The majority of women forget to stock their lingerie drawer regularly with the bare essentials. Just because lingerie isn’t the first thing others see doesn’t mean it doesn’t play an invaluable role 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.