All women need an essential wardrobe of bras to give them the right support, fit and shape for different aspects of their lives. You don’t need to break the bank for your lingerie wardrobe. You really only need five types of bras for every occasion. Remember to make sure the bra fits properly and get measured every time you shop for a bra. Manufacturers size bras differently. While you may be a 36C in your old brand, another lingerie manufacturer could surprise you.

These are the five essential bras every woman should own for comfort and style in every stage of her life.

  1. T-shirt bra. 

A T-shirt bra is the essential basic for practicality to give you smoothness under clothes. Look for both comfort and support in your T-shirt bra, but also make sure that it is invisible under clothing and thin layers. You need two basic colors in your bra wardrobe: nude and black.

  1. Strapless bra

Investing in a strapless bra will let you wear any spaghetti-strap, one-shouldered or off-the-shoulder dress that catches your eye. Get the right support in this bra, and you won’t have to spend your day constantly worrying about slippage. Select one in a nude color that won’t show through those beautiful dresses.

  1. Minimizer bra

This bra is an essential for well-endowed women who wear a cup size D and above. Look for one that gives control without extra padding. A minimizer bra gives you confidence to wear low-cut dresses as well as office outfits and trouser suits.

  1. Sports bra 

A good sports bra should be supremely supportive to get you through the most extreme workout. This bra should free you up to focus on your sport, whether it’s yoga, running or riding horses. It should stand up to the most intense studio session or gym workout.

  1. Sculpting bra

Smoothness under clothing again is the key when you consider a sculpting bra or body suit. Look for a slimming suit or body shaper to give you a sleek silhouette underneath clothes. All-in-one body suits feature secret hidden panels to tighten and lift your bust, stomach and hips. More women are finding that sculping bras are a great piece to add to their essential lingerie wardrobe.