The lazy way to buy great lingerie

Want to buy a new bra, but can’t decide which brand is best? Contours Magazine has just had their inaugural Intimate Apparel awards, highlighting the best lingerie in a variety of categories, from t-shirt bras to beautiful sets. These awards are a great way to quickly pick out new lingerie that’s been recognised for its quality, so we’ve done all the hard work and found where you can buy all the winners. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of our labour!

Best T-Shirt Bra

A good t-shirt bra is just as important as your most glamorous set, so it’s important to get a great one that will stay smooth and supportive. Contours couldn’t quite decide for this award, and chose two winners: first, Chantelle won for its fantastic T-shirt bra (above left), available up to a size G and available for £33 at Figleaves UK. US readers, you can grab the bra for $64 at Figleaves US. Le Mystere was the second winner, and for good reason — they’re a fantastic brand that focus on getting a great fit. Their “Tisha” t-shirt bra (pictured above right) has a lovely cut and is beautifully seamless, perfect under your favourite tee. You can get the Tisha for $60 at Bare Necessities, or fuller cups can get the Dream Tisha for $66. For even more options, check out our t-shirt bra recommendations in a recent Ask Knickers column.

See the rest of the winners by clicking below!

Best Daywear Lingerie

If you want to look fantastic every day but still need lingerie that’s practical, Contours recommends Rene Rofe as your perfect choice. Rene Rofe offers a variety of collections, from the simple to the sexy, but all sets will work just as well under your suit as in the bedroom. Our favourite pick is this cheeky cherry-print set, but you can check out Rene’s full collection at their website.

Best Robes and Loungewear

If you’d prefer to slip into something a little more comfortable, Contours has chosen Jonquil as your ideal loungewear. Known for its romantic and glamorous negligees and robes, Jonquil creates loungewear that’s both comfortable and beautiful. You can buy the white gown pictured above for $210, or the peach gown for $165. Both gowns also have a matching chemise and robe.

Best Large-Cup Bras

The next award is a critical one — who makes the best large-cup (D+) bras? Contours has wisely chosen Wacoal, an institution in bra-making and well loved by women for their legendary fit. For a large-cup bra that looks great, try the Wacoal Renaissance Rose Underwired Bra (pictured above left) for $56, or for a smooth-line bra, try the Bodysuede bra for $55. Unfortunately, we could only find Wacoal bras up to a size F, so if you’re still looking for a fantastic larger cup bra, try checking out Jodi Gallaer and Miss Mandalay (currently having a sale!), two new brands dedicated to larger-cup sizes.

Best Control/Shapewear

Every woman needs that oh-so-practical shapewear that makes them look amazing in that oh-so-fabulous dress. Contours recommends Rago, a well-known name in shapewear that offer everything from waist-controlling shapewear (pictured above right, £38 in the UK, and strangely $38 in the US as well) to bum-enhancing shapewear knickers (£25 in the UK, $25 in the US too). Sizes range from small to XX-large, so if you haven’t tried shapewear for those special occasions, here’s the brand to try. If you like the idea but fancy something a bit more glamorous, try Spanx shapewear, a favourite of celebs like Gweneth Paltrow.

Best Bridal Lingerie

Bridal lingerie is a tricky category — brides have the difficult task of finding lingerie that is both practical enough to fit with her gown and support her on the big day, and also lovely enough to be worthy of wearing under her wedding dress. Contours erred on the side of beauty and chose Le Caprice de Marie as their favourite bridal lingerie, undoubtedly because of Caprice’s luxurious pieces and beautiful styles. We love this gently poka-dotted pink silk set ($193), and if you’re looking for something more romantic, try the ornate Seductrice set, which has a basque perfect for a wedding day. For similarly luxurious lingerie, try Spoylt’s amazing bridal collection — much like Caprice de Marie, their pieces are extra-special for a wedding day, and Spoylt also offers an online wedding registry service for brides.

Best Maternity Lingerie

Finally, Contours turned to another pivotal stage in a woman’s life — motherhood. Elle Machpherson took the crown in this category, awarded for her nursing bras that are as lovely as they are practical. The La Mere maternity bra (pictured above left) is available for sizes up to DD for £33 or $55 in the US, or for non-underwired option, try the Maternelle bra for £30, or $50 in the US.
The nursing/maternity lingerie market has grown significantly over the past few years, and in addition to Elle Machperson, Amoralia, Condessa and Bella Materna have all succeed in blending beautiful lingerie with a mother’s practical needs. Contours might have chosen Elle Macpherson as their favourite, but all four are well-worth checking out for maternity lingerie.