Surviving a Cross-Strapped Bra

[valerie anne]

Be gentle with me, I am new here (a poor bra lamb)!

I am experimenting with closet CD, and I really love to go out wearing a bra. I can fill a small cup size very nicely, as I have been using electric breast pumps for some time.

I recently bought a multi-way bra, intending to wear it cross-strapped. Why, well I don't risk the falling bra strap problem and I feel much more committed and "at risk" with it on: if somebody suspects I am wearing a bra, I can't just slip it off. It took me about 30 minutes just to get into it!

However, after about an hour, the cross straps migrated across my back to my neck. They became visible inside my top and started to cut me. I had to put on a sweater and rush home. God, the relief when I unhooked my straps.

Has anybody else had a similar experience? Are cross-strapped bras a complete no-no?     

[Devlyn]

Hi Valerie Anne, welcome to Susan's Place! Not sure exactly what you're describing, but it doesn't sound like fun. Take a look around the site while we wait for some replies here. Hugs, Devlyn

[sarahb]

Are you sure you don't just need to loosen the bra straps?

[valerie anne]

No, I am sure the straps were not too tight.

The bra came with specially long straps and I adjusted them so that I could put two fingers under each strap on my shoulders when I first put the bra on. Any looser and there would have been no support for me! Should I perhaps locate the straps with adhesive or tape?

Come on, does anybody wear these bras sucessfully!   

[FrancisAnn]

Girl, girl, girl surely you can wear a bra. I'm sure you do not need any tape, just adjust it until it feels good.

[justpat]

  Google racerback I love them.

[Lyric]

It sounds like you're a beginner in the bra wearing advanced class, Val. You're going to need more than one bra eventually anyway, so just buy a simpler one for now. I never used a cross back one, either, but glancing over a few in an image search shows there are a few different designs. I'd just put that thing aside for now. I went through two or three bras before I got one that fit right and that I liked. I suspect most ladies do the same thing.

One thing I always do with a back fastening bra is put it on backwards, then twist it around and stick my arms into the straps. I'm not sure this will help with yours, though.

~ Lyric ~

[valerie anne]

No, no, no!

I am a reasonably experienced cross-dressing bra wearer! I have got (small) but real boobs to support. I am comfortable wearing most styles: plunge, pushup, balconette, demi cup etc, but I do struggle with strapless and cross-strap forms.

I really do want to go cross-strapped, as it is such a nice snug feeling to be lifted & supported discretely in this way, until the straps start to bite.

As I said before, who can wear this style all day?

         

[Ginger Maxim]

WHEN I get the courage to wear bra and panties out, I usually wear the normal style. I do like all types of sexy bras, but when I do this I get very excited and usually have to go and take care of business. So I tend not to do it very often. As well as trying to build up enough courage to do it. I have not done this in a long time.

I have gone as far as wearing pantyhose, panties and a bra out in public underneath my man clothes.

[Cindy Stephens]

A couple of weeks ago I fell asleep in front of the TV and the late night ads sunk into my subconscious.   I ended up buying a "lint lizard" to clean the lint trap on my clothes dryer and some "space bags" that you fill with clothes and then suck the air out with a vacuum.  Hey, you have to see it to understand.  Now, another product might help you with your original problem of the dreaded "bra strap slippage."   They make, and sell, an item that attaches to an ordinary bras straps in back.  They are like an extra support that turns a regular bra into a racerback.   One is called bra perfect.  Sells on ebay.  They usually come in a kit containing different colors to match your bra.  try googling "bra strap guides."  Never had to use one myself, but love all those commercials! 

[Luana_Erika]

I could never wear a cross-strapped bra. In Argentina they come with short straps that don't fit in my back. Guess are complicated ones anyway. In your place I would keep using traditional and comfortable bras.

[valerie anne]

Thanks for the bra strap advice!

But I think that I have still got a problem. I really want to wear a cross-strapped bra when I under-dress as it makes me feel safe from embarrassment.

For example, today I was in the perfume & makeup department of a large store, ostensibly buying Xmas presents for lady friends. But I was also secretly looking out for offers such as free eye makeup kits!

