When a woman chooses underwear there are four main things that they look out for: fit, function, comfort and appearance. For a woman, her undergarments are the most intimate piece of clothing she will buy, therefore it is important to make the right choice. Goodladies lingerie can make an outfit whereas ill-fitting clothing can really ruin one. Good underwear should support and flatter a woman’s natural body shape and by taking the time to find some really good underwear you could disguise a multitude of sins!

Nowadays, the market is saturated with different types of bras, knickers and hosiery in different styles, designs, sizes and shapes. The options are so vast that you can’t help but feel overwhelmed when you step into the lingerie department! Today, you can get a type of underwear for just about any activity or outfit going. Specialist underwear for the gym, workplace, party wear, sexy underwear designed to spice up your love life and those that come with specialist woman’s health related issues are all available nowadays. The key to getting your underwear right is being able to strike a balance between need and your budget.

Before embarking on your underwear shopping spree, it is important to first get to grips with the different types of underwear out there. There are now close to 20 different styles of bra available on the market and here are just a few.

The first is the padded bra, a bra favoured by teenage girls and small-breasted women worldwide. The extra padding between the cups helps to boost volume and make breasts appear fuller.

The T-shirt bra is a favourite everyday piece. These bras are smooth and seamless so that they are undetected underneath a t-shirt. Great for everyday wear and will go with most outfits.

The sports bra is a must for sporty girls the world over. If you are taking part in any sort of physical sport you need to be wearing one of these as they are sturdier than regular bras and will give you the extra support you need. This bra will hold the breasts in place while you move providing you with extra comfort and minimising the risk of sagging later on in life.

Most women will wear an underwired bra at some point regardless of their breast size but most larger breasted women will favour this style. The bra has wire built into the underside of the cup to provide a lift and extra support. This type of bra is great for preventing sagging and lifting and shaping the breasts.

A strapless bra is great for when you are wearing a strapless dress or top on a night out. These come with or without under-wiring and can be worn underneath a see-through or sheer top or any outfit that exposes your shoulders.

The convertible bra is a great item to have in your underwear drawer as it provides you with a great range of options. This bra comes with adjustable and interchangeable straps so you can change the style of the bra depending on what you are wearing that day. Choose from one strap, no straps or both straps to ensure that your bra always fits in with what you’re wearing. Great for strapless tops and dresses, cross-back styles, and halter necks.

The minimiser bra is a favourite amongst plus sized women as they are designed to make the breasts look smaller by approximately one cup size. If you are self-conscious of the size of your bust or want it to look smaller in order to fit into a certain outfit then this is the bra for you.

When it comes to knickers, wearing the wrong sort can literally ruin your outfit. The wrong design can cling and accentuate problem areas whereas the right fit will smooth away any bumps or bulges.

Boy shorts and hipsters are a relatively new product and these tight, short shorts are great for smoothing out lumps and bumps on the hip and upper thigh area. They are also really comfortable.

Thongs are perfect if your outfit doesn’t allow for any excess material around your bum or is quite tight. The thong is made up of a small triangle of fabric at the front and a waistband that connects to the back. Within the thong category you can also get g-strings, v-strings, t-backs, Rios and tangas.

Shapewear is great way for both slim and plus sized women to smooth their silhouette and appear slimmer. These garments are comfortable and can dramatically change your shape under your clothes. There is now a large range of shapewear available on the high street; you can cover bulges on the waist, hide flabby arms, smooth flabby legs and firm up your bottom all with the right shapewear!

Good underwear can make you look and feel great so it really is worth spending the time building up your underwear collection and getting the foundations right underneath your clothes.