Glam Slam: Buy The Right Bra!

The right undergarment can make ALL the difference, when it comes to looking good in your clothes. “I should have worn a bra,” Gwyneth Paltrow recently admitted on her Goop website; talking about her much criticized 2002 Alexander McQueen Oscar dress.

Style expert and author of “The Bra Book,” Jené Luciani agrees, saying the secret to looking your best in every ensemble lies with your bra; and the right one can help you create a flawless figure.

Here are her suggestions for the five bras every woman should have in her lingerie drawer:

THE EVERYDAY BRA:
From drapey t-shirts to clingy sweaters, finding a bra style that keeps your bust supported without any unwanted lines or wires showing through can be difficult. When you go to shop for your everyday bra, make sure you bring or wear a clingy top, so you can see how it looks under the sheerest of circumstances. The “Barely There Invisible Look Underwire Bra” disappears under every fabric, so you can avoid any VBLs (visible bra lines).

THE SPECIAL OCCASION BRA:
While you may not need one right this moment, it is important to make sure you have a strapless bra within your arsenal. For more flexibility, buy a bra like “Calvin Klein Naked Glamour’s Strapless Push-Up Bra,” which has straps that you can move around to fit a multitude of occasions like racer back tanks, one-shoulder numbers or strapless show stoppers. Also, make sure you hand wash these types of bras after every special occasion, since sweat from dancing all night and other factors will break down the elastic.

THE DATE-NIGHT BRA:
Whether you’re single or attached, every woman needs a bra that makes them feel ultra-sexy. Studies show that saucier lingerie under even the most basic of clothes, makes women feel more confident, which is where a great push-up style comes in. “Bali” makes a nice seamless lace push-up that gives the girls a natural boost, but can be worn under a variety of different tops.

THE SPORTS BRA:
Another bra that every woman, no matter how active or in-active you may be, needs to have right now is a good sports bra. There are tons of styles with differing support levels to suit all kinds of physical activity. For everything from cleaning your house and gardening, to running and yoga, sports bras are essential for activities where you could get a little sweaty. Unlike cup bras, sports bras are made to be more breathable and can stand up to perspiration better than regular bras. A great sports bra from “Nike” features an adjustable “X-Back” that allows you to adjust how much support you need, and is breathable in the back.

THE WEEKENDER BRA:
We all have those days where you really don’t feel like wearing a bra at all, which some of us can do, and others of us with larger busts, simply cannot. For all bra sizes, “Genie,” has their classic “Genie Bra,” as a great wire-free and seamless alternative to uncomfortable under wires and clasps. It also evens out any of that dreaded “back fat” and keeps ‘girls’ of all sizes from going anywhere they aren’t supposed to. After all, you never know if you’ll run into an old flame while you’re running errands! So instead of running to the grocery store in sweats sans bra, you can show your ‘girls’ some love with a wireless underpinning after hours, without sacrificing comfort.

— Ryan Patterson