Prep for the ultimate lounge day with this super comfy, yet supportive bralette. Testers loved the super soft nylon/elastane fabric that one size-small tester said was "so smooth and soft, I could easily forget I was wearing it." She continued, "It still gave me the support I needed to feel confident. I usually take bras off as soon as I’m home, but I wore this to sleep. It was so comfortable." Many people believe that wires are the key to quality support in a bra, but that’s not always the case. What makes a bra supportive? A Cult-Favorite Full-Coverage Bra With High Sides: Olga Women's No Side Effects Underwire Contour Bra The band should be level with your ribcage without riding up, and the center gore, the section of the bra that stretches between the two cups, should lie flat against your breastbone.

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.

The best push-up bras for 2023 are:

Key details – Band range: 32-38; Cup range: C-F; Material: 79% polyamide, 16% elastane, 5% viscose; Care instructions: Hand wash; Colours: 2 To tie up the visual appeal, there’s a little bow in the centre between the cups. The balconette style has low-cut cups, and straps set further apart than normal. This strap setting offers upward lift and support.

A Lacy Wireless Bra For Serious Lift & Side Support: Playtex 18-Hour Original Comfort Strap Full Coverage Bra The first step to finding the best bra for lift and side support is to zero in on styles that have higher sides and wide bands around the ribs. Finding bras with a bit of stretch will also help as these will more likely lay flat against your skin while remaining comfortable. While not necessary, a longline bra can help you feel more supported, too. It fastens using a standard hook and eye, and is machine washable for easy maintenance. Overall, this bra is ideal for those looking for a simple and affordable minimiser bra for all-day wear.Key details – Band range: 34-46; Cup range: C-E; Material: 80% polyamide, 15% elastane, 5% cotton; Care instructions: Hand wash; Colours: 7 combinations Bra straps – These are key when it comes to comfort. Look at how wide they are and how far apart they sit. Also, consider whether they have padding for extra comfort.

This brand designs its bras specifically for AA, A and B cup wearers, unlike other bras that may just be scaled down to fit smaller cup sizes. This bra is specifically designed to prevent gaping for a smooth fit under clothes — and testers reported that the brand succeeds, praising its great fit on smaller chests. The cups are lightly lined for modest coverage and shape without excess material. The strength and integrity of your breast tissue are primarily coded in your DNA, which comes from your parents,” says Ryan Neinstein, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New York City. Other things that can impact your breast perkiness include significant weight changes, breastfeeding, smoking, and other habits that lead to a loss of skin elasticity, such as sun damage.Wireless bras are hands down the more comfortable option. Also known as soft cup bras, they can still have a snug, supportive band and proper straps to give you good support. That said, they don’t have the definition that underwire bras do, so you may not be as happy with the shaping you get. Many testers with larger cup sizes said they were "doubtful" that wireless bras would be able to offer the amount of support they desired but were ultimately impressed by just how supportive high-quality wireless bras can be. In fact, after testing, many say they now prefer their new wireless bras over traditional underwire styles. While underwire bras are known for their support, some wireless bras can actually offer more. If you want to maximize support, opt for wireless bras with molded cups for coverage and lift. Unlike most bras where you shop by the band and cup size, this one ranges from small to 3X and has a size guide to follow when you buy. It's designed for band sizes 34 through 46 — which is a wider range than most styles, though it only specifies cup sizes B to DD in its size chart. And while it offers great shaping benefits with some built-in padding, it doesn't separate as well as underwire bras. The bra offers extreme support during pretty much any workout, while maintaining a comfortable feel. It’s designed to minimise your cup by as much as one full size. The straps are adjustable, lightly padded and made to reduce friction. The cups are moulded to fit and conform to your shape, while the wire provides support. When applying nipple covers, Pfister says, "Make sure to line up your nipple to land in the middle of the cover to allow for full coverage of your areola. This will offer the smoothest look."

This minimising bra has a full cup, ensuring that you get proper coverage for a flattering shape. The fabric has a slight stretch, although not enough to compromise the minimising features. No matter what style you choose, you won’t get proper support if you’re wearing the wrong bra size. If you’re not sure of your exact size, consider finding a lingerie store near you that offers bra fittings. That way, you can be sure you’re getting just the right fit. How we test bras for support Lexie Sachsis the Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fiber Science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development fields. Lexie led a massive bra test in 2017 and wrote the shopping guide for this story. A full cup is the best way to achieve proper and comfortable minimisation, since it allows for better distribution of the breast tissue. With the Wild Blooms bra, you can minimise your boobs by as much as a full cup size. The bra is wired for decent support, and non-padded so it won’t add extra bulk.

The best bras for support to buy in 2023

It offers medium coverage to show off a bit of cleavage while still feeling secure and covered. It performed well in our Lab tests, with minimal changes in appearance or shrinkage after laundering. We appreciate this brand's inclusive size offerings up to a 54 band size and H cup size. 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. Key details – Band range: 32-44; Cup range: C-H; Material: 65% cotton, 21% polyester, 7% elastane, 7% polyamide; Care instructions: Machine wash; Colours: 2 Wear tests: Users with a range of band and cup sizes try the bras and fill out thorough surveys, scoring factors like the ease of putting it on and taking it off, fit, comfort, support, stay-in-place capabilities, visibility under clothes and overall appearance. Testers also have the opportunity to share comments about specific things they liked and disliked about each bra. In our latest test, our testers wore sizes that ranged from AA to H cups and 30 to 48 bands.