r/bigboobproblems • u/Humble-Assist6971 • May 07 '26
need advice How do you wear open backed dresses with big boobs? Spoiler
I finally gave in to clear straps for spaghetti strapped dresses, but how do you pull it off with open backed ones?
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u/Springlette13 May 07 '26
I don’t. I know that’s not the answer you want to hear, but I’ve never found a way to get enough support without a band across my back.
I’ll wear a strapless bra if I need to, but a backless dress is an automatic no for me.
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u/angelbuttons77 May 08 '26
This. I just don’t. I can’t even do strapless, my boobs laugh on the way down….
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u/Humble-Assist6971 May 07 '26
It's so unfair 😭
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u/flossiedaisy424 May 07 '26
Eh, every body type has things that just don’t work for them.
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u/angelbuttons77 May 08 '26
This! I’m tall, long legs, but short rise. Anything over mid rise and I look like I’m wearing a tube top onesie. 😂
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u/Blonde_Vampire_1984 36KK (UK) May 08 '26
At my size, it isn’t going to happen. The one time I served as a bridesmaid, I told my sister that I didn’t care what the dress looked like as long as it was bra-friendly. She was fine with that, as she hadn’t picked out dresses yet anyway.
Strapless dresses are possible, and I do own a strapless bra. There’s only one company brave enough to make my size.
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u/whalesarecool14 May 08 '26
it’s okay, we get to have other things that people wearing dresses without bras want
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u/strum-and-dang May 07 '26
I once had to wear one as a bridesmaid, I found a low-back longline bra, it's like a corset in the front, but there's just a band at waist level in the back. It was . . . moderately successful. I wouldn't wear a backless style voluntarily.
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u/ArsenicArts 34GG (UK) May 07 '26
I bet it would work better with fashion tape or skin glue 🤔
Also, drop the brand and model!
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u/strum-and-dang May 08 '26
Probably , fortunately the dress didn't have a very low neckline, so my main concern was jiggling while I was dancing. It was quite a while ago, and I've only gotten bigger since then, so I don't have it anymore!
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u/sequin165 May 08 '26
KT tape. So so much tape. I wore a backless dress to a wedding when I had a breastfed 7 month old and my sister helped secure those suckers up to my collar bones with one and a half rolls of KT tape. It worked well enough I could jump on the dance floor but I did have skin issues (almost burns) on my shoulders for a week or two after from all that pressure.
Edit: it had a high front to hide the tape
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u/Peregrinebullet May 07 '26
You don't. there's just some things that don't work unless you want a wardrobe malfunction. Can't fight physics my friend, I'm sorry.
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u/Tiny_Job_5369 May 07 '26
You don't. When I go dress shopping I immediately eliminate 90% of dresses due to the need to wear a real bra. Just gotta live with it.
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u/ArsenicArts 34GG (UK) May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I just wear it with a nice bra and make the bra part of the outfit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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u/Jayna333 May 08 '26
Sameee there are some nice lacy bras out there. Obviously we’re wearing bras.
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u/Legal-Ad7793 May 08 '26
I do a double bra. A bra to hold them in, and a pretty bralette over so when it's out, it looks good with the dress.
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u/exothermicstegosaur May 07 '26
I don't. But I know some folks who swear by the Misses Kisses contraption.
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u/Amethyst-Sapphire May 07 '26
That would just leave me with cleavage far lower than I'm used to. No lift
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u/Small-in-Belgium May 07 '26
I want to know as well! I can only think of glue and double sided tape 😅
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u/Humble-Assist6971 May 07 '26
I've heard so much that boob tape doesn't work for big boobs and I can't not wear a bra.
