Bras are an absolute basic in a woman's wardrobe. But the wide variety of styles available sometimes makes it tough to choose what's best for your bust. Size and proper fit are obvious considerations, but keep in mind that different bras lend themselves to specific activities, special occasions and particular looks. Read on for an overview of this important undergarment. Styles & Solutions Underwire — The most basic consideration when buying a bra is whether you want to get wired. It's pretty much a requirement in strapless or push-up styles and most larger cup sizes, but with improvements in wire flexibility and cushioning, most underwire bras are now all-day wearable. Wireless or Soft-Cup — Undercup features like inner fabric slings that act like a soft underwire, sewn-in foam supports and heavier, seamed, construction have taken the soft-cup bra out of the "leisure" league and into everyday wear. Most choices in this category are both surprisingly comfortable and properly supportive. Of course you can still find extra-cushy leisure and "sleep" bras in soft-cup style. Full Coverage & Full Support – These styles cover most of the breast and provide fuller figures with firm support. They don't have to be dowdy, though. Seamless and molded cups look sleek and modern, and there are plenty of seriously supportive bras that feature lace, ribbons and bows along with their non-stretch padded straps and extra hook-and-eye back closures. Minimizer — A wardrobe saver when worn under button-front shirts. These bras compress your bustline's projection to eliminate gaping problems, but are also good for giving your figure a slimmer, more streamlined silhouette under any outfit. Typically targeted for fuller-figured women, they're carefully constructed to flatter, not flatten, and can usually reduce down one cup size. Seamless & T-Shirt– Absolutely essential no matter your bust size, they'll not only look smooth and sleek under tighter t-shirts and jumpers, but are also very comfortable to wear. With no extraneous decoration or cup seaming, they blend beautifully with even the clingiest of clothes. Look for light padding, or a foam lining for extra modesty under revealing fabrics. Demi – A popular choice for smaller bustlines, it's also known as the "half-cup" because the coverage is half that of a full-cup bra. These can be sweet or sexy, unlined or padded, seamless or a bit racier for special occasions. Generally more flattering than their full-coverage cousins, their wider-set straps and lower profile are ideal under wide or plunging necklines. Push-up & Padded – For maximum cleavage, or anytime you want to boost your bust, try one of these clever enhancers. Push-up styles are typically underwired and feature some sort of padding (water, gel, air or foam inserts) in cups that are angled to bring the breasts closer together. Padding can also be found in many conventional bra designs and usually adds a full cup size. Strapless – A must-have for pairing with the obvious, like strapless dresses, but it's also the best foundation under strppy frocks, fancy camisoles, even tops with wide necklines. The best have lots of silicone banding along the underband and back wings, and three rows of hook-and-eye closures, for a secure fit. Wear a padded version for maximum glamour. Convertible – Basically, the best of both worlds. You'll have a strapless for when you need it, but a set of removeable straps turn this style back into a conventional bra as well. By detaching and re-arranging the straps you can also create a halter, one-shoulder, or criss-cross bra. Some versions come with a pair of clear straps for a little help with show-through. Sports – Another important bra choice and a very practical one at that. Choose your level of support based on the intensity of your sport or exercise, your bra size, and the kind of cushy extras you'd like. Microfibre and other specially designed moisture-wicking fabrics keep you dry, racer-backs insure that straps stay put, and multi-hook fasteners in the front or back keeps fabric stretch to a minimum. Maternity & Nursing – Buying a bra made especially for the changes your body goes through during pregnancy is a wise idea. These specialty bras are usually made of ultra-comfortable materials like stretch cotton or cool microfibre, with no-poke underwires standard. Most experts advise purchasing these during your fourth month of pregnancy. Post-baby you'll appreciate the clever and perfectly practical drop down cups of a nursing bra. Getting a Good Fit With a reported seventy percent of women wearing an incorrect bra size, my advice would be to make a visit to a fit expert at your local department store. Do this once every couple of years or whenever you gain or lose weight, start a vigorous exercise program, or become pregnant (and again after you stop breast-feeding). With so many variations on the standard do-it-yourself bra sizing guide, it only makes sense to go to a professional to get the best, most personalized fit information you can. That said, most every online bra merchant will have special fitting guide pages that will assist you with sizing. These aren't as accurate as having an expert fit you in person, but they're handy for double-checking measurements or re-assessing your bra size after minor weight gains or losses, etc. Bra Care All bras should be considered "delicate care" items, not just those lacy diaphanous varieties you buy for special occasions. Hand wash all of your bras if possible, but if it's easier to machine wash them, first fasten them closed, place them in a lingerie bag (there are even sturdier wash bags designed especially for bras) and launder them with a gentle detergent in cold water on a short delicate cycle. Always drip dry afterwards, never machine dry. To retain its shape, try not to wear the same bra more than one or two days in a row. Store your bras in an uncrowded drawer, being careful to stack contoured, molded and t-shirt bras side-by-side without bending the underwire or crushing the cups. Soft-cup and unlined underwire bras can be folded in the middle and placed on top of each other if you need more space