I was chatting long-distance with a friend today about how much we love summer and how great it is to be able to throw on a sundress in the morning and just get on with the day. No more thermals, and tights, and jeans, and long sleeves, and sweaters, and boot socks, and scarves, and down jackets, etc., etc.! Oh the fashion freedoms provided by simple sunshine and warm weather! The only fashionista problem I run into this time of year are those pesky bra straps. I’m not a fan of strapless bras, or “sticker bras” and much prefer to just wear my regular, everyday bras every day. Here is where my little bra-clip heroes come into play. I found these things years ago at a dollar store and thought that all women owned a few. But in my conversation today with my friend, I realized that not everyone regularly chats about concealing their bra straps and not everyone knows the secrets of these little clips! Just in case you fall into the bra-strap-challenged category, let me give you a quick tip on how to hide bra straps.
So, when you throw on that summer dress that doesn’t have short sleeves or a perfect “tank top” neckline, you are faced with this. And let’s face it, this looks kind of tacky.
What you need are bra clips! You can find these at Target, Forever 21, Walmart, and the Dollar Store (if you are lucky).
And here is a little bra clip hack for you: If you are really in a pinch, you can use a butterfly paperclip as a bra clip. Bra clips are most traditionally used to pinch your bra straps in the back when you are wearing a racer-tank style shirt or dress, but they are versatile and can be used several ways.
To use a bra clip, you simply lengthen your straps until comfortable and then slide one strap over the plastic notch.
Repeat this step on the other side and then slide the bra clip down out of sight. I have a white, black, and nude colored clip so they disappear under clothing.
Ta da! No more unsightly bra straps! You’re welcome!
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tanx for the tips. they r gr8
Hi, any tips for covering the back of a bra (where the clip fasteners are) with something a little more decorative? I’ve seen lots of back slit dresses/tops with bras on show and they look awful. It’s only a glimpse of bra that needs covering and as they are casual summer tops, it’s a bit too much trouble to have to wear a backless bra.
I used a flat metal hair Barrett as a bra clip the other day. It worked out pretty well. Just a suggestion to use in a pinch
If you use it in the front and it hides the those straps…what happens to the straps in the back? Do they get hidden as well? Do you have to use another clip to hide the back straps as well?
Thanks for the great tip(s)
Doreen
Hi Doreen, in the picture I’m wearing a racerback bra so the straps in the back don’t show. I let the straps out as far as they will comfortably go while still supporting, and use the bra clip to hide the straps in the front. I find that this trick works best with thin-strapped bras. Thanks for stopping by!
Love this tip. Thank you!!!!
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for stopping by!
Love this! Thankyou! Just purchased some Nike tanks with the x back.
Just a little thank you for the tips they are all great!!!!!
I have large “girls” so the clips actually broke so I started using a thin ribbon. It works well as well. There is no way this would work in the front for us big girls! 🙂
Thank you!!! Because nothing is more frustrating than hearing how tacky it is to have your bra straps showing when solutions like this are not always feasible for larger busted girls. The ribbon is an awesome idea and probably cute, I’m definitely going to try that since the clips definitely don’t work for me haha.
Thank you for saying this! My “girls” are terrible hard to dress.
Me too. Terri. I have also used little girls’ shoestrings. They work great too and do not show.
Don’t the straps still show in the back?
Depending on the cut of your shirt the straps might show. In the dress pictured, I’m wearing a racerback bra with thin straps that I let out and clipped in the front. This way, the straps are hidden front and back.
So glad I read this, because I’m so dumb. Bought one of the clips and thought you were supposed to put it on the straps in BACK of you. Twisted myself into a pretzel and just could not get it! Duh.
You’re not dumb at all! The clips are made to go in the back. And yes, you do have to contort yourself into a pretzel to try and place them on your straps properly. 🙂 I’ve just found that with some dresses the bra clips work better when placed in the front. However, I have to be wearing a bra with thin straps with plenty of extra length otherwise it’s uncomfortable to pinch the straps together in the front. It definitely does not work with every bra. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!
Brilliant! I live in So. Cal. and this will simplify my life AND expand my wardrobe like craaaaaazy – especially using them in the front. Never thought of that – der! The girls are very happy! 🙂 Beth, you rock!
I have always used paper clips. They’re practically free. Use different sizes to get the effect you want. Large ones are great for bustier girls.
I have used a simple metal hair barette in place of a clip that broke on me.
Paper clip (almost free)
I need to get a couple of those clips! I know there are hacks for them out there, but the clips don’t cost much.
This is a great idea. I know that a lot of women don’t seem to care if bra straps show, but I was raised differently. Underwear was meant to be hidden, not put on display. lol
Amen to that. Many people just don’t care! It drives me crazy!
My boobs are so heavy that I break those little things, awkward when bending over and it breaks! Wonder if on the front would be less pressure lol.
Hmmmm…thanks for mentioning this. I’m bustier, and had wondered how the clips would work in the back to hide straps.
Instead of the plastic clips, I have bought some that look like a very short, adjustable bra strap that has a metal fastener that hooks into a loop of fabric at the end. They work perfectly for me (very large busted) for racerback tank tops without slipping or breaking. The plastic ones break when I wear them, also. I have not tried them in the front, yet. Hope this helps!
Where did you find the straps with the hook and eye? I think those would be more comfortable and less likely to break than the plastic type.
I bought them on Amazon. These are the ones I have.
http://amzn.to/2gVLVVY
Love your hacks!!! Thank you!
I’m not in the US and not in a metro area and haven’t seen this. But I reckon at a pinch a nice strong safety pin would work. I’m not big busted so not too much working against me there.
Hi, I seen this reposted by someone else your exact picture and words, someone had pinned it and when I went to read it it took me to a weird looking page and where all the info your info was it was covered in ads and it didn’t shoe all the rest of your pictures like the how to clip in the front. It was aptitudeyou.com or aptitude something .com ugh I cant remember. It had a ton of other articles too, but I didn’t read them. If I were you I would try and find it and see if someone is stealing your stuff and blogging it like its theirs. Hopefully not. But thank you for the awesome tip. Dollar tree has the bra clips I’m gonna get some, I only wear tank tops in the summer. And have been limited in the ones I can buy because of bra straps, mine are thick and wide. Good luck love and thank you again.
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! I really appreciate it. 🙂
I tried this!
Unfortunately it made me look like I had a uniboob. 🙁
Oh no! Did you let your straps out enough? It will pull them together in the front unless you lengthen the straps significantly. Also, the front clasp works best with my racer back bras that have skinny straps.
how did i not know this?? xo
You can use a large paper clip In a pinch
Thanks for the great tip! Hadn’t thought of using one in front, either. Strapless bras always seem to be too padded so this is the perfect solution.
: )
Fantabulous “secret”! Thanks for sharing with all of us “girlfriends”!
What section of the stores are they in? Dollar Store? Target?
I found mine in the beauty section at the Dollar Store.
I use these things all the time! They are the best!
So simple! We actually had to stop at a mall on the way to Haven to purchase a strapless bra because I had a dress with a similar neckline. Could have saved myself $50 and poor James a trip into the mall if I had know about these clips!
Thank you so much for this. Now I can share this with my girls.
I have some of those from the Dollar Store as well! And loathe showing bra straps and strapless. Hadn’t ever thought of placing in front, clever!!!!
I have never thought of doing this in the front, either! I had given up on my bra clips because I live alone, and trying to reach the straps in the back was an exercise in frustration. Love this idea!
Same here. It’s frustrating doing it in the back so I just go without it. Why did i not think of that.
Great ideas.
It also never occurred to me I could lengthen the straps more. Duh.