Dealing with a Loose Bra? Here's How to Tighten Bra Straps

A bra is one of the most important pieces in many women's wardrobes. We wear them everyday, yet finding a perfect-fitting bra may sometimes feel like an impossible task, but it shouldn’t have to be.

One of the most common bra fit struggles women have is dealing with bra straps that just won’t stay in place. If a bra strap hanging off your shoulder sounds familiar, don’t worry — we’ve all been there at some point.

Dealing with loose bra straps can be a huge pain, but there are things that you can do to adjust the fit. If you’re dealing with flimsy bra straps, there are several possible causes and solutions.

By following some of these bra fit tips, you can find a bra that fits perfectly and feels comfortable.

How do I keep my bra straps from slipping off my shoulders?

One of the most annoying bra struggles is having to constantly adjust your bra straps. At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is fix your bra strap for the hundredth time.

Before you throw your bra out the window, tighten your bra straps. We know this may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many women forget to adjust bra straps. Doing so is the easiest way to stop straps from slipping.

How can I make my plus size bra tighter?

First, tighten the bra straps the right way. Yes, there is a wrong way. If the strap slide adjuster is in the front, while wearing your bra, tighten bra straps one at a time until they are comfortably snug but not too tight.

If the strap slide adjuster is in the back, take off your bra and adjust just a bit. Put it on and check the fit and keep adjusting as necessary.

Don’t worry about adjusting your bra straps evenly. It’s completely normal for one breast to be bigger than the other so you won’t need to tighten bra straps as much on one side.

Once your bra straps are in place, check the back of your bra and make sure that the bra band is not riding up. It should be at the same level as the front. Lift up your arms and make sure that your bra band doesn’t come up over your breast.

It’s also important that you make sure that you’re wearing the right bra size. Your straps shouldn’t be giving all of the support, your bra band should do most of the heavy lifting.

If you need a refresher on how to measure, check out our bra fit guide and bra size calculator. For optimal comfort, your bra should fit well in the straps, band, and cups. If one of these is off, the whole fit of your bra will be off.

Why are my bra straps so loose?

Your bra will naturally stretch over time so you’ll need to tighten bra straps occasionally. If you machine wash or dry your bras they’ll wear out faster which means you’ll have to tighten your bra straps more often.

But if tightening your bra strap slide adjuster isn’t fixing the problem, the issue might have other causes. There are a few other reasons why your bra straps might be slipping off your shoulders. See the list below:

• Body shape: Some of us have shoulders that slope or are a bit more narrow than others. This doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to have straps that fall, but it does mean that some styles will be more of a problem than others. For narrow shoulders stay away from wide-set bra straps. Look for racerback bra styles or bras with straps that cross in the back.

• Wrong cup size: If your bra cup is too big and there is a gap in the top of the cup, you’re more likely to have bra straps that slip. Wearing a bra with cups that are too big causes your bra straps to sit too wide and slip more easily. To prevent the dread bra strap slip, try going down a cup size and make sure that your breasts are properly positioned in the cups.

• Bra extenders: These lengthen the band of the bra but put the straps in a wider position than they’re meant to be in. Rather than use a bra band extender, we recommend going up a band size so the straps will be properly positioned. Don’t forget that if you go up in band size you may need to go down a cup size. Be sure to measure yourself to make sure that you get the perfect fit.

• Your band is too high in the back: Once again, fit in all areas is important. The back of your bra should be under your shoulder blades, not above.

• Worn elastic: Eventually the elastic in the bra band and the straps will wear out and when this happens there’s only one solution: a new bra.

Best Bras to Prevent Slipping Straps

MagicLift Seamless Support T-Shirt Bra

This wireless bra features wide, padded straps that adjust in the back. These straps are cushioned for comfort and won’t slip off your shoulders. This T-shirt bra features moisture-wicking fabric that makes this bra a comfortable choice for all-day wear.

WonderWire Front-Closure Bra

This front-closure bra features a low-cut neckline and a cushioned underwire for poke-free support. The extra-wide padded straps are adjustable in the back and will soothe shoulder strain.

Front-Closure T-Back WonderWire Bra

If regular straight-back straps just won’t cut it, try a bra with T-back or racerback straps. This T-back bra is easy to get on and off with a snap front-closure, and the T-back straps have a slide adjuster in the back. T-back bra straps will never slip off your shoulders.

MagicLift Front-Closure Posture Back Bra

Another great front-closure bra is this wireless style. With an extra-wide racerback design, these kicked-in straps will stay in place all day, every day. Plus, criss-crossed back support panels keep your posture in check.

Lacey T-Back Front-Closure WonderWire Bra

With a snap front-closure and wide racerback, this underwire bra is all about comfortable support. The wide T-back design means the straps won’t slip, and the allover lace is as pretty as it is breathable all day long.

Concluding Thoughts

Finding a bra that fits perfectly and feels comfortable can seem like a difficult task. After much trial and error, you might not think that a perfect-fitting bra exists at all, but this isn’t the case. You simply need to know your correct bra size and the style bra that works best for your shape.

Dealing with a loose bra strap is a common fit issue for many women. Making sure you tighten your bra straps, adjust the bra band, and make sure you’re wearing the right bra size, loose bra straps should be a thing of the past.

No matter what your style preference, once you know what to look for you’re sure to find the perfect bra style for you. If you’d like a list of personalized bra recommendations, take our quick Fit Finder Quiz and we’ll send you a list of bra styles you’ll be sure to love.