When I was a kid, my friends and I would make jokes about Victoria’s Secret: the bra cups are infused with chemicals that will permanently make your boobs bigger, any male who buys gifts there actually gets an amazing discount, the mysterious “Victoria” is actually a man who is selling his personal lingerie collection.

Well, earlier this week, Victoria’s Secret finally got out. It’s not pretty, it has nothing to do with being sexy, and it’s not even the least bit funny.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg Markets Magazine released an investigative report linking the lingerie company to child labor practices in West Africa: Victoria’s Secret manufactures its cotton underwear in Sri Lanka, using textiles made in factories in India; a portion of those fabrics use cotton picked in the country of Burkina Faso, a landlocked country that was supposed to produce organic, fair trade cotton. Victoria’s Secret originally entered into the production deal in 2007 with the goal of ”improving the lives of some of the world’s poorest women and children through the responsible sourcing of cotton,” yet was unknowingly exploiting children and endorsing the practices they aimed to fight.

The article follows Clarisse, a 13-year-old child laborer who was pulled out of school to work in cotton fields, doing everything from carving plots that span the size of four football fields to fighting away harmful bugs usually controlled by inorganic pesticides, all while barefoot and susceptible to 100-degree heat during the summer planting season. And what happens if Clarisse gets tired and slows down? Let the farmer himself share his genius technique: “I sometimes beat her…This is when I give her work and she doesn’t deliver.”

The parent company Limited Brands released a statement:

“If this allegation is true, it describes behavior that is contrary to our company’s values and the code of labor and sourcing standards that we require all of our suppliers to meet,” the statement said. “These standards expressly prohibit child labor.” CNN reported that the company claimed to have immediately “began working with key stakeholders internally and externally to fully investigate this matter…we are prepared to take swift action to prevent the illegal use of child labor in the fields where we source Fairtrade-certified organic cotton in Burkina Faso.”

Though the news is shocking to those at VS headquarters, the practices are nothing new to farmers and regulators in Burkina Faso. The U.S. Labor Department has repeatedly cited the country for the worst forms of child labor, while the State Department has done the same regarding child trafficking to conventional cotton fields there. Somehow, this flew under the radar; even Fairtrade International, the world’s largest group of its kind, certified that Burkina Faso’s organic crop met its standards.

Some people are saying that though not all of VS’ cotton supply comes from Burkina Faso, the company should be boycotted; Victoria’s Secret should’ve been more aware of their own contracted labor practices, even if fair trade officials weren’t. However, others argue that it’s just another part of American consumerism that we customers blindly support.

For example, if you wear jeans, use eye shadow, or own a pair of gold earrings, you have at least 8.3 slaves working for you — according to Slavery Footprint, a new online campaign launched in collaboration with the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, created to raise awareness of modern day slavery. Here’s another not-so-fun fact: there are more slaves in the world today – an estimated 27 million people – than at any other time in history.

After taking the interactive, online lifestyle survey, it’s clear that it isn’t just our overpriced cotton underwear that’s supporting modern day slavery: it’s everything. Daily essentials like cars and coffee, college staples like smartphones and laptops. Oranges, cocktail shrimp, mascara and mouthwash, the list goes on.

Find out your Slavery Footprint now — college students can enter the Slavery Footprint Campus Challenge for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards!

Read the full Bloomberg article here and watch the video coverage online.

What’s your Slavery Footprint? Will you continue to shop at Victoria’s Secret? What companies are endorsing these practices, unknowingly or otherwise?

Ashley is a UC San Diego grad who is holding on way too tightly to a potential career in magazines and goes to Vegas all too often. She’s fascinated with celebrities and strawberry beer and doubles as a pathological texter/emailer/blogger. Feed the addiction with tweets @cashleelee. Thanks in advance.

It’s the end of the year and as you start packing up your stuff to head home for the summer, you might notice the effect the dryer has had on your undies. Yes, after a year of industrial dryers your delicates are probably looking a little frayed and a lot tattered.

What better way to refresh your spring wardrobe than with some pretty new underthings?

