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. If you’re particularly large-chested, plus size or have found your breasts have grown a lot through pregnancy and postnatally, Molke will make a bra that fits. Ranging from a 26A to a 50M, they offer a wider range of sizes than many other brands, with a crossover design that changes with your body, making them perfect as you grow through pregnancy and then as your breastmilk comes in.

The Molke bras aren’t just nursing bras either, they’re actually made for everyone, but have been designed in such a way it means you can move the cup down to access your breast for feeding or pumping. They don't have nursing clips, but the bra is made of stretchy fabric and are super soft. The benefit of not having nursing clips means you can free your boob with one hand for easy nursing! 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. It may be a case of trying one type of nursing bra and seeing how it feels once your baby has arrived and you’re in the midst of feeding. You may even find you can adjust an existing regular bra using a bra extender during pregnancy and wait before committing to a nursing bra. 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. 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.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." Hotmilk offers something for every breastfeeding mum. Whether you want underwire or not, need a larger size or value comfort as well as practicality, these bras are very popular with our Community parents. Searching for your perfect bra can feel like a never-ending journey. For starters, there are so many styles to choose from — strapless, bralettes, wireless and more with differences in padding, closures and support. It can feel nearly impossible to buy one that’ll meet your needs, fit you properly and feel comfortable enough to wear all day long. On top of that, bras can get pricey, so you want to make sure you’re investing in a quality bra that will feel good, look good and hold up well over time. Experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab test bras of all kinds and have evaluated more than 200 styles with over 500 real users in the last few years. Altogether, we've collected upwards of 6,500 data points to help us find the best bra styles for different preferences and body types. 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. Making sure a nursing bra is the right fit is important. This may mean being fitted regularly to ensure you’re wearing the right size. Some shops offer this service in their stores, with other brands having online virtual fitting services for their customers. If you’re unsure or cannot get to a fitting, measure yourself at home and use the brand’s online size guide before purchasing. Washability: Each bra is repeatedly laundered according to its care label and assessed for aspects like shrinkage and appearance after washing. It's a traditional bra that's ideal for everyday wear thanks to its foam cups, supportive underwire, adjustable straps and hook-eye closure. It has plenty of coverage throughout, yet remains invisible under most clothing, though a few testers shared that the lace straps were noticeable under some tops. It also comes in a variety of colors — including neutral shades and vibrant hues — and a wide range of cup sizes. 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.

The band should be level with your ribcage without riding up, and the center gore, the section of the bra that stretches between the two cups, should lie flat against your breastbone. 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. 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: 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. The range of nursing bras on the market is now broader than ever, offering something for everyone, whatever your size. Many also cross from maternity to nursing and accommodate the changes your body will make as you move from pregnant to the postnatal stage.This style earned the top spot in our tests and our panel, including those with both small and large cup sizes, rated it the most comfortable bra of the bunch. On top of that, it proved to be durable in our Lab testing; it washed well and retained its shape even after we stretched it out. In fact, it's the bra our own experts have preferred to wear for years, even after trying dozens of styles on the market. Your breasts will continue to change in the weeks following labour, so you may not want to invest in several of the same style or size until you know which you prefer and which is practical when it comes to feeding your baby. Sometimes, a certain occasion or life event may call for a bra that you wouldn’t typically need. Our range has you covered on all fronts. Here, you’ll find a range of maternity and nursing bras for all you mums and mums-to-be, as well as sports bras for those who love nothing more than hitting the gym. We even have our bras for bigger busts selection for all those ladies that need a larger cup. Plenty of women's bras to offer The wired nursing bras in the range use flexiwire to make them more comfortable, but there are plenty of options without underwire for those who don’t want the additional structure.