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The 6 Best Backless Bras for Every Cutout and Cup Size
Stick it and forget it.
Byrdie
TL;DR
Overall, our favorite backless bra that we tested was the Gatherall Bra. The bra was easy to use and looked amazing under clothes, offering the all-day support we needed without having to readjust. If you prefer to use boob tape—which can be more effective for larger chests—we recommend VBT Breast Tape, which we found easy to use and incredibly supportive.
Is the traditional strapless bra dead? After suffering for decades from pokey wires, suffocating bands, and cups creeping down our chests, many of us have turned to new bra solutions to wear under strapless, backless, and plunging dresses. Just open TikTok, and you’ll find hundreds of reviews of boob tape, adhesive bras, and nipple covers that promise to be more comfortable, supportive, and aesthetically appealing than your regular bra.
Of course, it’s hard to watch these videos and not ask, how can a piece of tape or silicone keep my breasts up for hours on end? So we decided to find out the truth. After extensive research, including consulting experts, we identified the 22 most promising backless bras—ranging from adhesive bras, lace up-styles, and boob tapes—and tested them across different cup sizes. We wore these bras to weddings, workouts, and work, all while noting if they stayed put, invisible, and in good shape after wearing and washing. We considered support, comfort, durability, and value for small and large breasts to determine our best backless bras.
Top Picks
Gatherall Bra at Nordstrom$68
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Sneaky Vaunt The Original Push-Up at Sneakyvaunt.com
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Victoria’s Secret Bare Backless Strapless Bra at Victoriassecret.com
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VBT Breast Tape at Amazon$12
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The Natural Lace-Up Adhesive Bra at Amazon$20$16
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Misses Kisses Build-A-Bra Kit at Misseskisses.com
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Best Support
Gatherall Bra
Size Range: A-DD | Shades: Cream, latte, mocha, noir | Number of uses: 30
When you first look at the Gatherall Bra, you might wonder how this thin piece of silicone is supposed to hold you up? Well, it’s all in the name. As you apply the adhesive side to your skin, you are meant to gather and push your breasts together, creating the exact lift and cleavage you desire. After wearing this bra several times, we can attest it works, even on our DDs. We wore this bra for eight to 12 hours at a time, and it kept us fully supported and comfortable. Needless to say, the adhesive is quite strong, yet the bra isn’t painful to take off nor does it leave any irritation or residue. Striking the right balance of being thin yet not too thin, the cups looked seamless under clothes and our nipples didn’t show through.
We also found the cups to be the ideal size for our large breasts—providing enough coverage without the risk of peeping through at the top or sides. Even after washing and wearing the bra repeatedly, it didn’t lose stickiness or stretch out. There’s no padding in the design, so if you are looking for a little extra volume, you may be better off with Victoria’s Secret Bare Backless Bra.
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Credit: Byrdie / Rachel Marek -
Credit: Byrdie / Rachel Marek -
Credit: Byrdie / Rachel Marek
Rachel, tester: “This bra gave me wonderful support. This bra is sticky, so it did not move, slip, or fall at all during the day. The bra looked great under my clothes. It just looked like I was wearing a regular bra or a strapless bra.”
Best Push-Up
Sneaky Vaunt The Original Push-Up
Size Range: A-DD | Shades: Nude, pink, black | Number of uses: 40+
Want to take your boobs to new, um, heights? By placing these cups exactly where you want on your chest and then pulling the strings like a corset, you can lift and push your breasts together to create unbelievable cleavage. The cups offered a soft, rounded shape that looked great under tops and dresses, and the string stayed invisible (we tucked the ends inside the cups). Unlike a true push-up bra that uses underwire, this bra was extremely comfortable.
We wore it to a wedding and it didn’t hold us back on the dance floor—it didn’t budge an inch. The bra did have a pool of sweat after we took it off, but it didn’t soak through the bra or our clothes, thankfully. Still, the bra remained in top shape and after washing, it retained the same size and stickiness. We just wish it came in more colors to better match different skin tones.
Byrdie
Shannon, tester: “The bra is comfortable, good quality, and adjustable—all things I would tell someone to look for in a backless bra. Being able to create and then exaggerate cleavage is something I haven’t seen before in a sticky bra.”
