I have 7 -- one for every day of the week. Plus 7-8 sports bras. I like to wash them after every wear and this keeps the laundry manageable.

Krista ~ I feel your pain! 40H's over here!!!

I have a light pink Natori bra that has been my favorite for over a year. I treated this very well, washing only by hand and airing between each use and never wearing 2 days in a row. Then, I decided to replace it with the same model in nude. So I started to wash the pink bra in the machine on delicate, in a bag, but to air dry it. Let me tell you that the bra is almost shot after doing this a few times.

So my point is, if you wash by hand it is startling how much longer your bras will last. Especially if you don't have ultra heavy girls providing extra strain on the fabric.

I have 6, but 2 need to be replaced, but will wait until the jan sales. It is not many, but I don't feel the need for more. Most take into consideration that temp is *not* high or humid where I live.

QM, this is a fascinating thread! And your "system" cracks me up! When "Flo" retires, will the chores stop too?

BTW -- I own 3 combined camisole/underwire bras (2 nude, one black), and one strapless bras. I own about 4 black sport bras, since they need to be washed with every wear. I need to make some changes in this category -- live a little!

ha! Beth Ann, my friend asked me that a while back too.. I should have a few more years before Aunt Flo retires, and then I'll be too old and tired to care ;-0

I've enjoyed this thread too. It really is helpful to see how others approach their bra wardrobe/laundering system.

Some are making me think twice about my refusal to hand wash. hmmmm.

Thanks Laura for bringing up such an important subject!

As for laundry, I use a wash bag that is padded and with a frame, so it looks a bit like one half of a mesh ball. It really saves a lot of items (bras, delicate underwear and tights, swim gear, wool mittens / hats, scarves... ). Though must say that my washing machine really is top notch

http://www.clasohlson.com/no/V.....r349481000

And according to Angie 4 everyday bras are a minimum: http://youlookfab.com/2006/10/.....ear-check/

I think at last count, I have seven in either nude or black:

2 seamed bras (1 nude, 1 black)
3 seamless bras (2 nude, 1 black)
1 strapless bra
1 sports bra

I'd wear seamless bras all the time (cool, no extra padding, super support) if they didn't show through thin knits. I've been handwashing the seamless bras as the lining can get twisted in the washer, but all bras are hung to dry. Reading these posts, I think I might go to handwashing them all.

Gaylene, do you find substantial differences between European brand bras and higher-end department store bras in the US?

I will guess ~20 (not counting 2 sports bras).

I'm a fanatical laundry sorter and I like to have enough of everything to justify a load. The two benefits of this are A) my clothing lasts forever and B) I'm never without something clean to wear.

The downside is storage. Not just for the clean stuff, but for all my laundry bags: darks, lights, reds, greens, jeans, socks, undies, sheets, towels, kitchen towels...

I said I was fanatical, right?

I love this thread; it's awesome to read everyone's thinking process and their routines.

Oh good, rachylou, that means I'm not the one with the most bras I think if I counted the ones that are the wrong size now, I'd have over 15, and that's not counting any sports bras (4ish) or the couple strapless ones I only wear with formal wear (honestly, it's been years, I'm married, most of my friends are married or aren't gonna get married, there are probably no more bridesmaid dresses in my future, I should just donate them because god knows they aren't comfortable to wear).

As I'm replacing bras I've bought a few underwire pairs because they are so much easier to find. For years I've been anti-underwire because I don't think they're as comfortable but I'm resigning myself to it for now. We'll see how the washing process goes in a mesh bag on delicate because as I've written before I categorically refuse to do hand wash. (Want to be really shocked? Until I started wearing underwires I put my wireless bras through the regular wash cycle and the dryer, at least in the winter when I'm not line drying all my wash anyway.)

Harmonica, I think either fresh pair or bare necessities has a similar mesh thing that has an internal structure built in, like the one you posted. I imagine it could be really handy keeping foam cup bras from collapsing/being squashed in the wash.

I can't be bothered to count my bras right now (they're scattered among two drawers and two suitcases) but it's probably in the 5-7 range including a nude strapless that fits very well and a lacy "lingerie" bra that is only comfortable as long as I don't move around too much. The rest are all plain nude, black, or gray.

I wash my bras approximately bi-weekly in a structured mesh "bra bag" (lucky enough to have relatives purchase them en masse in China for cheap) and hang dry. My mesh bags look like Harmonica's except they are cylindrical like a squashed-down large metal can.

In terms of deterioration, I toss my bras when the bands stretch out too much and not otherwise. I do find that microfiber holds up much better to machine-washing than cotton, although cotton is obviously more breathable. I'm small-busted but wide-set, so petite or junior sized bras aren't proportioned correctly but many regular bras in my size are too large in the cups--bra shopping is right up there with pants and shoe shopping in level of ordeal.

I have 6. I feel your pain. My bra size recently changed and now I'm trying to adjust accordingly. I have 1 in the correct size and I swapped for 3 strapless bras in my new size. I have 2 from old size that don't look too bad, so as they die and wear out, I'm going to be replacing them.

Beth, I think that the biggest difference is that the European bras are so pretty, even in the larger sizes. I think PrimaDonna, for example, goes up to an I cup. And the quality of the materials seems to be much higher than most US brands. My PrimaDonna and Simone Perele bras are lacy, but never scratchy. And the underwires are padded so they never dig or feel uncomfortable. If I was to generalize, I'd say that most North American manufacturers seem to focus on support and tack on the lace as an afterthought, while the Europeans seem to think that you start with bits of lace and silk and built the support from there.

I just wish that I hadn't waited so long to buy nice lingerie. I felt so guilty the first time I spent that much money on a bra, but what a difference it made in the fit of my clothes. And it was so pretty that it uplifted my spirits along with the girls. I think it's one of the nicest things you can do for yourself. And, surprisingly, my husband shared my enthusiasm and sent me back for the matching undies.

I just saw an ad on Bare Necessities for the "bra savers" lingerie bags that I use: http://www.barenecessities.com.....Bra+Savers

Beth - I'm confused when you say seamless bras have no extra padding. I have seamless bras from Natori, and they have padding.

As a nursing mum support is extra important. I only have four total, two for work and two for home. Nursing ruins the elastic on them even faster, so they don't last much more than four to six months. And they are quite expensive to boot. Once my DD is weaned, I look forward to taking some of these suggestions to redo my own wardrobe.