In this article
A backless outfit might look incredible, but it can lead to a predicament: to bra or not to bra. While there’s nothing wrong with showing your straps, a regular bra means that the drama of a backless effect is interrupted by a hook and eye. However, without the support of a full bra, many of us feel a little exposed (myself included). Luckily there’s a third option — backless bras and boob tape. I spoke to seven lingerie experts about the best options for all sizes and skin tones, such as stick-on bra cups, backless bras and more. I then tested out their recommendations myself, including wearing some new-to-me boob tape to a wedding, and an adhesive bra that I wore for five hours on a particularly humid day. Whatever option you choose, make sure you do a trial run at home first. “If you have a big event that you’re wearing it for, don’t wait until 30 minutes before you have to leave,” explains bra fitter and educator Kimmay Caldwell. “Practice at home and lounge around, or wear it for your work-from-home day and just see how it goes. Make sure you feel good in it, make sure it’s giving you the shape that you want and make sure it’s not gonna fall off — then you’ll really be ready for that special occasion.”
What we’re looking for
Wide size range
It’s a myth that only people with small breasts can go backless. I researched and tested options to make sure our bra selection doesn’t just cater to an A cup. Every item on this list can cater to at least a D, and several go up to a G cup. Some are also customizable, so you can adapt them by layering or trimming them for the perfect fit.
Staying Power
If you’re wearing something backless, you need to feel confident and comfortable. The adhesive options in this story have been selected by our experts, and tested by us. They’re sticky enough to withstand plenty of partying, and some can even be worn in the water.
Best overall backless bra
Size range: AA-G / Color range: 11 shades
If you want to wear a backless outfit, the NuBra is a solid pick. It is sweat-resistant, expert-tested, and available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The barely-there Feather-Lite was Caldwell’s pick for her own wedding day, impressively remaining secure all day in the heat. “It was 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 percent humidity, and that sucker stayed on,” she says. “It has a gel that is really really sticky, and they put it inside of a moulded bra cup.” The cups can also be worn apart if you don a super plunging neckline, and this versatility makes it a cost-effective option. “This one is reusable, so if you’re looking for something that’s economical or you feel like you’re going to be wearing lots of backless or halter dresses then I would definitely suggest getting something you can use again.” The sizing options go up to a size G, and there is also a range of pretty fashion colors including “Petal Pink” and “Bluebell.” Just be mindful when applying that a backless bra is not the same as a regular bra. “My biggest tip is not to try to put your entire breast into it — that’s not how it works,” says Caldwell. “It’s supposed to just sit on the front of your breast and then clip in the middle.”
Best less-expensive backless bra
Size range: 32A-38DD / Color range : Black or Nude
Two of our experts cited Fashion Forms as an excellent choice for invisible underwear. The affordable female-founded brand has been creating problem-solving intimates since 1993, and Fashion Forms is a staple everywhere from Target to upmarket department stores. “The brand Fashion Forms has a lot of different backless and strapless options,” says Courtney Killpack who runs the lingerie store Bosom Besties and the Instagram account Bra Fittings by Court. You’ll find a range that includes everything from chicken cutlet style backless bras to lifting petals, depending on your bust size and the outfit you’re planning. Lingerie expert Cora Harrington points out that “since most of the support of a ‘regular’ bra comes from the band, a backless bra, a bra without a complete band, won’t be able to give you that same lift and support.” However, she swears by Fashion Forms’ plunge style, thanks to its padding and underwire, which will help you to feel more secure. The deep U-shape means it can work for the skimpiest of outfits, whether your piece is backless, low-cut or both. Although the sizing only goes up to a DD-cup, and the shade range is limited to just black and nude, it is an inexpensive pick for a bra you’re unlikely to wear every day. Fashion Forms also does offer other styles that go up to a size G. And, Harrington is another big believer in the power of preparation, “I would recommend testing it out before your event and wearing it with your garment,” she adds.