Best for Small Chests
Victoria’s Secret Bare Backless Strapless Bra
Size Range: AA/A-D/DD | Shades: Carmel, ganache, praline, black | Number of uses: Reusable
While we often think of large breasts when it comes to backless bra struggles, those with small breasts also face their own set of challenges. Some styles are too large and cause gapping while others flatten our chests even more. Victoria’s Secret Bare Backless Bra struck the right balance of rounding us out without weighing us down. The lightly padded cups concealed our nipples and fit our B cups seamlessly. Thanks to strategically placed cups, we could wear this style under a low-cut top and not have it show. The adhesive didn’t slip or peel off nor was the bra itchy. Honestly, we forgot we had this bra on. We also didn’t shed a single drop of sweat while wearing this bra—it was so light and breathable. It was a breeze to take off and wash, and it looked brand new at the end of our test. Though it could have offered more support to our DD tester, this bra checked off all the right boxes for those with A-C cups.
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Credit: Byrdie / Michal Hanover -
Credit: Byrdie / Tori Worley
Michal, tester: “The support is excellent because the glue/sticky part of the bra is really strong and does not lose its strength after multiple wears. It did not slip down at all, during all the times I wore it. Once you stick the cup to your body, it is not itchy, irritating, or sticky. It feels like you are not wearing anything!”
Best for Large Chests
VBT Breast Tape
Size Range: A-G | Shades: Beige, chocolate, black | Number of uses: One time (16 inch roll)
Our experts agree that boob tape offers the best lift and support for those with D+ breasts. After testing a few different boob tapes, Amazon’s best-selling VBT Breast Tape trumps the rest. The value is unbeatable—you get five items (roll of tape, flower nipple covers, silicone nipple covers, skin sensitivity kit, and fashion tape) in one kit that’s under $15. When it comes to the tape itself, it comes in two widths (2 and 3 inches) and three different shades.
The kit comes with instructions on how to apply the tape, and once we got the hang of it, the tape was unstoppable. We wore it for more than 12 hours on multiple occasions and our DDD breasts Did. Not. Move. We wore it to a wedding, we wore it to pilates, and no amount of dancing, jumping, or sweating could undo the grip. We’ll admit the sensation of taping our boobs did feel a little weird at first, but after a couple of hours, we forgot it was there. Our chest didn’t even feel clammy or sweaty under the tape. Taking it off felt a bit like peeling a giant Band-Aid, but at least our skin was not irritated or red the next day.
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Credit: Byrdie / Mia Ingui -
Credit: Byrdie / Michelle Garza
Mia, tester: “After sweating, moving, dancing at a wedding, and jumping, the tape held my DDD+ chest up all day. I’ve tried other breast tapes that did not hold up after a few minutes, let alone 12 hours.”
Best Lace-Up
The Natural Lace-Up Adhesive Bra
Size Range: A-D | Shades: Nude, black | Number of uses: Reusable
We were extremely impressed with how comfortable and secure this affordable bra felt. Thanks to soft cups and holes around the areola, the bra didn’t irritate our nipple piercings. We barely felt like we had anything on, which frankly tripped us up a bit. But the bra never moved or slipped during the day, quelling our worries. Removal was easy and pain- and irritation-free. We had low expectations for how this bra would hold up, but it was still in mint condition after use, and the stickiness was as strong as ever. While lace-up bras may not be completely seamless, they are a great option to wear under looser, flowy tops and dresses when you want the adjustability of gathering and lifting your breasts to your liking.
Mariya, tester: “I loved how snug the material felt against me—it made me feel secure despite my inexperience with sticky bras.”
Most Comfortable
Misses Kisses Build-A-Bra Kit
Size Range: A-J | Shades: Beige, mocha, black | Number of uses: Unlimited
We’ve never seen a backless bra like this one before, but that’s what makes it so special. The two cups are connected by an adjustable wire, which provides all the support and lift your girls need. We know what you must be thinking—isn’t the wire uncomfortable? After wearing this bra for several hours, we can attest it’s one of the most comfortable backless bras we’ve tried. What’s more, the wire comes in three different lengths, all the way to an extreme plunge to wear with your lowest of tops. Rather than provide full coverage, the cups are designed to lift and push the breasts together, creating incredible cleavage. The wire can be visible under really tight tops and dresses, yet we didn’t have too much trouble pairing it with clothes that kept it concealed.