Underwear is an easy way to incorporate new trends into your wardrobe with minimal expense. You can add stripes and florals, and lots of colors and patterns without breaking the bank. While you might not be showing off your undies to the world, knowing you have pretty things underneath will make you feel prettier, sexier, and overall just better. (And chances are, you are showing them off to somebody, so don’t you want to put your best….ahem….’foot’ forward?)

If I’ve got you convinced that you need to refresh your collection of underwear, I’ve got 15 items to get you thinking, each more beautiful than the one before!

[Click on any item to shop!]

I still can’t figure out why a store like Victoria’s Secret, who base all their advertising on women with luscious big breasts, doesn’t carry most lingerie in their stores above a C. Am I missing something here?

It’s all routed in a vicious cycle of girls wanting what they can’t have. I’ve always heard my smaller-chested friends whining about wanting bigger boobs when I and my more endowed friends begged for smaller ones. And I’m not even one of those poor girls that has to shop above the A-D range (bless your heavy-chested hearts), so why has it always been so hard? Well, thanks to online shopping and places like BareNecessities.com, we can find beautiful bras, like this one from Felina, for a fantastic price in a wide range of sizes, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Honestly, the first thing I noticed about this bra was the price. Almost half of what Victoria’s Secret charges for their bras and the sizes range from a B-DDD. Am I the only one who didn’t know a triple D existed? Things get a little fuzzy for me after the D mark, but this bra is perfect if you hover around that size. And for a bonus – if the size you picked doesn’t fit just right, the site will pay for your shipping to exchange it. Both ways.

This bra manages to be both gorgeous and sexy, without being too cutesy. The pink is a wonderful Valentine option (order 2-day shipping to get it in time!) and it’s not too frilly to wear on a day-to-day basis. The demi-cup style (meaning it’s really only the lower half of a cup) gives great lift and shows off just the right amount of the amazing shape it creates, which also makes it perfect for giving you just a hint of cleavage in clothes without a risqué plunging neckline. This is a bra that’s working for you under you clothes and working for him without any, and gives you the confidence to navigate from one to the other. There’s a bra that’s worth way more than $32.

Even though I may still need to work out with two sports bras (and women get boob jobs why??) at least I won’t be shedding any more tears in department stores any time soon. Unless I find something wonderful that’s out of my price range, which is all the more reason to continue shopping online where no one can hear the sobs.

See what else Julia’s jonesing for right here.

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like Valentine's Day!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

I really thought that this trend was going to die last year, but apparently, I really missed it on that call. From what I have seen so far from the runways and red carpets, sheer is back for spring. And I’m not just talking sheer here – I’m talking “hello world, here’s my bra” no tank top, sheer. I give it up to models, they can strut down the runway in just about anything and make it seem like an OK idea, but in the real world, can anybody make this work?

On the one hand, I kinda like the idea of sheer – it’s sexy and, let’s face it, this is probably the only time in my life I’m going to have a body that can come anywhere close to being OK that uncovered. Plus, I have a lot of pretty bras that I never really wear because they show under clothes, so sheer could definitely help get my money’s worth on that front (and the boy toy gives a thumbs up to anything that involves seeing bras). While I might not be as bold with it as some of the celebs I’ve seen (holy crap, Leighton!) a sheer top + cute bra + jacket could totally be cute for grabbing a drink with the girls. Hey, as long as we’ve got youth on our side, we might as well embrace it, right?

But like it or not, from the time I first started wearing a bra I was taught to make sure that it didn’t show through my clothes. For almost every life situation I’ve been in it’s good advice – showing up to an interview flashing your lacy underthings = not a good idea – which means that this sheer look would only work in very specific circumstances. And let’s face it, this is a look that’s going to get you a lot of attention whether you like it or not, so you have to go in prepared to fend off the catcalls and unavoidable drunken stares at the bar.

I admit, I’ve had my little forays with sheer, but at the end of the day, that mom voice inside my head keeps whispering “people can see your bra” and I end up spending the whole day with my arms folded across my chest. Am I just being a prude, or is this look a little too fashion-forward for the real world? Will you rock out with your, um, bra out this spring? Or is this a look best left to the runways?

Duke it out ladies!

