Slippery bra straps - YouLookFab Forum

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Slippery bra straps

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I recently bought some new bras, and the Find here was such a winner in terms of fit, comfort, and a bit of sexiness that I got it in two colors.

The problem with it has only become apparent after a few wears: the adjustable strap holders that let you adjust the length of the straps slide around too easily, and by the end of the day, the straps have loosened up too much. I guess the straps are too slippery and don't have enough grip with the little plastic holders/loops/whatever-they're-called.

I hate to give up on these bras. Anyone have suggestions? Please don't suggest sewing the straps into one fixed position, because there is an extra little hook (which also slips around too much) that lets you make the bra work for a racer back, which means the straps need to be loosened.

Suggestions welcome!

Chantelle Intimates 'Aeria' Underwire Spacer Bra

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Are you wearing the bra on the loosest hook? If so, try wearing it more tightly and see if this happens.

MTBGirl

Veteran

What a bummer to find the perfect bras and have this happen!
I wonder how a piece of fashion tape under and through the loop would work?
Is it a convertible bra where you can you remove the straps altogether and replace?
Or how about using a small nail file to roughen up the bottoms of the loop metal to give it more grip?
I hope you can make them work!

MTBGirl

Veteran

One more idea for you Janet!
A small piece of double sided tape on the stationary fabric (the fabric loop on the end of the strap that attaches the clasp to the strap). It never moves, it might work well.
It's hard to explain, does it make sense? I'll add a pic.

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, good ideas to try, Donna. I thought about fashion tape, but it seems such a hassle to use it *all* the time on something as basic as bra straps. None of the reviews mention this, but I can't imagine I'm the only one who has encountered this problem.

Gradfashionista, I'm actually wearing it on the tightest band position, which is not really the recommended method for a new bra, but a size down fit oddly in other ways. I'm 31 around the band measurement so it's always tricky going between a 30 and 32 band size, especially since that also forces me into a G cup, which is not easy to find. At any rate, I really do think it's just that the straps are very slippery!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if you could rough up the satin of the straps themselves...

rebekahphoto

Veteran

you could try painting clear nail polish on the area of the strap by the keeper. might give it enough tack to hold

aly

I would start by trying to slide a piece of ribbon (the non-slippery/ribbed type) between the two pieces of strap - it would give the slippery fabric something to grip, tighten up the plastic holders/loops and you could probably find ribbon in the correct width/color. If this works, you could neatly stitch the ribbons into place so they don't move. If the ribbed ribbons are too bulky, you could try bias tape/bias binding or even some iron-on interfacing.

If you really like craft, I am sure you could replace plastic holders/loops with metal or something that is firmer. Or replace the straps. Or add some embroidery where you need the extra grip...the options are endless!

Good luck - it sure is worth a bit of trial and error to make a nice bra work well

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Good suggestions! I am also wondering if attaching a bit of a rougher textured ribbon to the critical section of strap might help for extra grip. You've got my wheels turning now, thanks!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ha! Aly, we cross-posted the same idea. Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions!

crazyone

Veteran

What about something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Noel-Co.....B00ZPNSZV8

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Crazyone, I don't think those will really do the trick, unless I'm misunderstanding the product. It's not that the straps are coming off my shoulders, it's that they're growing looser because the holders slide up as the day goes on.

SandyG

Veteran

I've resorted to tiny safety pins to keep my convertible straps in the right place. Even expensive bras have too much elastic in straps or slippery material that moves on its own. Sometimes driving home at the end of the day, a strap will fall completely off my shoulder if not secured in place!

JAileen

Veteran

Yes, teeny tiny safety pin as Sandy said. Otherwise I would have hand sewn a couple stitches. But it you want convertibility..

crazyone

Veteran

Janet, my apologies--I misunderstood. I've never had that happen to me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

No need to apologize! I've never had it happen before either. In fact, my sports bras are convertible but with very grippy straps that I really have to work to move! I think adding something grippy/tacky to a certain part of the strap might help. Hmm. Will investigate more when I'm home and have time.

Traci

Veteran

Maybe a little bit of hot glue on the strap to give it grip? I also like the idea of roughing up the strap. Maybe rub a bit of sandpaper on the strap?

K. Period.

Veteran

Hollywood fashion tape on the area where the strap is doubled? That stuff is super powerful. I'm pretty sure it will stay through hand washing, plus you can take it off when you want to convert the straps to cross strap. Or just leave it in place, but make sure that you unstick it from the side that moves up and down, so you aren't leaving it on the side that will slide up and through the holder/loop.

Anonymous

Sew cloth hemming tape onto the strap?

Joyce B

Veteran

Did you buy them at Nordies? Maybe you can take them there, explain the problem and ask alterations to change the thingies through which the straps thread (don't know what they are called) and put some better ones there?

Gaylene

Veteran

If I really like the look and fit of a bra, I duplicate or triplicate. That's why I'd stitch the straps in two of the bras and reserve the third for racer backs. I've tried some of the hacks mentioned above in the past, but I've always been unhappy with the look and feel of the result. A couple of small stitches, on the other hand, is neat, pretty, and works like a charm with no malfunctions.

If you really want do something to the strap, the best solution I've ever come up with is to purchase a card of those tiny, clear plastic snaps. A couple of stitches in a matching thread will hold the both sides of the snap in place, and let you extend the length when you unsnap. The big hassle is when you need to pass one side of the snap through the strap holder because the snaps are easy to break. That's why you need a card of them, so you can replace a broken one. Rather a pain, IMHO, so that's why I prefer to duplicate and reserve one bra for racer backs.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ah, Gaylene, that may be a good idea. I bought two of this style, not three, just to clarify -- one in black and one in nude to wear under lighter color tops. Ideally, I'd just adjust either one to racerback to accommodate tops with deeper cut armholes or more cut-in necklines. I did find another style of bra (attached Find) that I also bought in two colors, black and blue. Since that gives me another "standard strap" black bra, perhaps I could just permanently convert the black mesh-detail bra to racerback, and keep the nude a standard strap. Thanks for more ideas to consider.

Fantasie 'Rebecca' Spacer Foam Underwire Bra (D Cup & Up)

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