Best plunging backless bra
Size range: S - XXL / Color range: 3 shades
“This is what I recommend when people have really tricky dresses — it’s a frontless, backless, band-less type of situation,” says lingerie educator Madison Alexandra. “There are two paddles connected by a U-wire, and you stick foam pads onto the paddles.” The clever design makes it a great option for enhancing your cleavage. “It gives you that roundness when it pushes your boobs together,” explains Alexandra. “They have a super deep plunge option, a moderate plunge and a shallow plunge. The shallow one is even deeper than any shirts I have and it gives you the most support.” She recommends booking a Misses Kisses virtual fitting to help you get the most out of the product. Appointments are free, all fitters are female, and you can keep your shirt on if you prefer. And, if you want to wear your Misses Kisses poolside, pick the Bio Gel Water Resistant Pads. “It’s invisible, even under swimwear or spandex,” says Alexandra.
Best overall boob tape
Size range: Custom / Color range: 5 shades
If you feel like a backless bra isn’t going to cut it, then you can use boob tape to create your own bespoke “bra”. Please don’t use duct tape — instead, choose tape that is designed to use on your skin and can provide support and lift that is tailored exactly to your body. Lori Kaplan, the owner of Bra Tenders, recommends experimenting with how you use the tape. “You can do it on the side to give a little bit more push inward for some cleavage. You can do it underneath to create a kind of a balcony effect. There’s also a million videos and pictures on how to use it.” Some of her heavy-busted customers will double up and wear tape underneath a strapless bra for extra lift. Just remember to protect your nipples underneath the tape — pasties are the easiest way to do this. “Anytime you’re going to use something with an adhesive I would suggest covering your nipples,” says Kaplan. “They’re very sensitive and the adhesives, while they’re medical grade, could be a little bit aggressive when you’re taking it off.”
I tried this boob tape recently when I had to wear a plunging bridesmaid dress. Two days before the wedding I stood in front of the mirror and practiced applying it. Once I had the look I wanted, I kept the backing paper from the used strips of tape to use as a stencil, so I could cut the same size pieces on the day. Knowing that my boobs were going to stay where I wanted them meant that I could focus on worrying about my reading during the ceremony, and the tape provided a good amount of stretch and hold during a rare warm day in Edinburgh. The adhesive didn’t irritate my usually sensitive skin, and it was still holding well when I finally left the whiskey-soaked dance floor at 3 a.m. — 15 hours after I applied it.
Best waterproof boob tape
Size range: Custom / Color range: 5 shades
Nippies Breast Roll Tape is “hypoallergenic and you can cut it to match whichever outfit you’re wearing,” says Cindy Kahng, the owner of East Village lingerie shop Azaleas, whose customers often pick up a roll before a festival or summer wedding. “Try on your outfit and figure out where you would need the support, and then you can cut it to your desired shape and coverage. I’d say it can support up to a G cup, just use layers of it if you need to.” The tape is water-resistant, so it should stay on whether you’re frolicking at beach, chilling at the pool or getting sweaty on the dance floor. Plus, it’s available in five shades — crème, caramel, coco, black-and-white, so you can pick the tape that will be least visible on your skin tone. Kahng’s top tip for flawless breast-tape application? “Make sure there are no lotions on your body.”
Best overall adhesive bra
Size range: 32A-30K / Color range: 4 shades
Adhesive bras occupy the space between backless bras and tape, offering another solution to sartorial challenges. They provide different levels of coverage and lift, but our experts’ picks are all secure enough to keep you feeling comfortable and confident at special events. Caldwell loves these pre-shaped adhesive bras, which she has worn several times with open-back dresses. They come pre-shaped in packs of four, so you don’t have to fuss with cutting your own design, but you can use scissors to refine the shape if needed. “It’s made with a sustainable hemp fabric, and it is sweatproof and waterproof,” says Caldwell. “It really feels breathable — almost like linen — however, it does have less stretch than other materials.” After Caldwell’s recommendation, I tried the Nood Game Changer myself. The key to application was to take it slow and smooth the fabric with your hand as you go — rushing causes it to crease. After five hours of wear on a particularly humid evening, the bra felt dry (unlike my skin) and was still sticking exactly where it needed to be. Peeling it off was a painless experience, thanks to some baby oil, and there was no residue left behind either. There are four sizes on offer and the largest can accommodate up to a G-cup size, although you can stack the product for more coverage — there are three pairs in each pack. “It also comes in four different shades, which is great,” Caldwell adds.