As it was mild and humid, I wore a skin-coloured soft-cup bra under my tee shirt. This gave me lots of nice support but with little bust and without really revealing my previously-pumped hard nipples. But I dropped my purse, I bent down and "bang" my right strap fell down under my tee shirt sleeve.

What to do? Brazen it out (the strap was pretty!)  Or grope for it. I panicked, pulled on my fleece and made for the gents. There, I tightened my straps really hard.  What made it worse was that the women on the counters were all wearing sheer tops, sexy white plunge bras with black stockings and 4" heels.  Please, me too!

So if I wear conventional bra straps, they can drop (particularly my right one). If I go cross-strapped or use a rear strap clip, my straps tend to ride up to the nape of my neck, causing chafing and become visible again above my top.   

[Emily.T]

I wear a bra and panties out every day I have never used the cross strapped bras though when I naught my bras I was fitted in a bra store so I don't have the problems with the straps falling down, if your able to get a regular bra that fits well they can be very comfortable and have no issues.

I wish you the best of luck in your search for the right bra for you.

Emily.T xx

[valerie anne]

I did ask to be fitted in a lingerie store, but the kindly & understanding lady said they don't stock bras with more than 38" band size. I am a full 40", with a small cup but carrying a woman's nipples so I hate padded bras which push my nipples flat. So I have to buy from specialist online sites. For example, I can buy lovely sexy lace bras in my size with ample nipple room in the cups from "touchable.co.uk", but boy, are they expensive!

An intimite bra fitting from that lady would have been a heavenly experience, though!

But I digress. A really sissy friend had recommended me to try "Fashion Forms Strap Connections". This amounts to a third horizontal bra strap which pulls the shoulder straps gently together. It is less fierce than the "racer back " clasps and should hold my straps in the middle of my back, so I don't show from a dropped strap over the shoulder or an upriding strap at the nape of my neck.

The disadvantages, apparatly, are that it is difficult to put on without help and it adds to the bra strap "lump" problem under a tight top. If you are under-dressing there is now the back band & fastener, two normal straps with their clasps, plus a horizontal strap with its clasps to hide!

My friend says don't worry at all, as all the women who have "outed" her as a bra wearer have been fascinated by the extra strap and have asked for more details. I must say that discussing bra strap problems with other women would be an interesting & rather sexy experience!           

[Emily.T]

I must agree that specialty bras are priced over the top which is the main reason I kept away from them, if I find a bra I like and the band is to small I just buy band extenders which can extend the band up to an extra 3 inches.

I don't really mind if I'm outed wearing a bra most ppl don't say anything but I do get a lot of smiles and good comments from women, I have had a couple of conversations with women about my bras they find it fascinating that I don't try to hide them.

I might have to try the crossed strapped bras to see if they are better or not.

Emily.T xx

[valerie anne]

I simply can't use bra band extenders, as they have the effect of moving the rear anchorage points of my bra straps out towards my shoulder blades.

This makes the dropped strap problem even worse!

When I started cross-dressing, I wore my mom's bras and they didn't slip on me at all. These were full cup bras and the straps started vertically above my nipples. But all my new bras have straps which locate very wide apart at the front, some almost under my armpits.

Is that the answer? Should I wear frumpy full-cup bras?

No! I am already addicted to sexy push-up, plunge and demi-cup breast support. I am going for the extra horizontal strap and risky under-dressing.





   

[LordKAT]

Having personally gone this route, it seems you may have been putting it on oddly. Once the straps are lined up and you snap it around your waist, it is time to slip in your arms like you would a shirt. Then the straps stay where they should.

[FrancisAnn]

Come on girl friend, surely you can out wit a bra.

[Lyric]

I simply can't use bra band extenders, as they have the effect of moving the rear anchorage points of my bra straps out towards my shoulder blades.

Well, you could always go to the fabric store, buy some stock strapping in the same color, cut the short straps off and stitch on a longer one yourself. Hand stitching takes awhile, but it's really not too difficult, especially for less than an inch or so. You'd want to go back and forth a couple of times to have a very secure stitch, but this way you could have straps any length you want.

~ Lyric ~