is lifting away
• The cups are now empty and wrinkling.
• The underband is riding up at the back, and you have to tighten the straps
• A previously comfortable bra is now uncomfortable.

But it's also important to remember that the size of your boobs is likely to fluctuate throughout the month. While knowing how to measure bra size is extremely important it's also important to take into consideration when you should measure your bra size.

"We wear bras every day of the month, so it's good to always be well-fitted," says Priya. "At the time of lowest hormonal activity, about seven days into the cycle, the breast will be at its lowest size, as well as on the last day of the cycle. It would be ideal to measure at both times."

Though she adds, "Usually one or two bigger bras for your biggest days will do, but we should also make sure that your smaller size is suitable for every day."

It's important to measure your bra size or get measured regularly, usually every six months, regardless of whether or not your bras still fit. This is because wearing the right bra is very important both to bust health and how our clothes fit. Your bra will naturally stretch as you wear it, so regularly keeping check of your size will always ensure you're getting the best lift possible.

What is the best bra to wear everyday?

There is no definitive 'best bra' to wear everyday, as the choice is subjective and depends on your shape and size, how much support you're looking for and what kind of comfort level you want. But these are some of the more common everyday bras for most people:

• T-shirt bras: Probably the most common choice for everyday wear thanks to its moulded cups and smooth fabrics that look seamless under clothes.
• Full cup bras: Maximum coverage means secure support that reduces bulges and jiggling.
• Non-wired bras: Always a top pick for those looking for comfort.
• Balcony bras: One of the most flattering styles as they support the breasts from underneath and lift them upwards.
• Bralettes: Easy to throw on without awkward fastenings and generally don't use any wiring or much padding, so these are a common pick for everyday wear.
• Sports bras: The best sports bras and best high-impact sports bras are for those who need extra secure support for busy days,

According to Katie, there are three key styles we should all be adding to our bra-drobes though.

"Plunge Bra - this is perfect for lower cut outfits as you show a little more décolletage. The center wire sits lower between the boobs which still offers great support and separation for the best shape.

"Balcony Bra - this is a fuller coverage style that separates the bust with the wire sitting higher between the boobs. This bra shape is great for feeling super secure in your bra, make sure it is perfectly fitting so that you don’t spill out of the cup. You can also get a balcony bra with side support which projects your bust forward to give incredible shape and for ladies who want to have a minimizer effect without the squashing this bra shape eliminates the boobs from going east/west."

"Strapless Bra - this will change your life. A perfectly fitting strapless bra will hold your boobs up without the pain. Always make sure that the wires reach around, the breast tissue and the back band should offer 100% of the support".

Which bra is best for shape?

If you're looking to create shape with your bra, there are a few different styles and features you can look out for:

• Padded/molded cups: Padded and/or molded cups are the best way to create shape. This can be in a more structured style with underwire or even in a comfortable bralette with removable cups.
• Underwire: A bra with underwire will help to create shape as it will lift the bust from underneath.
• Side support: Side support is always helpful with creating shape as it pushes the bust inwards and upwards from the sides.
• Balcony cut: A balcony or balconette style bra creates shape from the way that it holds up the bust.

Top tips for buying a bra online

We're firm believers that every good fashion look starts with the basics, and a good bra is non-negotiable. Even the most well-thought-through capsule wardrobe wouldn't be effective without a well-stocked bra drawer to go with it.

Here's how to make sure you get it right the first time around when shopping online:

• Book an online fit consultation: no, it's not the same as an in-person fitting, but virtual bra fittings can go a long way in helping you find the best fit, and subsequently the best bra for you.
• Put your new bra through its paces: "When you finally get your bra, make sure you try adjusting the straps and jiggling your boobs," says Carlotta Ghigi, Nudea’s in-house bra technologist and expert fitter. "As you’re putting the bra on, lean forward and ‘jiggle’ your boobs into the cups to get the best fit. This can be a real game-changer for some who’ve been wearing ill-fitting bras for years," she advises.
• Ensure hassle-free returns: "It's an oft-quoted statistic that 80% of British women are wearing the wrong bra size, but self-measurement is just one step in finding your fit," says Ghigi. "So it makes sense to ensure that returning items is as easy as possible."

When should I replace my bra?

As with a pair of the best jeans, you probably have a few favorite bras in your underwear drawer that you turn to again and again. But if you're wondering how often you should change your bra, it's probably more regularly than you think.

"A bra that you wear every other day should be washed every four wears and if hand-washed, this bra will last you one year. But as bodies change, it is recommended that you have a bra fitting every 6 months to check your size and ensure maximum comfort" - says Katie.

But when your bra no longer feels supportive - whether that's because your bra has lost its stretch, its fabric is wearing thin from over-washing, or your size has changed, it's time to seek out a replacement. But proper care of a bra can prolong its life.

Here are a few tips for making your favorite bra go the distance:

• Machine wash your bra in a garment bag and on a delicate cycle to keep it from getting twisted among your other clothes
• Line your bras up in your underwear drawer like they do in shops. Folding your bra one cup inside the other can shift the padding and compromise its shape.
• Invest in a special detergent to keep your bra in mint condition for as long as possible.