A couple years back, I wrote this post sharing 9 of my favorite bra hacks, a collection of essential tips and tricks about wearing and caring for the undergarment we love to hate. (Or do we hate to love them? Either way, it’s a complex and many-layered relationship.)
Today I have a brand new batch of bra hacks to share with you. From bra strap solutions to useful travel tips, these helpful hacks are sure to come in handy as you navigate the everyday realities of wearing a bra.
Read Part 1: 9 Useful Bra Hacks You’ll Want To Know About Immediately
9 MORE Bra Hacks That Every Woman Should Know
1. Clip Your Straps
With certain tops and dresses, you may think you need a different type of bra if you don’t want the straps to show. But your current bra may have versatility built right in!
Many bras have a hook on the back of one strap and a loop on the other. Simply attach the hook to the loop to convert your straps to a racerback-style configuration, then loosen the straps until it fits comfortably.
2. Find The Right Fit
Your bra is a staple part of your wardrobe, so it’s important to wear one that fits correctly. I recently went to a local bra fit expert named Courtney for a fitting, and the bras she recommended are so much more supportive and comfortable than the ill-fitting ones I had been wearing.
Check out the post I wrote about finding your best-fitting bra to learn everything you need to know about finding the right fit for you.
3. Secure Your Straps
Tired of your bra straps slipping off your shoulders? Or maybe you wish your shirt would stay put so your straps stay covered? In either scenario, a couple of pieces of fashion tape would help.
“Fashion tape” is essentially double-sided tape, and it’s really useful for securing bra straps and/or shirts in place. Place it under the strap to keep it in place, or over the strap to keep your strap and shirt in place.
4. Prevent Crushed Cups
When you’re packing for a trip, bunch up a few socks or a pair of underwear and place them inside the cups of your bras. This will help the bra keep its shape inside your luggage instead of getting crushed.
5. Stop Sliding Straps
What good are adjustable bra straps if they don’t stay where you adjust them to? Luckily, there’s a simple fix that doesn’t require you to go out and buy a whole new bra.
These helpful strap clips are designed to hold the strap exactly where you want it. Problem solved!
6. Wash It Safely
As I explained in this blog post, hand washing is the safest way to clean your bras (especially the really nice ones you were willing to invest your hard-earned cash in.)
But if you’d rather go the washing machine route, consider investing in a structured mesh washing bag with an internal frame. Zipping your bra into a bag like this will help protect it from getting tangled, crushed, or misshapen in the wash.
More Ideas You'll Love
7. DIY Built-In Bra
Occasionally you end up buying a dress that just doesn’t play nicely with any of your bras. Strapless and backless dresses are particularly tricky to find the right bra for!
In cases like these, you may be better off building a bra into the dress, and it’s a lot easier than it sounds! Find an inexpensive strapless bra in your size, cut off the back section, then sew the cups to the inside of the dress with a few quick stitches.
It’s a quick and easy fix (and as an added bonus, it won’t move around on you!) ;-)
8. Hang Them Up
Need to save space in a small closet? You can hang multiple bras from the same hanger by folding them over the bottom of the hanger. In addition to being a space saver, this is also a good way to hang your freshly washed bras up to dry.
9. Instant Coverage
While I know that fashion trends are cyclical, I never suspected that the dickey would make a resurgence! But resurge it has, and one type in particular can solve an outfit problem that many women are all too familiar with.
Especially for those who are more “well-endowed,” some shirts can show off a bit more cleavage than you’d like. Simply attach this faux camisole to your bra straps and you’ve got instant cleavage coverage (and a cute layered look to boot!)
Do you have a brilliant bra-related tip to share?