If I know one thing it’s that girls who only shop at Victoria’s Secret for the bras/panties/sexy lingerie are really missing out. That Vicki has a lot more to offer than lacy underthings that make your boobs look huge; Victoria’s Secret is also an awesome place to stock up on clothes, shoes and beauty products. They even have jeans that give your butt some lift!

VS is truly a one-stop-shop for all your girlie needs and the best news is, you can find things within your college gal budget (i.e. under $20). Shop on, ladies. Shop on!

Henley sweaters are a casual and comfy way to keep cozy this season, and not only is this on sale for $19, but you get a free scarf with your purchase as well! Score!

Ok, so technically this set of bras isn’t under $20, but it’s 2 bras for $32, which brings each down to only $16 a pop. (That’s only $8 a boob!) Where can you find a deal like that on good quality comfy bras? Nowhere.

Lip gloss should always be in your purse and with a 5 for $20 deal on all Victoria’s Secret makeup, you can stock up on a whole bunch of items that’ll help ya look lovely. Seriously, the VS makeup is really great quality stuff and I highly recommend loading up.

Leggings are my go-to during winter months; they tuck into boots fabulously, look adorable with oversized sweaters, and for those really cold days, you can put them under your jeans.  VS has these that are 2/$20 and come in a wide array of colors. I definitely plan on stocking up (no pun intended).

No, I don’t know why this girl is wearing pajamas to go bike riding in a prairie, but I do know that when you’re looking for comfort, the Pink collection is the way to go. These pants are great for lounging in your dorm, at home during the holidays, or when you need to run out to get a Gatorade on a Saturday morning.

I happen to think that sweaters are totes cute and I always look forward to sweater weather. And this sweater is one of the reasons why. I love the turtleneck, sleeve length and button details, and at $15, you can’t go wrong.

These panties manage to pull off sweet & sexy at the same time, and the hipster and cheeky cut will do wonders for your tush. With so many cute prints/colors to choose from, I’d be hard-pressed to find a reason not to grab up multiple pairs…

Wrap tops are flattering on every figure and do a great job of accentuating your curves. Mix that perk with the fact that this cotton top will be comfortable enough to wear to lecture and sexy enough to wear for a girls’ night out and you’ve got yourself the perfect addition to your fall/winter wardrobe!

P.S. If you shop today, you can take an extra 20% off one item! Let’s all give thanks to our new BFF, Victoria!

America has more name brands than Law and Order reruns and while you may want to go unload your entire check at GAP or Abercrombie, you don’t want to buy something that you thought was cute and unique and later have buyer’s remorse when you see something identical for less.

I’m not encouraging you to start buying knock off Jimmy Choos from Payless and wanna-be BCBG dresses at Walmart (although, just throwing it out there, you may find some very GOOD knock offs). All I’m saying is you should know that EVERY store is competing with another store and when you shop competitively, you save money. Money that you can use to stimulate the economy…or your wardrobe.

So I thought I’d help you sift through the proverbial mall and figure out which stores are best for your budget. Each week I’ll be comparing apples to apples (or undies to undies) to give you the real deal and arm you with the knowledge you need to make the wisest wardrobe choices. Ready. Set. SHOP.

Aerie vs. Victoria Secret Pink
Whoa, didn’t see that one coming did you? In fact, some of you are sitting on your bed thinking, “Are you serious, there is no competition!”or “Those two aren’t even the same.” Well, ladies, think again.

PINK
You know Victoria’s Secret Pink.

History
You’ve been to Pink before so I’m not going to bore you with a description of the store, but here is a little info on that brightly lit store blinding you on your way to Starbucks.

* Since its creation, Pink has been hailed the #1 Loungewear brand in the World (well at least, according to LimitedBrands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Pink).
* In 2008, VS launched their “Exclusive Collegiate Co-branded Collection” and they currently own the rights to more than 33 colleges and universities in the country.
* They are best known for their loose fitting, extra soft sweatpants boasting giant peace signs.
* Some of their most popular items are their PINK tote bags and new, trendy college hoodies.

