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The majority of women forget to stock your lingerie drawer regularly with the bare essentials. Just because lingerie isn’t the first thing others see doesn’t mean it doesn’t play invaluable in your wardrobe and your self-esteem. Take stock of the bras and panties you do have, and make sure you’ve got everything on hand for the last minute party invite, backless dress, interview or active day at the park. Here’s a quick checklist of what every girl should own, complete with tips for what to look for when shopping:

The girl-next-door bra:
A smooth contoured, well-fitted bra that is comfortable to wear under t-shirts and when you are semi-active (not for sports, but sight-seeing, for example.) Light on lace, decorations and extras, this bra should be one you can wear with a thin summer shirt so that there aren’t unsightly bumps and ridges. Look for one with a thin padding to make up for uneven breast size. A lovely choice is the Chantelle Senso Multipositional T-Shirt Bra; it comes in a neutral sand color so that it blends nicely with any color t-shirt.

The little-black-dress bra:
A black bra is a must for dark colored evening wear when a strap might show, this bra won’t stick out like s sore thumb. Black lace is an especially attractive, sexy choice. It’s also a good idea to make sure your black bra has a plunging neckline; for a blouse or dress that goes low in the front, this bra will do the trick. An especially pretty example is the Cosabella Ceylon Demi Cup Bra—unusual and sexy.

The strapless bare-it-all bra:
With tank tops, tube tops, or dresses, this bra will save the day by laying low and letting your shoulders take the lime light. Be sure to watch for sturdy structure and support, since this bra won’t have straps to keep it in place. Prima Donna offers Prima Donna Satin Strapless Bra (http://www.bitsoflace.com/prima-donna-bras.html); classy elegant and easy to wear.
The night-on-the-town bra:
Make this a push-up bra. This is the bra you can splurge on—it can be any color your want (pink, purple, blue or even see-thru) and might have lace, rhinestones, sequins or feathers. You should feel beautiful when you put this bra on. Remember, if this is the type of bra you might wear going out on the town or dancing, don’t sacrifice beauty for support. It’s always fun to make this bra a push-up to accentuate your figure. One tip when picking this out: Go with your very first impulse—when you’re shopping, is there a bra that says to you, “Do you dare?” A popular choice is the Prima Donna Deauville Demi Cup Bra, in black or natural.

The tea-party bra:
Charming, conservative and good coverage, this bra is perfect for baby showers, job interviews and church. It can be worn under linen blouses and white button down shirts. No see-thru fabric should be anywhere on this bra, and it should hold you firmly in place, with a sturdy underwire, without exploiting your shape. Off-white or white lace can be a nice touch. When picking it out, look for a bra that your grandmother would approve of, the word here is “tasteful.” Chantelle Tamaris Full Cup Bra comes in mother of pearl, a perfect choice of elegant, classy look.

The sporty-spice bra:
Depending on how often you exercise, you might want more than one good sports bra, but you must have at least one. This should be a bra that holds you firmly in place when jogging or doing other types of vigorous exercise. One big tip—getting a light wick-away fabric can keep you from getting rashes or irritations under breasts or arms when working out. You don’t have to drop the big bucks on this, a great standby is the C9 by Champion® Seamless Bra.

The anti-panty-line thong:
It’s a good idea to have more than one of these. No one likes to have eye-catching panty lines. And don’t forget, thongs or g-strings tend to be pretty sexy to the opposite sex. Fitted pants, shorts or skirts will look many times better with this thong underneath. This is more about impulse than brand—go with what is comfortable rather than choosing by brand.

The rainy day panties:
Sometimes you need to take a break from sexy. This is a pair of panties that is comfortable to wear, preferably cotton, made of a thin material, without seams on the edges that are too tight. They should give you the same feeling your favorite t-shirt does. Target offers a terrific cotton panty that doesn’t tug or pull in the least and comes in all sizes and colors, the Gilligan & O’Malley Ultimate panty.

The in-the-nude panties:
White skirts, white pants or lightweight pastel colored bottoms can reveal your underwear, especially if they are bright or loud colors or fabrics. That’s why it’s always good to have a nude colored pair of panties so that they blend with the color of your skin, rather sticking out like a sore thumb.

The “I’m-too-sexy” panties:
Go crazy when looking for these, ladies. Use the same tips for night-on-the-town bra—when shopping for this essential, go with your first instinct, have fun, and don’t let yourself be modest. Your inner playgirl should come out on these panties; you need to feel beautiful and attractive, especially when you put on this pair of panties! Whether you’re up for brands like Simone Perele, Prima Donna or Victoria Secret, just make sure that you feel absolutely gorgeous.

Obviously with panties, you will want several pairs, but having at least one of each type listed above is necessary for any occasion. Considering your weight and bra size might fluctuate several times in one year, between weight loss or gain, exercise, birth control or age, it’s good to check on your supplies every six months, and get a bra fitting once a year. To be prepared for every occasion, make sure you stay on top of your lingerie essentials, and above all, pamper yourself; your lingerie drawer should make you feel gorgeous for any occasion!