We all know the feeling – you’re out with friends, in the middle of a meeting, or on a date, and suddenly you feel one of your bra straps sliding down your shoulder. This could be happening for several reasons and depending on the cause, there are things you can do to prevent it from happening again.
First, let’s take a step back and briefly go over the role straps are meant to play in a bra’s fit.
Bra Straps vs. Bra Bands
One of the most common misconceptions about bra straps is that they should support most of the weight of your breasts. However, bra straps are not responsible for support. They should only carry 10% to 20% of the weight of your breasts.
Their main purpose is to keep the bra in the correct position. If bra straps are slipping off the shoulders, they won’t be able to do their job, and that will ultimately cause the bra to sag.
To understand the difference the right (and wrong) band size can make on how your straps fit on your shoulders, see this example:
Notice how the correct band size (in this case, a 32) corrects the strap slippage issue and keeps the straps in the right place.
Before you go on, check these two things:
Make sure your straps are the issue by ruling out your band size. If you’re in the wrong band size, this could be the real culprit. Learn how to measure your band size here.
Make sure you’re putting on your bra correctly and that your breasts are fully in the cups. My Expert Video can show you how:
The common causes of strap slippage
Age
The most common cause of strap slippage is a worn out or stretched out bra. Over time, wear, tear, and washing, the elastic in the bra straps loses its ability to expand and contract. If you have your straps tightened all the way and they still slide down your shoulders, this is a sign that your bra is past its prime and needs to be replaced. Read more about how to know when it’s time to replace your bra in my blog post:
Adjustment
Sometimes, the reason for strap slippage is simply that they’re not adjusted correctly. This happens often when trying on brand new bras. In the excitement of trying on a fresh, new bra, many women overlook the strap adjustment and don’t make sure it’s at the correct length.
The solution to this problem is simple – just adjust the straps so they fit more snuggly (but not too snuggly) to the body.
Slider Size
This is a less obvious issue, but it can occur in some bras. The sliders on the base of bra straps can vary in size. If they’re too wide for the strap elastic, this could cause them to slip or shift out of place.
At HerRoom, you can zoom in on the images of the backs of all our bras to make sure the sliders aren’t too wide for the strap elastic. Our vendors are also very good at getting this right.
Strap Location
The positioning of the straps on a bra can cause strap slippage. If the straps are placed too far apart on your shoulders, as can happen with a camisole back bra style, it’s more likely that they will slip – especially if you have narrow shoulders.
Camisole Back Leotard Back
If this is an issue for you, look for a bra with a leotard back, or U-back, instead. You can also look for a bra with center pull straps, which means the straps are sewn in the front of the bra directly over the breast apex (the center of the breasts).
To learn all about why straps slip, watch my Expert Video here:
Find a better fit,
Tomima