Pricing
Thong: $9.50 (or 5 for $25)
Bra: (about) $30
T-shirt: $15
Sweatpants: $30 (or 2 for $50)
“Frilly” panties: $9.50 (or 5 for $25)
“Plain” panties: $7.50 (or 5 for $25)
Shoes: $35
Other adorable stuff: $20 (except for that adorable mascot puppy; he’s usually free!)

Now for the competition:

Aerie
It’s new, it’s cute and, YES, it’s competing with VS Pink.

History
* In 2006, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., the parent company of American Eagle Outfitters, launched their “intimates sub-brand,” Aerie.
* They take a more pastel approach to the “dorm-wear” fad
* Their simplistic, yet dainty color schemes of light blues and pinks makes them appeal to less brazen crowd.
* On October 13, 2009, Aerie’s Customer Loyalty Pass (aka their A-List Pass that some of you currently own) surpassed over 1 million in a little over a year, which is pretty big deal for a newer store.
* The ambiance of the store is enough to pull even the most timid shopper in.

Pricing
Thong: $7.50 (or 5 for $25), $10.50 (or 4 for $25) and $12.50 (or 3 for $25). The most expensive individual thong you can buy is $14.50.
Bra: $24
T-shirt: $20 (or BOGO)
Sweatpants: $34.50
“Frilly” panties: $10.50 (or 4 for $25)
“Plain” panties: $7.50 (or 5 for $25)
Shoes: No shoes, they cut those about 6 months ago, but they sell booties and slipper socks that’ll run you about $29.50 each
Other adorable stuff: $ 20

You be the Judge
So, what did YOU guys think? According to survey of 30 girls or so, this is what you guys said:

- 81.8% of you guys said you prefer Pink to Aerie
- Every month, 50% of you girls spend between $25-$75 in Aerie or Pink
- 82.6% of you guys shop at Victoria ‘sSecret more than you do American Eagle.

When asked what you hated or loved about Aerie OR Pink, this is what you said:

“I love Pink because it offers me a variety of retail and it’s fun, flirty, and fresh.”
“Aerie just doesnt appeal to me. Something about it seems rugged and not sexy enough.”
“Sweatpants should never cost $70. Too expensive”
“Aerie is boring”
“I don’t like the way PINK bras fit, they’re too low cut for me and I feel like I’m falling out of them all day.”

At the end of the day, neither store is traditional nor is either store “cheap,” but in both, you can expect to find something that will make you smile and something super comfy to wear to class. Or maybe something you can take off for your male friend later…

What do you have to say? Which do you prefer?

With Halloween on the way, thing are getting sexed up, so it only seems right that we get down to discussing the bare minimum of sexy coverings – lingerie.

On one side, practically every woman I know owns at least a couple of sets of racy underpinnings, and there’s a good reason for it. Completely aside from the obvious “look sexy for sex” aspect of lingerie (let’s face it, if clothes are coming off, guys care less about the undies than what’s under them) there’s a certain mental boost that comes from wearing pretty things – even if no one else gets to see them. Like putting on a great set of heels, the right underwear can change your mood, maybe even make you want to be ballsier/flirtier/whateverer and pump up your game. And in turn, that feeling can lead to all sorts of good things, including sex.

Another bonus on the lingerie side is that brands like Victoria’s Secret and websites like figleaves have brought sexy (and wearable) lingerie into reasonable prices, so now we can all afford to have a little more “badda-bing” in our lives.  And yeah, the average guy probably couldn’t tell La Perla from Fruit of the Loom, but pretty underthings are still probably going to get his heart pounding better than the rose-printed cotton ones your grandma bought you in high school. When you look sexy, you feel sexy, and do any of us really wake up in the morning and say “I just wish I weren’t so damn sexy!” (well, maybe on a good day).

But, there are a lot of downsides to lingerie too. There’s still a pretty big disconnect between the sexy stuff and stuff you can really wear – with all the bumps and lacy bits, it almost inevitably shows under your clothes – not to mention all of the itchy-itchy, pokey-pokey. And, again like shoes, despite the meager amount of fabric involved, the really good stuff is nigh unreachable for those of us on a student budget. More than all of that though, are the implications from lingerie. For the sake of time, I’m going to ignore the “lingerie is sexist” part of the argument; it’s pretty easy to figure out and has been made other places. To me, the biggest problem comes from the lingerie industry itself – an industry that in many ways is more “size-ist” than any other segment of fashion.