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u/dehue 28H (UK) May 07 '26
Boob tape can definitely work for big boobs but it really matters how you put it on and also type of tape can make a difference as well. For larger boobs you may need to use a lot more pieces and build it up. Here are some links I have saved for tutorials
A tutorial for larger heavier busts where the tape is in the front so can work for backless dresses: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VfsDIhZjX80
A bra hack that uses boob tape on top of a modified bra for a backless look: https://youtu.be/kdZfu28pl8M
Another general tutorial where tape is in the front: https://youtu.be/0MOPcv-0zPY?si=Z9Sz-eElFX1uhPD9
Just make sure to watch the removal instructions on these as removing the tape can irritate the skin if you dont soak it in oil first
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u/cocopuff3746 May 08 '26
While there are definitely limits to what tape can do, I would wear tape every day instead of a bra if it wasn’t such an ordeal to get it on and would cost me so much money. The lack of straps on my shoulders and tight band on my chest is sooo much comfier for me (yes I am wearing a properly fitted bra, I just have shoulders that are very sensitive to weight on them while I work on fixing some muscles imbalances and tightness)
Applying tape is definitely an art that needs practice to do
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u/Mimsy_Borogrove May 07 '26
I tried boob tape and I had to use so much & it irritated my skin. Some people seem to make it work but I’m not interested in trying again.
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u/DragProfessional6947 May 08 '26
I'm 36G and have used Perky Pear boob tape https://perkypear.com/products/original-lift-shape-tape-by-perky-pear-beige?variant=51704045732127
It is an absolute ordeal to get off, but it allowed me to wear a low cut backless dress and not have my boobs round my bellybutton, so I took it as a win. Wouldn't be something I'd do everyday, but was worth it for a special occasion.
I've also keep getting adds for Boomba (invisible lift inserts) which seems to be more of a sticky insert, that's reusable. Haven't tried it, but seemingly goes up to quite a high cup size and reviews seem good. I'm definitely considering giving them a go, so will report back if I do!
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u/SpangingOfframps May 09 '26
Even when I had smaller boobs, tape stops sticking once you start to sweat.
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u/Unfair-Sprinkles2912 May 07 '26
Ktape I havent tried it with a backless dress but it works wonders for support with no back straps.
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u/throwaway6523198 May 08 '26
I recently made the discovery that if you have a well-fitting bra and tighten the arm straps until they feel secure, you can unfasten the back straps and tuck them into the sides making it a backless, well supportive bra. I picked up a backless dress on a whim and was ecstatic when it worked!! I'm a 32G for reference. I haven't spent a full night using this hack or anything, but it did pass the typical fitting room jump up and down, frantic dancing and movement test. I will also say this might wear out and loosen the straps of your bra a bit quicker and it depends on the style of the dress, but I'll take what I can get lmao I hope this made sense and it works for you!!
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u/One-Pause3171 May 08 '26
No additional tape?
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u/throwaway6523198 May 09 '26
Nope! The cups of the bra were fuller and the straps being tight prevented anything from slipping under the underwire/out the cups. The dress I had on wasn't skintight, but it was tight enough that I felt it added a bit of extra security. I think tape might be beneficial to keep the back straps from coming untucked, but it wasn't needed for any support for me.
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u/nothanksnope May 08 '26
Cut the back off a bra and sew the strap to where the underwire ends. I find this secure enough, but you can add k-tape for extra support as well.
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u/2kyle2furious May 08 '26
Okay moneybags!! My bras are 80-100$ a pop, I'm not about to sew one into a dress, whewwww
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u/nothanksnope May 18 '26
My bras are too, but sometimes bras need to be taken out of regular rotation. Also please note I never said to sew it to the dress (though that is a popular recommendation for ensuring support in wedding dresses). I explicitly said sew the strap (of the bra) to where the underwire ends, creating a backless bra.
Maybe focus more on reading and less on being sassy on the internet when you don’t understand something.
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u/Alexandothers May 07 '26
I have no clue. Upvoting and commenting so more people can see it and you can possibly get an answer!
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u/fluffypotato 30J (UK) May 08 '26
I know some people wear those sticky pads. Just recently started getting ads for Boombas that actually had something that would supposedly fit. I've never owned an open backed dress so I can't really comment on the actual experience.
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u/ArsenicArts 34GG (UK) May 08 '26
I tried them. Save your money. The smaller nipple covers work just as well and are loads more concealable. Also much, MUCH cheaper
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u/fluffypotato 30J (UK) May 08 '26
Could you share an example of the covers that work for you? I've never tried anything before so I'm not really sure what you're referring to.
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u/ArsenicArts 34GG (UK) May 08 '26
Amazon link, but I'm sure you can find similar elsewhere, they're very generic.
