Bras are a favorite accessory of women, combining fashion and function, modesty and sensuality. The most important part of choosing a bra, though, is finding the right size. From Victoria's Secret and La Perla to Maidenform and WonderBra, factory-produced bras aren't manufactured with variations in body sizes in mind. Many women shop exclusively for bras in 'their size.' This may be a mistake, since sizes can vary in fit, even within brand. Instead, you may want to shop for bras which conform to and augment your natural curves.

You can go up a cup or down a size just to experiment. A good rule of thumb is to test out a bra's fit by reviewing your back in a mirror. Make sure the fabric doesn't pinch the skin in any way. You can compensate by getting a larger back-band size. Although this may seem like a shopping inconvenience, you'll notice a difference in terms of breathability and comfort.

Should you get wireless bras or go with the support of underwire? If you are a B-cup or higher, it may be best to go wired for extra support. A-cups may wish instead to get extra padding or lining--not underwire. Once you find a brand and a size that fits comfortably and looks good, you may want to invest in several bras--you never know when you're going to find a bra that suits your body so well.

In terms of getting the longest life from your bras, experts recommend hand washing to protect delicate materials. If you don't have the time or patience for hand washing, you can wrap your bras up in a lingerie bag and put them through the delicate cycle. Finally, always line dry your bras--this can add years to your undergarments.

Are you shopping for high-quality bras? Let's take a look at some of the more popular styles of bras and review the major bra manufacturers. Training bras are appropriate for women entering puberty. These tend to have soft cups rather than underwires and feature a relatively basic cotton or fabric construction. For day-to-day use, many women rely on what are known as full support bras, which cover the entire breast area.

Demi bras, otherwise known as balconette bras, feature fabric to protect the bottom half of the breasts. Demi bras are ideal for wearing with dressy outfits designed to reveal cleavage. Along those lines, you can find what are known shelf bras, which give support only to the extreme lower portion of the breast.

Nursing bras are engineered to help new mothers feed their babies. Since the breasts of new mothers tend to be tender, these bras lack underwiring and feature extremely soft padding. Another padded bra is the push-up bra, which features extra material to offer structural, aesthetic support to the cleavage. The Wonderbra, originally offered by Gossard and now marketed by Playtex, is perhaps the most famous push-up bra. It was introduced in the 1960s but hit a resurgence of popularity in the 1990s.

Very large breasted women may choose the opposite route and purchase minimizer bras, which act to reduce the size appearance of the bust. You can also find sports bras, which are intended for athletic use, as well as T-shirt bras, convertible bras, strapless bras, and mastectomy bras. Popular bra sellers include Victoria's Secret, the Gap, Banana Republic, and J. Crew.