Best (less-expensive) adhesive bra
Size range: A-DDD / Color range: Transparent
“I’ve worn these to weddings and sorority formals, where like you’re really out and moving — they really, really hold well,” says Hannah Massa, stylist at Underpinnings in Louisville and star of the store’s TikTok account, of the Bring It Up Instant Breast Lifts. “We keep an open container of them right next to the cash register because they’re all you need.” The Bring It Up Instant Breast Lifts come in two sizes, A-D cup and DD-upwards, and although they don’t cover your boobs, they do provide a powerful hold. “It’s a semi-circle shape, so the lift that it actually provides and where it lifts from gives very a natural shape, even if you’re larger-busted,” Massa continues. The translucent tape means you don’t have to worry about finding a shade match, and it’s also hypoallergenic. “The adhesive is incredibly strong, so I recommend that when you go to take them off you rest a damp washcloth on them first — don’t rip them off like a band-aid,” Massa notes. “That staying power is why we recommend them to a lot of our bridal clients, because they’re going to withstand the entire day.”
Best adhesive bra for large breasts
Size range: A-DDDD / Color range: 5 shades
Kaplan, Alexandra, and Caldwell are all fans of this bra. “It’s an adhesive product but designed for women with very heavy breasts,” says Kaplan. Instead of cutting your own strips and creating your own design, they come in tear-drop-shaped pads. “I like Brassybra because I’m really bad at taping,” says Alexandra. “I find it more user-friendly because you basically just stick it on the top of the boob, pull it up, and then you can cut away any extra material.” Available in three different sizes and five shades, the results are pretty impressive. “Brassybra has a million videos on the internet, where a lot of models featured in the before and afters are plus size and full size and big breasted,” says Kaplan. You can also invest in the Brassybra That Little Extra tapes for additional hold, or cut the product for a better fit, notes Caldwell. “I always suggest that people order a bigger size if they’re in between because you can cut it down to whatever shape you need, and then use the extra pieces to shape or add support.” A bonus: Brassybra comes with nipple covers.
Best adhesive bra for brides
Size range: S - XXL / Color range: 3 shades
Although functional, most breast tapes can’t compete with a full bra when it comes to prettiness — except for Perfect Pair. Founder Jessica Wylde made it her mission to create a luxury breast tape that wouldn’t look out of place when wearers took their clothes off. “I’m obsessed with it,” says Caldwell. “It’s a clear adhesive gel that has gorgeous lace on the other side — it’s not paper or a print, but beautiful, real lace.” Cute heart-shaped nipple covers are included in each pack, and sizes range from S to XXL. “It’s really great for brides, so they can have beautiful ivory lace under their backless gown,” Caldwell says. However, it’s also a glamorous option for adding extra support to low-cut swimwear. “It’s sweatproof and waterproof,” Caldwell says. “You get a nice lift and shape — just cut it to the shape of the swimsuit and wear it in the water. No one will ever know.”
Some more bras we’ve written about
Our Experts
• Madison Alexandra , lingerie educator
• Kimmay Caldwell, bra fitter and educator
• Cora Harrington, lingerie expert
• Cindy Kahng, owner, Azaleas
• Courtney Killpack, owner, Bosom Besties
• Lori Kaplan, owner, Bra Tenders
• Hannah Massa, stylist, Underpinnings
Additional reporting by Jenna Milliner-Waddell
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