I have long heard my chesty friends lament about how there just aren’t pretty bras made in their sizes, or how those that are don’t give them what they need in the support and comfort category. Meanwhile, those of us whose cups do not runneth over are faced with an overwhelming quantity of push-ups and cup additions that practically scream “you’re boobs aren’t big enough!” And all of the really high end stuff? Most of it seems to be made for girls who have so little body fat, they could practically go bra-less anyway.

What do you say? Is lingerie just the little ego boost you need? Or will you be sticking to the flesh toned undies that keep you in place and in comfort?

The vast majority of us can’t stand our strapless bras–and that needs to change.

So, being the do-gooder that I am, I decided to go on a hunt for the best strapless bras around and bring them all to you. Trust me, I know all about the woes of the strapless, so I was very discriminating on my search.

These strapless boulder-holders are the best out there; they may even clear things up for our dear friend Katie.

Stays Put– No Matter What:
The number one strapless issue is definitely their inability to stay where they’re freakin’ supposed to. We all dread wriggling around trying to find a discreet way to hike up our slowly slipping bras (and most of us have concluded there is no discreet way to do so). These bras will make sure you never have to do the embarrassing wiggle dance while talking to a cute guy ever again.

Wacoal “Halo Lace”

Pretty, lacy and heavy duty underwire? Check, check and check.  A strip of silicone beading all the way around the bra (not just on the back straps) will make sure that no matter how hard you bump, grind or hail a cab, you won’t have to re-adjust.

Frederick’s of Hollywood No Slip Strapless

It’s sleek and simple, and with silicone lined straps and extra adhesive in the cups, Frederick’s promises you it won’t budge.

Invisible:
So that beautiful purple blouse hanging in your closet has been calling your name since you bought it for, like, 30% off. The only problem? You figured out why it was so discounted when you tried it on with your go-to strapless—and saw tacky lines running across the middle of your chest. These bras swear that those lines will disappear, no matter how clingy the material of your top.

Fashion Forms “Infinity”

This backless, strapless, self-adhesive comes in cup sizes A-D, and is available in nude or black. I usually wouldn’t even bother with a sticky bra until I read what makes this particular pick so incredible: the cups are molded foam. And they’re underwire. Goodbye chicken cutlets and tape-bras!

Barely There “Invisible Look”

It’s totally smooth: no visible seams or boning, and the straps are lined with silicone to prevent slippage. To make sure it all but disappears under clothes, it’s lined with soft, sueded fabric. The best part? It’s only $13.

Actually Cute:
Sometimes a slinky, sexy top is so effing cute you just have to buy it. Other times, there’s a reason why you’re showing all that skin (and it might just be called “Josh” or “Brandon”). But what use is all of that skimpy seduction if you actually take him home later and he removes said sexy outfit to find…your nude, super-duper supportive, entirely un-sexy strapless? You can bet he’ll regret his smooth line about “that outfit looking better on his floor.” Well fear not, these bras are here to save the day.

Odille “Angel”

I love how frilly and innocent this strapless is! I feel like this is the bra Cinderella is wearing underneath all that sparkly blue tulle, and, let’s face it, Cinderella had some pretty decent cleavage. Delicate lace and a white satin bow definitely let this angelic bra live up to its name.

Betsey Johnson Molded Strapless

For those nights when you’re feeling less than angelic? Betsey’s got your back (er, um, boobs). I swear by Betsey Johnson bras and alternate the two I have so I pretty much wear them every.single.day. She mixes soft materials with crazy, playful prints and still pays attention to how the bra will make you look (in a word: smokin’!)

Best cleavage creator:
Why oh why does it seem that “push-up” and “strapless” are mortal enemies? Why have the lingerie gods not found a way for us to defy gravity without shoulder straps? The tops and dresses I wear a strapless with are usually those that I want to show the most cleavage in, so why do I always feel so let down (literally) when my strapless fails to give me a boost? Because I don’t have this bra (yet. Give me 3-7 business days for shipping.)