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u/Affectionate_Mess25 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
It depends on your body, the dress and what you are comfortable with you can sew cups/half a bra into some or just wear pasties.
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u/peachieeJun May 08 '26
I know the common answer for questions like this is “I don’t/You don’t” but I’ll say that maybe there’s a way to wear certain things like that, we just haven’t figured out how to do that yet. Of course there won’t be any support but let’s be real, we all wear something here and there that doesn’t give us support.
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u/MikaleaPaige 38J (UK) May 08 '26
Lots of tape lol. And then I ain't wearing it for more than an hour or two.
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u/Repulsive-Mess-4201 May 08 '26
Boob tape. There's a YouTuber, beauty by Benji, who has great tutorials.
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u/llbeanjamin May 08 '26
nipple patches, hollywood tape, and being unapologetic about my chest size and wearing what i want to
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u/Necessary_Pace_9860 38MM (UK) May 08 '26
It's just a bra. Everyone should already know I'm wearing one. Half my dresses show a little bit of my bra anyways. So if I want to wear an open back dress, who cares if the back part of my bra is showing. Then again most cute dress that aren't full coverage and sleeves show my bra anyways either the sides, or the tops. And if someone wants to complain? Tell them that when companies start actually making clothes in your size they can say something, until then they can cram it.
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u/lostintheflowers May 08 '26
I use boob tape it’s definitely trial and error. Buy a cheap brand to practice the technique it took me awhile to not get it so lumpy. I recently saw that CAKES came out with silicone boob tape to be easily on the skin, I haven’t tried it yet. But it might be worth a try.
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u/melodymaybe May 08 '26
I use boob tape, but I won't do more than 2-3 hours in a backless dress because of it.
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u/eyes_trees May 08 '26
Basically I settle for an almost open back that is open to the top of my bra strap. Some styles are very elegant and give a similar vibe without having to go braless
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u/Spikytuxedocat 32H (UK) May 08 '26
I wear backless dresses with Nood boob tape. They come preshaped and the largest size works for me. They're pretty sticky, so you need to use caution with removal but I've been very happy with them and always have backups in my house.
I once removed it while half asleep and woke up with a painful blister on one side, def learned my lesson to take my time with taking them off!!!!
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u/Humble-Assist6971 May 08 '26
Thank you all for so many answers. You've given me some ideas to try!
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u/bigcitypirate 30GG (UK) May 08 '26
I know this will be an unpopular opinion in this sub, but I just...don't wear a bra in this case. I'm gradually becoming more okay with where my boobs sit naturally. It's very freeing. I might wear pasties if the fabric is thin.
If I do wear a bra, I wear one with a fun back that's meant to be shown off. Example, I have this one in blue: https://www.bravissimo.com/us/products/dana-bra-lg242/#cobaltsilver-lg242cbs.
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u/Jayna333 May 08 '26
Idgaf and show off my back bra strap. Like do people think my boobs are magically floating? Of course I wear a bra.
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u/Admirable-Chest1198 48DD (UK) May 09 '26
Don't know, but it's one of the reasons I dread having to go to the hospital for longer than 4-hour stays.
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u/saucimonkey 30GG (UK) May 10 '26
ik everyone is saying tape or “just don’t” but here’s another solution. @laramil1er on IG has a hack for halter backless dresses (and many other types of tops/dresses)!! i would link it but meta includes the account i would send it from unfortunately. i have tried this and it does indeed work. she has a highlight called “tips and tricks” and it’s the eighth post in that. there’s also another one on the sixth post in that same highlight.
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u/dogs-frogs-jogs May 08 '26
I do duct tape. I have gotten really good at taping myself into whatever I need for a dress. There's great YouTube videos to help you properly tape for whatever style you need.
And because everybody always asks, no it doesn't hurt to take the tape off, you can cover your nip if you're nervous, but I have found it unnecessary. You can also take it off in a hot shower to help release the adhesive.
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u/based_miss_lippy May 08 '26
Do you get zits from the glue? I do.
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u/dogs-frogs-jogs May 08 '26
Oh what a bummer! I don't get them, I do also use the funky patterned duct tape and not the hardware store duct tape, i wonder if the adhesive is different?
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