How To Stop Bra Straps Slipping

We’ve all experienced the bra strap battle – that frustrating feeling when your bra straps keep slipping off your shoulders repeatedly again throughout the day. There’s nothing more annoying than sitting in a meeting or struggling with your groceries and feeling your bra straps slowly falling off your shoulder. Constantly fixing slipping bra straps isn’t just irritating, it can also mean that your bra isn’t giving you the support you need, or even that it is the wrong size for you all together. We want you to feel your best in your bra, so we’ve put together our top tips on how to stop bra straps from slipping and finally win the bra strap battle.

Why do bra straps keep slipping?

To prevent bra straps from slipping, you need to consider why they might be falling off in the first place. Bra straps keep slipping for three main reasons:

● Your bra isn’t adjusted correctly: If your bra has adjustable straps and band, these may not be tightened correctly for your body.

● Your bra is worn out and needs replacing: Even the best bras eventually reach their end – if your bra elastic looks tired and it can’t be tightened any further, it might be time to break up with your bra.

● Your bra isn’t the right fit for you: A poorly fitting bra can easily cause slipping bra straps, through misalignment of the straps or an overly loose or tight band or cups.

When working out how to stop bra straps slipping, start by adjusting your bra. If you can’t adjust it further, you can try to extend its life with a bra strap clip, elastic holder, or liner. At some point though, enough is enough, and it’s time to get a proper fitting, and trade your old bra or bad bra fit for a bra that suits you perfectly. You can also choose a bra with features that can prevent your bra straps from slipping for longer. We’ll go through each of these steps below, so you can finally stop your bra straps falling off your shoulders.

Adjust the straps

If your bra has adjustable straps, your first step is to adjust them to the correct length. If you’re wondering how to tighten bra straps, simply hold the slide adjuster while you pull the back part of the strap, so the adjuster goes closer to the cup. To loosen it, pull the adjuster away from the cup. Believe it or not, your bra straps can slide if your straps are too loose or too tight, so make sure they’re secure but not digging into the shoulders. Overly tight bra straps can cause your band to ride up, leading the space between the band and shoulder to lessen, which then causes the straps to slip.

Try a bra accessory

If you are still battling with slipping bra straps, you can try a bra accessory. These can help your bra straps to stay on your shoulders more securely. It’s important to note that these cannot replace a correctly fitting bra – they may keep the straps on your shoulders, but if there’s other fit issues they can still cause you problems or discomfort. The most common accessories for bra straps are:

● Bra clip: A bra clip converts your bra straps into a racerback configuration, where the straps clip together in the middle. This makes it impossible for your straps to slip off your shoulders. These can be a little hard to put on yourself though, which is why our convertible bras come with cross-over straps or an in-built clip. Simply set the straps before putting it on (see picture).

● Bra elastic: Bra elastics work the same way as bra clips, by attaching the two straps of your bra together so they can’t slip off your shoulders. However because they’re elastic they provide a softer effect than a bra clip, and can also be adjustable.

● Bra cushions: Bra cushions are shoulder bra strap pads that sit underneath your bra strap, helping it to stay on. They make the straps wider, so can also be helpful if you need more support.

Buy a bra with an expert fit and secure style

There is one solution that is sure to stop your bra straps slipping – buying a bra that is the exact style, size, and fit for your body. Incorrectly sized or poorly fitting bras are very likely to cause slipping bra straps. You can use our bra style selector and bra size calculator to find your fit, but there’s nothing like getting an online bra fitting consultation from an expert. Here are some things to watch out for that can impact strap slipping:

● The bra straps run parallel at the back, and take the weight from the shoulders. A common cause of slipping bra straps is a bra size or style with straps that aren’t set apart the right distance for your shoulders. This is particularly likely if you’re someone with narrow shoulders (hint: our Ladyform Soft Bra has closer-set straps, perfect for narrow shoulders). Check to see that the straps aren’t sitting too close to the outer shoulder edge.

● The band size is correct. When you first buy a bra, the band should feel comfortable on the loosest clip. You don’t want to be fastening the bra on the tightest clip before you walk out of the fitting room! This is particularly important for bra strap slip, because if the band is too big the straps may be too far apart.

● The cup size isn’t too big. If there’s too much empty space in the cups of the bra, then this can not only compromise support, but also create a gap that can lead to riding up and cause your bra straps to slip off. If the side seam of your bra is sitting too far back into the armpit, that’s a good sign the cup size is too large.

Trust us, once you find a bra that fits perfectly you’ll be amazed at the comfort you’ve been missing! If you’re particularly worried about your bra straps slipping off even with the right fit, you can choose a thick strap bra that provides more support and is less likely to slip. You can also choose a racerback bra to prevent slip, but this kind of bra might not be comfortable for everyday wear. Browse our range of bras, and get excited for your next bra and the end of bra straps slipping.