How to wear a backless dress without a bra

Woman in a backless black dress at a restaurant

A backless dress has one job: show your back. Which means every strap, band and hook has to go. Here is how to hold everything up with nothing showing, in the order we would try it.

Option 1: Body Tape, the crossover

This is the one stylists use on red carpets. It gives real lift and works for every cup, including DD and up.

  1. Start with clean, dry skin. No lotion, no oil, no deodorant near the chest.
  2. Put on Nipple Covers first. Tape on bare nipples is a mistake you only make once.
  3. Cut a strip of Body Tape about 13 inches long. Anchor it at the bottom outer edge of one breast, lift, and press the strip up toward the opposite shoulder.
  4. Repeat on the other side so the two strips cross in the middle.
  5. Add a third strip horizontally under the bust if you want more push.
  6. Rub each strip for 10 seconds. The adhesive is heat-activated and bonds fully in about 20 minutes.

Keep the tape below the line of the dress at the sides and back. Check in a mirror from behind before you leave.

Option 2: the Lift Bra, when you have five minutes

If cutting tape sounds like a project, the Lift Bra does the same thing out of the box. Two adhesive wings go under the breast and pull up and in. No straps, no band, nothing across the back. Sizes S to XL cover A to G cups. Need more? Stack two pairs.

Option 3: covers only

Smaller cup, loose dress, or you simply do not want lift? A pair of Nipple Covers and nothing else. Matte silicone, paper-thin edges, invisible under anything.

How long will it hold?

Up to 8 hours. First time wearing tape? Do 3 to 4 hours, and give your skin 72 hours before the next wear. It is waterproof and sweatproof once bonded, so dancing is fine.

Taking it off

Never pull tape off dry. Soak it in baby oil or coconut oil for 5 minutes, then peel slowly while holding the skin with your other hand. Full removal guide here.

What to buy

For one backless dress: Body Tape and Nipple Covers, which is our Tape Kit. For a season of them: the Pro Kit, which adds the Lift Bra. Everything is made in USA, ships from Miami within a business day, and comes with 30 days to change your mind.