Victoria’s Secret Plunge with Gel Curve

As usual, Victoria’s Secret has done the seemingly impossible: they’ve out-cleavaged themselves. This satin smooth push up bra has extra oomph in the form of silicone pouches you can add or remove (super cleavage and super-duper-traffic-stopping cleavage).

Frederick’s of Hollywood Exxtreme Strapless

They may have left out that third-x but this bra is definitely for adult entertainment. It comes in sizes 32A-38D and promises “incredible cleavage no matter what you wear.”

Best for big busts:
Nothing is more frustrating than being a 20-something  girl stuffed into a 70-something woman’s bra, and if you’ve got tig o’l bitties, the vast majority of lingerie out there is of the grandma variety. Multiply that frustration by 6,000 and you’ve got strapless bra shopping for DD + cup sizes. Not anymore…

Fantasie Smoothing Strapless

This sleek and seamless bra is invisible under clothing and bonus: no more dreaded quadro-boob! The edge of the bra blends seamlessly into skin, instead of cutting across it. That’s right, even those of us of the big boobed persuasion can have a cute strapless bra.

Lilyette “Minimizer” Tailored Strapless

If you’re going for a more demure look, this minimizer will suck you in and lift you up. So you won’t be falling out of the top of your dress, the bra has an elastic band around the top. And so you won’t look like you’re stuffed into a sports bra, the molded cups are sculpted for just enough cleavage. Perfection.

Best  All-around:
This bra takes the best qualities of all the aforementioned bras and combines them into strapless flawlessness. It will stay put, push you up, stay hidden when it needs to, but still look hot when you want it to…

Victoria’s Secret Biofit Strapless

What are your strapless favorites?

Yet, as much as I love the strapless bra, I hate it.  The reality is that bras were made with straps for a reason and without them, it’s an epic fail waiting to happen.

While I own my fair share of so-called strapless wonders, I’m torn as to whether I really need them or not…

Love it:
There’s nothing quite as tacky as bra straps slipping out of tops.  I mean, it’s such an easy fix, so it’s annoying when people are walking around all strappy and whatnot.  I don’t care how nice your bra is, I don’t want to see the straps. And, no, those clear ones don’t cut it either.

In this regard, strapless bras work wonders.  They fit under your slinky tops without revealing to the general public that you buy your bras at Kmart (I only have, like, two from there…) AND they provide a step up from going without a bra, in that they stop the floppin’ and maybe provide some (in my case, much needed) push up action.

Also, when I first put a strapless bra on, I get to dance around and pretend I’m a burlesque performer.  Strapless bras have an aura of secret sexiness about them that makes me feel like I’m seduction on a stick.  They’re definitely a confidence booster (and my confidence definitely needs a boost once I look in the mirror and realize that my new, delicate dress really does make my arms look ginormous).

Loathe it:
Even though the straps are not there, people can tell you’re wearing a bra.  There always seems to be an annoying outline of the top of the bra that can be seen through your shirt.  Worst of all, when there are no straps involved, you have to hook that sucker even tighter around your ribcage, leading to unfortunate levels of back fat and horrible red marks/bruises when you take it off. NOT the situation you want to be in when you’re starting the sexy time (he might take it as a cue that you like pain and bring out the whips and chains…not a fun Saturday night).

Also, no matter how tightly you fasten it, the strapless bra will always need tugging up.  Tugging on your strapless bra all night = white trash fail.

I guess until I can afford something better (like fake boobs) or some wonderful lingerie scientist at Victoria’s Secret (they have those, right?) invents a perfect strapless bra, I’m stuck with the bras I have.  Worse case scenario:  I could just pull a American Apparel move and eschew the bra entirely.  In which case, I urge you all to stay away from my general part the USA to avoid the retina damage that will surely come from me walking around in a tank top/tube top/dress sans bra.

What do you think? Love or hate the strapless bra?

So Adriana Lima and her VS 2008 Fantasy bra are pretty damn spectacular, but what’s a normal girl to do when in need of a little lift’n’seperation (minus 1500 carats’ worth of MAJOR chafing)?

