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When was the last time you had a bra fitting?
Bras are right up there with jeans as one of the most difficult items of clothing for women to shop for (speaking of, here's a hack for knowing if they'll fit without trying them on).
That's why we're always pumped when expert bra fitter Kimmay Caldwell shares her bra knowledge — and her favorite bras to shop.
She explains that so many women skip out on taking your measurements before purchasing bras, which could mean you're wearing the wrong size. That was exactly the case for makeup artist and Rach’s pal Mally Roncal.
We brought Kimmay in to help Mally find the perfect bras for her—and, as always, Kimmay delivered!
Even though Kimmay admits to owning around 200 (!!) bras, she says you don't actually need THAT many. Here, she shares the five types of bras every woman should own, plus her personal favorites in each category.
Kimmay is a paid spokesperson for all of the brands below.
1. T-Shirt Bra
"Most people need about two to three great basic bras that work with 70 percent of their wardrobe," Kimmay says. "For most people, that is a really great smooth t-shirt bra."
Kimmay's Picks:
Features a "smooth cup and seamless band in the back — and it has pretty straps that lay really flat."
"The Base Bra by Harper Wilde is a great base bra. If you’re going for a t-shirt bra, you want to get something that’s as close to your skin tone as possible, so it will be invisible. The other cool thing I like about this bra is it has front adjustable straps, so there’s no excuse—if your strap is loose, adjust it. Plus, this bra has a convertible little clip in the back, so it’s a great versatile bra,” she explains.
2. Strapless or Convertible Bra
"Another bra that most people need is a convertible or strapless bra," Kimmay says. "Convertible could just mean racerback or criss-cross straps, but a strapless bra really gives you the most options."
Kimmay's Picks:
"This is the Chantelle Norah Comfort Strapless bra," Kimmay says. And there's one important tip if you're shopping for a strapless bra. "You want to make sure if there's any underwire that it fits right against the body and that the band actually fits and stays in place. The wider, the better—it will fit a lot flatter," she adds.
MORE: The Best Bras For Plunging Necklines, Low Backs + More
3. Sports Bra
"It is so important for you to have a bra that is specifically for exercise or higher-impact activity, because sweat will ruin your basic bras. And, you want to protect your bust."
Kimmay's Picks:
Kimmay says every woman needs a solid sports bra in their wardrobe, and the Anita Momentum Maximum Support bra is the one she recommends. "This one is available up to an H cup and it's important for anybody of any size to wear a sports bra when working out because you want to protect your breast tissue. Once it stretches out, it can't regain its elasticity," Kimmay explains.
See more of the best supportive sports bras from Kimmay here.
4. Comfortable, Wire-free Bra
Kimmay's Picks:
Looking for a comfy bra to wear when you don’t want to wear one? "[This bra] has an adjustable band and adjustable straps. The other cool thing about this bra is that it has a little bit of molding on the inside, so if you have to pop into a Zoom call you still have some modesty and shape and coverage," the bra expert says.
“This is the Sheer Illusion Wireless bra from Le Mystere. This has no underwire in it, but it does have a nice foam padding...so this has a little bit of shape in the cup. It also has adjustable straps, adjustable bands and bra-sized, all of which will ensure a really good fit,” says Kimmay.
“This looks like a vacation to me,” Rach adds. We couldn’t agree more!
5. The "Hurray" Bra
Last but definitely not least, Kimmay says every woman should have a "hurray" bra, or "the bra that helps you feel like a million bucks."
"For some people that might be something really sassy, it could be something really lacy or it could be a really great basic bra in a super fun color," she says.
Kimmay's Picks:
Kimmay calls this type of bra a "hurray" bra because it’s really fun and lace. “This is a really great bra from Montelle Intimates, which is a Canadian company and this is their Flirt Demi bra. Here’s why I like it so much, this comes in a 30 band. Do not be afraid if you can’t find your band size in certain department stores, they do make other sizes. And then I love the stretch lace and the vertical seam keeps everything nice and round and smooth,” Kimmay says.
Rach added that the only negative with lace bras is that they can sometimes be super itchy, but Kimmay shares a quick fix for that.
“Quick tip about lace bras if they're itchy is to wash them first and make sure you’re using something that’s made for lace otherwise it will get itchy,” she notes. Genius!
Prices listed are subject to change by the retailer.
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