Here's some advice from Diane Thomson, owner of Diane's Lingerie in Vancouver;

How do you know if your bra straps are adjusted correctly?

Your nipples should be halfway between your shoulder and your elbow.

An underwire bra will always lift your breasts higher. The back of the wire has to be at the back of the breast. If an underwire bra hurts, it’s the wrong size. You start out wearing a good bra and good lingerie, you can take on the world.

What's the hottest trend in bras these days?

Smooth moulded bras are where it’s at, because they stop you from inadvertently shining your high-beams. This fall, chocolate brown and nude are our leading colours, plus black.

Thompson stocks over 5,500 bras in her store, sizes 30 to 56, cups A to JJ, starting at $30. (Most are in the $80-to-$120 range.) A basic wardrobe, she advises, includes a convertible bra such as the store’s best-selling five-way style, from the Belgian-made Marie Jo line. You also need a couple for everyday; one pretty one such as the Prima Donna deep-cleavage bra in all-over lace; one or two sports bras; and, for completely backless dresses, the Clear Wing Bra, which has transparent sides that stick to your skin. New bras will last up to a year if you take care of them by using a lingerie bag if you put them in the washing machine, and gentle detergent. Never toss them into the dryer, because it eats right into the Lycra.