Shopping Writer Meghan recently had an outfit dilemma as she needed a bra that wouldn’t be visible with the dress she was wearing to a summer wedding – and this Boux Avenue one that worked a treat
Is there anything worse than not having a bra that can seamlessly hide under awkward outfits? I recently had this issue, as the backless halterneck dress I planned to wear to a summer wedding meant none of my bras would be discreet underneath it. The previous strapless bra I owned was visible at the back, and the straps of normal bras would have been visible (and ruined the halterneck style). That’s where this Boux Avenue bra came in clutch.
Unlike some strapless bras that come unwired or feature an unstable all-over adhesive, this Boux Avenue strapless and backless stick-on bra is underwired to help create some lift, whilst the silicone gel adhesive wings help keep the bra in place and leave you feeling secure all day. The silicone adhesive is also transparent, meaning the bra can be fastened and go unnoticed, no matter what strap style you’re opting for with your top or dress.
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Coming in two shades, light nude and black to best suit your wardrobe, this bra comes in a range of sizes to comfortably fit and support your bust. Ditching the front clasp that some strapless adhesive bras have, which can be visible or cause bumps in tight-fitting clothes, this bra is seamless and smooth to easily hide under any ensemble without drawing attention to its presence.
The bra conveniently slipped under the halterneck dress I was wearing, offering plenty of support while being completely invisible at the front, sides and back. What’s more, the bra remained comfortable all day and stuck in place without constant readjustment from the start of the day to the end of the night (nearly 10 hours); plus, this summer wedding was during the heatwave when temperatures were racked up to 28 degrees Celsius, and despite sweating and moving around a lot through the course of the very hot day, the bra didn’t budge.
The adhesive wings located at the sides not only keep the bra exactly where you want it but they can also be pulled tighter to provide as much lift as you like, unlike bras where the adhesive is located on the inside of the cup. Completely reusable and washable, I had no trouble sticking the plastic covers back onto the adhesive wings once I was done using the bra, so that I could store it with the rest of my underwear without the adhesive sticking to other items or getting lint and fluff stuck to it, reducing its effectiveness.
I’ve since worn this bra under other dresses and tops I haven’t been able to wear so far this summer, as any other bras would be visible and ruin the look, and the bra continues to live up to its promises. The only thing I will note, for all those who use fake tan or gradual tanner, the adhesive may lift the tan in places where the adhesive is stuck to the skin once you remove it, so be prepared to need to redo your tan or place the bra in the same place next time you reach for it.
Retailing for £25, this strapless and backless bra is part of Boux Avenue’s summer essentials collection, which also includes a Stick and Clip Bra (£24) which is sure to solve the same outfit woes as this dress, so long as the neckline doesn’t come deep enough to see the clasp. Boux Avenue also stocks silicone nipple covers for £10, for those outfits where you don’t need or want a full bra. If you want to ditch the adhesive, Boux Avenue has this viral Strapless Microfiber Multiway Bra (£32), which also promises to solve strapless outfit dilemmas, without the need to stick anything directly to your skin.
If you prefer to shop elsewhere, Marks & Spencer has this U Plunge Push-Up Stick on Bra for £24, promising to solve the issues of strapless, backless and low-cut outfits while providing some added lift. Or, over at Next, you can shop a similar Pastel Rose Nude Stick-On Bra in nude or black for £22.