I just love all this wonderful woman has to offer and I’ve learned so much. I have large you know what and even though the creator endowed me with them and I’m proud of them, unwelcomed attention is, well unwelcomed; save my husband of course, so this is a great idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a problem with boob sweat and it gets very itchy afterwards. How do you wash your bras do ‘sanitize’ them and remove any bacteria? Any helpful tips?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try a bra liner, which you can change even more frequently than the bra. For example, after I work out or play hard, I pull out the perspiration-soaked handkerchief I use as a bra liner (see older comment) and replace it. In my case, the bra is not even wet because of the liner. If I wanted to “sanitize” bras in the way you seem to be asking, I’d probably spray the relevant areas with my trusty solution of Dawn and hydrogen peroxide (1:2) before putting them in a hosiery bag and washing with my regular load of permanent press clothing. Hang to dry.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I always hang my bras to dry. I never dry them in the dryer. My bras, called “bralettes,” have a liner, which I remove prior to washing them.
If your bras are sweaty, thus smelly, use Hydrogen Peroxide bleach when you wash them. In fact, I use Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach in every wash, as it will not leave bleach stains on colors. It is safe for both white and colored fabrics and it removes stains and odors. If you still have a stain on a blouse or dressy tee, treat it with Shout prior to washing with Tide for Sensitive Skin and a hydrogen peroxide bleach, which is in my local Price Chopper/Market 32, under the name of Seventh Edition Bleach. .
I have a new sundress with a really low back. My strapless bra shows by several inches, and I’ve been baffled on what to do so I can wear the darned thing! Never did I think to just sew a bra into it!! I’ve always got a few of those oldies but goodies I can’t part with, and now they’ve got purpose! Thank you so much!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Speaking of bra hacks . . . bras without underwire have that 1-2″ frame below the cups, and they drive me crazy by rolling up. I solve that problem by buying underwire bras and removing the wire. Easy peasy. Another discomfort of being older and larger is the itch that can develop in the crease below breasts. For years now I have successfully addressed that problem by applying a dab of athlete’s foot cream (Clotrimazole) along the crease. Dermatologist said it wouldn’t work, but it does! I also fold a large handkerchief on the bias into a sash about 4″ wide and use that as a bra liner under breasts and pulled up between to separate them. You can buy bra liners, but they’re expensive.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use my deodorant. Works great
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used to use deodorant, and it worked great for a while, then I started to get a rash and an irritation, so thatvis no longer an option for me anymore, I use talcum powder now, and it helps a bit, but I still have that red sore mark that appears and I can’t get rid of it. ☹️
The final solution….as we age our shoulder frame drops enough so that bra straps no longer stay up and when they slide off your shoulder they can drive you crazy. After multiple attempts with varied suggestions that never worked I found my own solution. Go up one band size and then instead of using the first set of hooks go all the way in as far as you can (I use the last set) and it brings the bra in enough that the straps FINALLY stay in their proper place and no more aggravation. Example: instead of 42C buy 42D. Try it….it works. I have told all my friends about it and have had everyone who tried it agree that it works!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Barbara, do you go up a BAND size or a CUP size?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. I usually have to pin my straps. Adjusting the straps in back hasn’t helped. I do have a set of the camisole type dickies. Unfortunately for me they still didn’t come up high enough for me for my personal
Please log in or create a free account to comment.modesty standards.
Add a layer of lace. I bought “as seen on TV” dickie’s, years ago, found some wide matching or contrasting lace, (usual in wedding supplies), added a couple layers. Most of them have one row, but added 2 or 3 extra layers, very feminine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Reading about the itch from the underwires reminded me of a trick I do. I tend to have boob sweat if I’m
Please log in or create a free account to comment.outside in warmer weather. I just facial tissue I’m my bra cup area to help absorb the sweat. It helps so I’m not having to constantly was out my bras.Febreze spray also helps to freshen up my bras if there’s just not time to wash.
I adjust the straps in back, then sew across each strap, so it doesn’t shift !!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My underwire bra broke through the fabric last week and started stabbing me while I was out for the day. I misremembered your moleskin tip and instead used a fabric bandaid folded in half and stuck over the top of the bra and wire tip. It worked beautifully. It didn’t look too fabulous but it gave me time to get home and fix it later. I love your work btw!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.nice save !!
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