What is a good basic bra "wardrobe"?

Mamapicklejuice

I guess I'm curious as to how many/what colors/styles?

I currently have 4...1 black, one gray and two nude (with various ribbons or jacquard type lace...so not totally boring nude...but still can be worn with thin t-shirts, etc). I think I want to add one more bra that can convert to a t-back for summer tops.

I have no need for strapless right now, or low back...I guess I'm erming and ahhing over adding another nude bra to the mix, but it does seem to work well with lighter color summer neutrals (also, the Chantal bra I'm considering has a pretty pattern on the cups).

I'm sure that somewhere on the blog or the forum, numbers, colors and styles have been discussed, but I could only find bra fitting threads. Anyone want to share a link with me or their thoughts on any of the above? Thanks!

14 years ago

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Jessikams

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nude and black. 3 of each for every day. I have as many black as I do nude because I wear as many dark colours as I do light colours. It's a personal thing.

14 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Thank you, Angie...perhaps I will exchange one of the nude bras (still has tags on) for the convertible, so I have that option. Will also need to seek out a black bra as well...the associate who helped me at Nordstrom's last time was fantastic, so I should be all sorted, soon.

14 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I got little bra clips - https://www.strapperfect.com/
I picked mine up at a CVS pharmacy.

They convert any bra to a racerback, or you can adjust the straps to however wide apart you want. I find that this works better better because I can convert any color or type of bra to a racerback.

I am also on team minimalist nude and black (actually black snakeskin print) with no lace or embellishment. I find that no matter how tiny and flat, the lace always finds a way to show through clothes.

14 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I have one black, two nude, one black/gray animal print, one bright magenta, one bright aqua, and one gray. All the same style, after trying on, like, every. single. style. at VS. And one nude convertible.

14 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Thanks, MaryK...I realize this will probably vary wildly from person to person, but it's interesting to see what people have. (Also, have to say, your bra selection colors/patterns seem SO you! lol)

14 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Heh. You should see my panties...

14 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

bada BING

14 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

hmmm....somewhere between 5 & 7 seems like a good # so that they don't collapse from exhaustion in a couple of months, though i think that depends on your size and how strong the bra is. i tend toward a bunch of nudes (i wear a lot of light clothes and nudes look find under black tops as well). i like some full coverage with regular set straps and some with a little lower cut and wide set straps.

i lean towards lacy bras and like to get some in subtle colors and patterns that 'pass' as nude under many blouses and tops, sounds as if you like the same! this one is pretty:

http://tinyurl.com/4xlv6t3

i have to say these Fantasie bras with 3-piece cups and side support provide amazing support and are really comfy (i wear a 34DD). pretty, too!

my mom just sews a piece of elastic onto her bra straps to 'convert' them to a racer back (not so her straps don't show, but so they don't fall off her shoulders). it's simple as pie even if you don't sew. you can buy 'converters' as well, search for 'bra keepers' or 'bra strap holders'. interesting thread, thank you for starting it! steph

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I think I have about 7, not counting sports bras. 1 black racerback, 1 white racerback, 1 tan convertible, 1 blue watercolor print convertible, 1 nude strapless/convertible, 1 nude t-shirt bra, and 1 fun multi color polka dot print demi t-shirt bra. I wear the nudes 80% of the time. No lace or anything other than lightly lined t shirt construction for me.

14 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I used to have black and gray and fun colors, but I didn't like having to match my bra to my top (or at least making sure that the bra color would work under my top). Now all of my bras are nude, which simplifies things. I have 3 everyday nude bras (but I only need 2), and 2 nude strapless bras. I started with one nude strapless bra, but in the summer I prefer to have two so that I can alternate bras and wear tank tops every day without my bra straps showing.

14 years ago

Dashrashi

Veteran

Hmmm. I just did a big cull of all my old-size bras, so now I'm down to:

--seamless plunge-ish/demi bra with wide-set straps for everyday: black, nude, and purple
--same bra but full-coverage "t-shirt" styling with narrower-set straps: black and nude
--va-va-voom push-up balconette: nude and red
--plunge pushup: black lace
--comfy pink one in my old size
--gorgeous nude with black trim in my old size--very 40s--I just can't get rid of it!
--non-molded seamed underwire: red lace
--boring nude non-molded cup which might be slightly too big
plus two sports bras and a strapless which is very meh.

