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. Whatever outfit you’re wearing, it’s safe to say that a minimizer bra won’t spoil the fun—these wear smooth and are invisible underneath all kinds of tops, blouses, and dresses. While there are lots of minimizers to choose from, bras by Spanx are some of the best ones you can buy, according to Mangiarotti. It's constructed with the same high-quality material as you would find in the best shapewear. “Spanx’s minimizer bras come in several styles and colorways and offer the finest support and coverage,” she says. Aside from coverage and support, this minimizer bra is comfortable to wear thanks to a thin fabric and unconstructed cups. It’s also available in four flattering tones so it will pair with all the basic undies in your collection. 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).

Washability: Each bra is repeatedly laundered according to its care label and assessed for aspects like shrinkage and appearance after washing. You can start by measuring your bra size at home or with a consultant in a store. Even then, you should still try on a few different sizes to see what fits and feels best. Freno urges you to focus on what feels good instead of getting caught up on a specific size, especially because fit varies between brands. It may help to go up and down a few band or cup sizes if the fit doesn’t feel right. Just like with clothing, each brand will fit you differently. 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.Although this bra did stretch out a bit during our stretch recovery test in our Lab, it washed well, staying in nearly perfect condition after five wash cycles. The brand does recommend hand washing for best results. This bra proves you don’t have to sacrifice support to go strapless. In fact, it had higher scores from our testers than many of the non-strapless styles we analyzed. It uses silicone strips along the top of the cup and on the band that help it stay in place as you move, and it features wide side panels with boning for more stability and smoothing benefits. Our testers said the bra was comfortable, but a few online reviewers noted that although the bra stayed put, the silicone strips and boning dug in. Emma Seymour has been a senior textiles product analyst in the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab for over four years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for all different types of bras, including wireless bras, bralettes and sports bras. She studied Fiber Science and Apparel Design at Cornell University with research experience in product quality assessment. She updated the most recent version of this article with new testing data.

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." If you're looking for a comfortable wireless bra, the Soma Embraceable Full Coverage Wireless Unlined Bra is a great option. Featuring deep, full-coverage cups, zero wiring, and comfortable fabric, this bra is supportive enough to wear to work, on your days off, or during light-impact workouts. We love that it forms to the body well, and there’s no bulging underneath clothes, or binding, pinching, or poking. The sturdy straps are another nice perk, plus the just-right price point hits the sweet spot. While it’s not as embellished as other bras on our list, its lightweight feel and durable construction make it stand above its other wireless counterparts. Essentially, if you’re looking to go wire-free for good, this is the one to do it.

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. Hanes makes our list again, this time for its wireless bra that's lightweight yet surprisingly supportive. Whether you're wearing it in the summer or just want a barely-there feel, it fits like a second skin, so you won't be poked or weighed down. Not to mention, it’s one of the least expensive bras we tested. In our Lab, we assess each bra for properties like stretch recovery, construction and how well they hold up to repeated laundering. We also send them out to our consumer testers — hundreds of people ranging from small cup sizes to larger busts— who share their thoughts on fit, comfort, appearance and more.

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. 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. People with big boobs understand: finding a comfortable and supportive bra is much harder than it should be in the year of our Lord 2021. As recently as 2013, the average American woman's bra size was a 34DD—so why is it such a challenge, even now, to find a bra in that size? To make matters worse, some women don't even know there are bras available in sizes beyond a double D—yes, there are Es, Fs, Gs, Hs and beyond.

Patti Page

In our Lab testing, Pepper bras stayed in great condition after stretch recovery tests and after laundering five times, but some testers reported durability issues with their Pepper bras, noticing some fraying and even torn straps. We also tested the brand's wire-free bra and T-shirt bra: and both were popular among testers with smaller chests too. 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: Since unlined bras forgo underwire and foam cups, you’ll want to pay close attention to the materials, straps, cups, and the band, Sena explains. “The fabric should have some stretch, but also a higher spandex/lycra content for added support,” she tells PEOPLE. “I also prefer wider straps, so you don’t get shoulder dig-ins from the weight of heavy breasts. A wider band (with three to four hooks/eyes) and a fuller coverage cup will also help.” Because this bra boasts stretchy nylon and spandex fabrics and extends to a high cup range, it’s Sena’s top choice for an unlined bra. All the standout features are there, right down to the flexible fabric. “This bra goes up to 38G, and it's a stretch microfiber, which means it has a high spandex content,” she adds. 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.

Because many people with smaller chests are forced to wear bras not properly designed for them, many testers were unsure of their proper size and had to try a few to find their best fit. Courtney Leiva is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as The Daily Beast, Buzzfeed, HuffPost, and more. When researching the best bras for larger busts, Courtney spoke with several industry experts about the standout features (straps, cups, bands, etc.) to consider in a bra as you shop. She also conducted research by looking at various bra styles and details and analyzing the fit, support, and function of each. It held up well in our Lab tests without shrinking or stretching out. It also comes with removable straps so you can wear it as a traditional bra, halter, criss-cross or one-shoulder style. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors and a wide range of band and cup sizes. In fact, this style was especially loved by people with full figures and larger busts. You’ll want to choose a bra with contoured, full-coverage cups and light padding to make heavier breasts look smaller, says Palep. “A full-coverage cup will not only give you shaping benefits but will also cover more breast tissue and encapsulate breasts completely,” she explains. “Also, look for bras without heavy padding — the extra padding will only add more heaviness to your breasts. Finally, choose cups that are smooth and contoured, like microfiber.”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.