There’s no need to shell out that 5 mill, girlfriend (because you were totally considering it and all); some of the best bras within your reach will do just as great of a job supporting your own gems, and you won’t need to take out an insurance policy on them.

Strapless:

Felina’s Bra of the Year Strapless.

This super smooth bra has silicone strips on the sides, so no more slippage. Gone are the days of surreptitiously wiggling your shoulders to try to get your wilting undergarment back up to where it belongs. The convertible straps work with halter, racer-back, criss cross and one shoulder tops. The back closes with three degrees of varying tightness and is three hook-and-eyes tall, which is great for more support on bigger cup sizes. Best of all, the cups plunge all the way down to kiss in the middle, so your safe no matter how low your neckline will go.

Under sweater/ T-Shirts

OnGossamer’s Every Day Pretty Contour Bra.

Not only is it so pretty you won’t want to put your sweater on in the first place, it’s perfectly smooth underneath it. Lightly lined cups just enhance your natural shape, without pushing you out or up. The fuller cup shape prevents any spillage, so you avoid embarrassing double-boob no matter what your size.

Sexy Sexy Sexy

Frederick’s of Hollywood’s Chic Satin Bra

You can’t beat Frederick’s when it comes to over the top sexy lingerie. This baby has all a girlie-girl lingerie fetishista’s heart could desire: bows, lace, ruffles and the perfect pop of playful color.

Simone Perele’s Marquises Bra

For a more classically sultry look, this black lace number is the pinnacle of classic glamour. Black lace demi-cups scream femme fatale and the floral detail is feminine and sexy.

Every day comfort

Victoria’s Secret’s BioLift

Not only does it come in every color imaginable, the BioFit is by far the most comfortable bra I own. The material is super smooth, and the bra lives up to its promise of feeling custom made. Each cup size has a different level of padding that will enhance your shape (not make you look ridiculous or squeezed into your shirt). They’re super comfortable and perfect to wear every. single. day.

For Larger Cup Sizes

Chantelle’s Rive gauche Push-Up Bra

So there’s all this hoopla about how sexy huge boobs are. First of all, I have huge boobs and the first word that comes to mind when describing them is notsexy (it actually is a blend of a few choice expletives). Second of all, when a gal wants to show off said sexy boobs to her man, the women at typical lingerie stores are perplexed as to why they should carry any 36-D sized bras in any style other than geriatric. Enter Chantelle’s Rive Gauche Push-Up. It’s full coverage (!) so even the well-endowed can have a pretty, pretty push-up bra. With fuller cups and a higher cut, it won’t look like your boobs are eating your bra, and the gorgeous lace detail is anything but Grandma.

Victoria’s Secret’s BeautySecrets Bust Firming Bra

Leave it to Victoria’s Secret to engineer a bra that can alter the consistency of your body part. While you might worry about looking like an Olly girl (as if you didn’t draw enough suspicion of plastic surgery without rock hard ta ta’s), trust me this bra is a god send. While normal bras are perfectly fine for jiggle control on sizes A-C, if you’re a D or up, a simple walk down the stairs can make any male passerby’s day. Not if VS has anything to say about it though; the Beauty Secret has twinned straps for added support in addition to full cups so that your cups won’t runneth over. The best part? It promises that after 4 weeks of daily wear, your rack will be tighter, firmer and higher even when you’re not wearing it.

If you Have a Smaller Chest

Victoria’s Secret ‘s Very Sexy Miracle Bra.

No matter what your cup size, this bra will give you maximum cleavage. It’s padded with Victoria’s Secret Level five padding –the highest they make. Add this to the capacity to make the detachable straps a halter, and the Infinity Edge that won’t show lines in the tightest tops, and you won’t pay for a drink all night.

Jezebel’s CoCo Demi Bra

Take advantage of your girlish figure to go all out on pretty pink lingerie. The delicate shape is perfect for displaying what yo mama gave you (however generous she was). Cute bows and adorable heart charms complete the coquettish charm and the demi cups give a fuller appearance. Any boy who gets to check this out will be counting his blessings while he’s checking yours out.