14 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have at least 14 bras, and 3 new bras waiting in the wings. My splurge categories are premium denim and lingerie. I have bras from Natori, Calvin Klein, Simone Perele and Maidenform; these are my favorites. I have nudes, black, brown, pink, red, blue and cheetah. I have racerback bras, t-shirt bras, balconette, plunge bras and push-up bras. Oh and strapless too. I may have more than 14! I have several bras sitting in my drawers, barely worn, that didn't work out. Anyone need two Panache Superbras in size 32E?

Sometimes I need to have the straps shortened because I am short from bust to neck. I wonder if others have this problem? I am 5'4" but I think parts of my torso are built like someone who is smaller than that. I hate falling down straps. I recently had 4" of straps removed from a bra.

14 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

If no one wants the Panaches, I'll take them off your hand. Is this the balconette or the plunge style?

14 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

I never buy expensive merchandise since I stopped working but I have a more expensive bra in a cherry colour. I wasn't going to try it on as I thought it would show through light colours and maybe be weird under black. Well of course the exclusive store had all kinds of different weight and colour t's available to try on with your bra selections.

This bra, besides being beautiful and fits me like no other doesn't show through anything except very sheer blouses I'd probably want to wear a cami under anyway.

I only own one of this bra but it is the one I always take out of the drawer and make sure it is clean for any special event.

The point of this blathering is to say sometimes life can surprise you and if I were going bra shopping again, not necessarily for a more expensive bra, I'd throw a couple of standard tops in my bag and check them out at the store (preferably also at the front window where there is daylight).

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I have about 12, including for sleep and lounging. I need lots of bra variety. Some work better under fitted tops, some better under volume, some under buttondowns, some under knits or wovens, etc.

14 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Thanks, Maya, for chiming in. It sounds like 5-7 would be a good starting point for me, and then adding "specialty" as the need arises. I will be sticking to neutrals mostly (black, nude, the occasional gray) with some textural interest (ribbons, lace, etc). Fun!

14 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

So they say you should not wear the same bra 2 days in a row, but you can wear them 3+ times each (in summer I can only go once or twice) I prefer nude because I wear a lot of white tops, but I have colors because those always go on sale. I do buy better quality bras because they last and wear better. After losing weight I have changed sizes again so I'm slowly rebuilding my stash. Would like to get to 5-7 day bras plus 2 sport bras and 1 strapless. I don't count my bra camis but should because I prefer them in summer.
mrseccentric - I have that bra and LOVE it. I'm 34DDD/F.

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I'm wondering about the 'rule' of not wearing a bra 2 days in a row. I'm a smaller busted gal and can't see how 10 hours of wear, then 14 hours in the drawer before the next 10 hours of wear can really matter? It's not like I stress the very structure of the garment with each wear lol. Maybe I'm missing something.

14 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Mo, it's the elastic that needs the recovery time. Regardless of your cup size, it's getting stretched whenever you wear the bra.

14 years ago

Anonymous

I've recently changed size enough that I've had to replace all my bras, I've got 5..2 nude tee shirt, 1 black tee shirt, and one each black and nude strapless. I usually hand wash after each wearing so could get by with fewer. There's not much available in colors or lace in a 29 or 30 band in stores here and I've yet to try bra shopping on-lline

14 years ago

cheryl

Veteran

I have three black: cotton, satin and one fancy one with silver sequins Four lace: a solid bright pink with a rosette, a peachy floral racerback, a purple floral and a turquoise and lime green floral. A blue floral satin and a grey full coverage.

So 9 that i can think of and i find it odd to realize i have no white or nude...guess grey is my neutral.

14 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t know how many I have. What I landed with here are a floral demi-cup with blue straps that are very stretched out and a magenta front-closure racerback. I recently bought a cream-colored one, just to be able to wear light-colored tops.

I think you should definitely get the convertible, or a straight-up racerback. If you can find a front closure, in any style, go for that. The SA told me those are getting hard to find. I can’t understand why—they are so convenient, not to mention that they lie smoothly across your back.

Cocolion, I have the opposite problem—generally need to lengthen the straps nearly all the way. I also have a fairly large rib cage and relatively small cup size—36 B. The SA told me this is unusual, as is the placement of my breast, a little further apart than most. I remember when I started on here, someone insisted that she knows sizes so well, she could tell from my pictures that I didn’t have a 36 band size. When I’m feeling generous, I think that was because she couldn’t tell from pix that I’m tall/generally large, and maybe the unusual bits mentioned above confused her too.

7 years ago

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I like to have a couple of soft bras, without any padding or molding (maybe called a bralette?). These are comfy for light exercise or loungewear and I often sleep in them. They don’t make as nice of a silhouette as a regular bra does, but they look fine under several layers in winter. And I like how bright-colored ones look under floaty strappy summer tops.

7 years ago

Category