The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing bras and intimates for decades, providing expert guidance on the most comfortable and supportive styles. We have tested over 200 different bras in our Lab with over 500 consumer testers (with cup sizes from AA-H cup sizes) wearing each bra. Past bra testing has been completed by:

Luciani adds, "Obvious signs of wear and tear such as crushed cups, bent underwire, stretched out straps, broken or bent clasps and when the material loses its elasticity — all good signs it’s time to toss. Other signs that are maybe not so obvious are if it suddenly seems big or it’s not holding you up the way it should be! That may mean it’s time to replace." The effects can range from subtle to extreme and, depending on your preferences, you’ll want to consider whether you want light padding or wireless options for increased comfort, or more significant stuffing and support for some serious lift. And it’s important to work out whether you’re best off with a smooth surface that’s best for sitting under T-shirts, or pretty lace detailing for that extra feel-good factor. Washability: Each bra is repeatedly laundered according to its care label and assessed for aspects like shrinkage and appearance after washing. You should fill out the cups without any gaping (which means the cup is too big) or overflow (a sign the cup is too small).We appreciated its super smooth nylon/polyester fabric. This bra maintained its shape after being stretched in our Lab, acing our stretch recovery tests. Just be sure to hand-wash this bra carefully for best results, as it shrunk a bit when we machine laundered it. Another standout feature of this bra is its straps: They lie flat without slipping and are the ideal width to be supportive yet discreet. The bra's buttery soft fabric also kept its shape perfectly after we stretched it out in Lab tests, and it washed well with no signs of wear. Underwire, removable convertible straps, hook-eye closure, light padding, non-slip binding around band This style earned the top spot in our tests and our panel, including those with both small and large cup sizes, rated it the most comfortable bra of the bunch. On top of that, it proved to be durable in our Lab testing; it washed well and retained its shape even after we stretched it out. In fact, it's the bra our own experts have preferred to wear for years, even after trying dozens of styles on the market.

The thoughtful design offers support yet still works with most clothing because the cut isn't too high and the straps aren't too wide. It's adjustable and has an underwire for good separation, plus soft cups for a rounded shape. Although our testers found it to fit nicely, some online reviewers share that it runs on the smaller side, so be sure to review the size chart before buying, especially since it's offered in UK cup sizing. Finding a good bra can be especially difficult if you have a larger cup size, but this fashionable yet functional style may end your shopping struggles. It goes up to a size HH (which is the UK equivalent of a US cup size L) and it performed exceptionally well in our tests. It was durable in our Lab’s evaluations without any issues to report, and our tester panel loved wearing it. With f ull-coverage cups to avoid spillage, wide straps to reduce stress on shoulders and wide side panels that smooth to prevent bulges, this bra is your best bet if you're looking for all-over support. The cups are lightly lined so there's not too much padding, and the fabric feels smooth throughout and looks flattering under clothes.

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It might seem like bralettes have taken over the lingerie world, but there's always room for a bit of oomph in our outfits, with push up bras. The best bra will make you feel supported, but the best push up bras will make you feel... even more supported... if you catch our drift. While many bralettes we tested stretched out substantially in our Lab testing, this bralette proved to be durable. It received a perfect score in our stretch recovery test, returning to its original shape. It also barely shrunk after being machine washed on the gentle cycle and hung up to dry. We washed this bra five times in the Lab and noticed minimal changes in appearance, though the brand recommends hand washing this style for best results over time. In our stretch recovery tests, the bottom band of this bra did stretch out a bit. As you might have guessed, a non wired bra, or otherwise called a wireless bra, wire free bra or comfort bra, is a bra without a wire lining the cups or the band. You might think no wires means no lift but you would be wrong, you can get a great silhouette under your clothes with a non underwired bra.