I have worn several strapless dresses in my life. Boning and a good strapless bra with boning is the key. Every time I have worn one I swore I would never wear one again. But I loved the way they looked. I had (note had) nice shoulders, clavicles, arms, upper chest (before the sun damage hit) and a bust. Both of my weddings dresses were strapless and several cocktail dresses that I wore to award dinners and weddings.
Nothing exciting happened. No wardrobe malfunctions. Everything stayed in place.
The bra need to be full length. All the way to your waist. Lots of bones. And very tight. Doesn't that sound comfy? Looks nice.

Never wore one, never will. I'm on the other end of the spectrum, with a large bust, wide shoulders, and not so trimmed upper arms, so that's it. But I have seen so many young, slim and beautiful folks to wear one and still looking embarrassed of fearing to loose the dress, or showing like they are not wearing their best strapless bra to it (to say at least...:-)) so then why bothering???
Including DD has had a not completely 100% happy experience with her strapless waltz dress. It had some laced up shirring from waist to décolletage on the back, but as parents wouldn't be allowed in their changing room(soo wrong!!), so they have had to tie it by theirselves...:-((
Let me just say, it should have been tied much tighter at the back for keeping up her smile till end of performance, but it had unfortunately dissappeared at half...and I knew something went wrong-guess what....-((.

When I see bridal photos in the newspaper, it seems like 3/4 of brides over the past five years or so are going for a strapless look.
If I may say, it's not a flattering look on most of them. (Now, of course brides are under no obligation to wear something flattering, but when paired with what appears to be professional makeup and glamorous hair, flattery seems to be the goal of most traditional brides.)

Strapless reveals an awful lot. If you're carrying extra weight on top, it's not the most flattering look, and if you're very bony on top, it's not the most flattering look.

If flattery is what you're after, I would skip strapless unless you're extremely well-proportioned. And even in that case, use plenty of fashion tape!

Style Fan is right. Longline strapless, or even better, a "merry widow." I've made do with some strapless bras in the past, but a few years ago I stumbled on a vintage merry widow in my size. Now I can't stand the look of any regular strapless bras. Even if they stay put, they do no lifting whatsoever. The merry widow provides support up-from-under and doesn't budge.

I tend to agree with April about bridal gowns, too. The true strapless gown first appeared in the 1950s, and it's a revelation to look at how they were designed. The single biggest difference is the prevalence of the sweetheart shape. Most gowns now are straight across from armpit to armpit, which (in my highly opinionated mind) creates a host of issues. Totally aside from the individual's arms and shoulders:
* At least some of the staying power is in the tightness of the top edge. Tightness at the top of the bust flattens and distorts the shape, and can create so-called back fat where there really is nothing.
* Turns the torso into a block. Large busted figures look bulky, small-busted figures look flat, and medium-busted figures somehow look both. Very little waist definition.
* Crazy cleavage if the bra actually does provide support.

I do think that a well-fitted strapless dress can be flattering on any figure. But getting a good fit is very individual, and should start with a good foundation - which is difficult to find for many women, simply because of physics.

I'm convinced that the ubiquity of the style is for ease of fitting and minimal altering. When a bodice is cut off at the armpits, there's no bothering with good patternmaking and fit for things like shoulders and arms. Yay! So easy for the manufacturers!

[end rant ]

I feel like I need to chime in with some love for the strapless...

I haven't worn a strapless since college formal (23 years ago?) and figured since I'm several pounds and a couple of cup sizes beyond where I was then that the style was out of my reach now. Not to mention that I've yet to find a strapless bra that really suits me.

But when I came upon this dress at WHBM, I just couldn't resist the simplicity of it and had to try it out.
https://www.whitehouseblackmar.....0?color=00

It. Is. Fabulous. Fits like a glove. I've raised my arms overhead, bent forward, jumped up and down, and it's like it was made for me (I'm 5'6", take a 12 in WHBM dresses, and my girls are DD). Disclaimer: I have not worn it for an extended period of time, yet. So that remains to be seen. But I feel so fabulous in it I'm just not worried about it.

I had taken a risk in that I didn't have a great bra, but the stars aligned and I found one in the VS "simply strapless" bra. Minimally lined, it stays put, supports, and is very comfortable. I had to size up (my usual Body by Victoria bra size is 34DD, and the 36DD in this one is perfect). I wouldn't want to wear it under thinner fabric on a cold day, if you know what I mean, but it's more than adequate for what I need it for.

My inspiration was this pic of Charlize Theron, since my hair is about that short, and I love that this look is so minimally styled. I'll be wearing my dress with simple but sparkly earrings, no necklace, and a cuff bracelet (and some lovely strappy heels). Can't wait!

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I've worn strapless dresses. I wore one to prom (many years ago), at which time I needed no bra. The boning of the dress kept it upright, and I never felt uncomfortable in the least about it slipping. I've also worn them since - again braless, though I am not as small any longer) - and had no trouble with them shifting. The only problem I've ever had has been casual, unstructured, strapless summer dresses. Because they are so flimsy, I wear them with a strapless bra and then tuck the edges into the bra under my arms, ensuring that the dress never falls down.

I also agree with Janet that strapless dresses are NOT universally flattering. I am also shocked that wedding dresses are so often strapless.

Well, my profile pic was my elopement pic. I'm short waisted with boobs - and I like my shoulders -- and I'm 5'4". I need simple lines as my figure is easily overwhelmed. Strapless give me a band around my short-waisted/breast/mid-section -- and then I can get an elongated line for the leg. And being on the shorter side, I need the eye to go to a longer leg to elongate my silhouette , and then maybe to my boobs (haha).

It takes a pretty flawless torso and shoulders to pull off a strapless. Who are they designed for really?

Even slim women have can have that under arm vulva look - reserved for art of another period - but certainly acknowledged in different cultures.