While there is a learning curve with this bra, the brand offers complimentary virtual consultations to help you find the right size and ways to wear it. There are two adhesive options: regular and waterproof. We tried the regular version and were blown away but how well the bra held up—even as we danced, jumped, and walked around, the bra remained in place. It didn’t cause us to sweat either. Taking the bra off was also easy and pain-free. The brand says the bra will last a lifetime, and considering how great it held up after wearing and washing, we believe it to be true. Yes, this bra is more expensive than most, but considering the quality and level of customer service, we say it’s worth the investment.
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Credit: Byrdie / Tatiana Kennedy -
Credit: Byrdie / Tatiana Kennedy
Tatiana, tester: “I had low expectations coming into this product testing and wow was I impressed. I think everyone should own one of these bras. The price point looks high, but this bra is truly made to last and has great support.”
What to Look for in a Backless Bra
- Size: There are so many different styles of backless bras, and your cup size determines which one is best for you. Ra’el Cohen, the co-founder and chief creative officer of ThirdLove, says adhesive backless bras and nipple covers are best for cup sizes A-C. Those with D cups and above are better off going with a boob tape, as it’s designed to provide extra strong lift and hold.
- Shape: You also want to consider the outfit you’ll be wearing over your backless bra and what sort of look you are going for. If you want to lift your breasts and increase your cleavage, a lace-up style is a good choice. However, the laces can be visible under a skintight dress, so for something more seamless, go for a thin, smooth design. If your dress has a low-cut neckline, look for a plunging bra. And for those outfits that are so intricate, there’s no way a traditional bra could work, using boob tape to create a custom bra is the best solution.
- Shade: The shade of the bra is another important factor that’s often overlooked. Ideally, you want the shade to be as similar to your skin tone as possible, so that in case a bit of your bra does pop out for a second, it’s not glaringly obvious. If you’re wearing black, it’s best to wear a black bra, since lighter colors can show through, especially in flash photos. Unfortunately, a lot of bra brands have yet to expand their shade ranges, but some styles come in more options.
How We Tested Backless Bras
Byrdie
To find the best backless bras that actually stayed put and offered enough support, we tested 22 different styles by giving them to testers with a range of cup sizes from A to H. While wearing the backless bras for a month, our testers rated them on the following factors:
- Fit: Backless bras usually don’t come in traditional bra sizing, so we wanted to make sure they fit properly. Our testers noted if the bras offered enough coverage. They also rated how seamless the bra looked under clothes and whether they popped out in the back or on the sides to see if they offered a truly backless look.
- Support: Whether they had a small or large chest, our testers judged if the bras offered enough support. By wearing them during daily activities and special events, they were able to see if they stayed put while moving around, even while sweating. We discarded any bras that fell down or didn’t offer enough support.
- Comfort: We looked for bras designed to offer enough support while still being comfortable. We looked for materials that felt nice against the skin and didn’t cause irritation or extra sweating. Our testers also noted how easy the bra was to take off, and whether it caused any pain or irritation.
- Adjustability: Since every breast is different, we looked for designs that made it easy to adjust the placement of the bra to suit different outfits and needs. Our testers also noted how easy it was to learn how to apply the bra and if the product came with any instructions.
- Quality: After wearing and washing the bras for four weeks, our testers rated how well the designs held up. They noted any changes to the materials, shape, size, and/or overall support. Since a lot of these bras rely on sticky materials, the testers noted if the adhesive wore off over time. We looked for designs that were durable and remained equally supportive.
Meet Our Expert
For this article, Byrdie interviewed a bra expert on what to look for and how to use a backless bra:
- Ra’el Cohen is the co-founder and chief creative officer of ThirdLove. Cohen is the creative mind behind the company’s Breast Shape Dictionary and patented Fit Finder sizing quiz that uses data science to help women find their perfect fit without stepping foot in a store.
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Cieslak is an associate editor at Byrdie. Before working as an editor, she was a bra buyer for a major online retailer and learned the ins and outs of bra fabrics, construction, and fit. As someone who loves to wear daring outfits, she’s tried a lot of different adhesive bras, including the Gatherall bra.
Team Byrdie conducted extensive research and tested backless bras for fit, support, comfort, adjustability, and quality to find the best ones available.
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/best-backless-bras-8419076