Meet The Boob Tape That Survived My Under-Boob Sweat

What is a hot girl summer but an amalgamation of under-boob sweat, complicated crop tops, and impractical backless dresses? These anti-bra silhouettes are a direct result of the fashion industry’s infatuation with slender, small-breasted bodies — which, in turn, fuels a market for gravity-defying, sticky strips of gauze that many of us know as “boob tape.” Although I lost hope in those flimsy adhesive bands long ago, my faith was restored by the shade-inclusive accessory brand Nue.

Just like me, Nue believes those of us with gravity-obeying breasts, diamond-grade nipples, ample-size bosoms, etc., deserve to ditch the brassieres just as much as high-fashion models. The packaging of its $15 invention A Boob Job in a Box promises better-fitting strapless and backless tops and dresses. Seeing how warm-weather season is upon us, I found it absolutely serendipitous that the brand offered to send me A Boob Job in a Box and its new travel-friendly Boob Job on the Go to sample. And sample I did. Read on as I detail my intensive boob-tape test: walking 14,500 steps (approximately 5 miles) around Manhattan on an 85-degree day in an anti-bra dress, below.

Boob Job On The Go (Medium), $15

This tape is surprisingly sticky and stayed in place all day for me! I am a 32DDD so that’s impressive.

Ballinforever, free people on-site reviewer

The Tape

According to its on-site description and my experience, Nue’s products — Boob Job in a Box and Boob Job on the Go — are waterproof, sweat-proof, and outfit-proof. Both hypoallergenic and latex-free tapes are available in four skin-tone colorways: Light, Light-Medium, Medium, and Dark. If you’re looking for maximum customization, go for the Boob Job in a Box, which features a single 16.5-foot roll. For quick, easy-to-use tape, the On the Go bag and its nine precut, multi-length strips are recommended, especially for travel. No scissors required!

A Boob Job In A Box (Dark), $25

The tape did not stick to the scissors, snag, or get irreparably stuck together when the sticky side accidentally connected.

alexandra polk

My Boobs & Sweat Status

Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the be-all and end-all of boob tape testers. I fit the aforementioned slender body type, and my breasts are between a 34C to D depending on where you buy bras. The first saving grace is that my boobs are not archetypal per America’s beauty standards. I can only assume the pair has unsettled beef, as they like to stay as far away from each other as possible — they jet outward toward my armpits when left to their own devices. They also hang loose, and I *flashes self in the mirror to make sure* would never describe them as “perky.” All the while, I love them unconditionally.

Second, what I lack in boobiness I make up for in hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). After years of being the sweatiest girl on the volleyball court, that person reapplying deodorant in between college lectures, and the invitee arriving to summer work events in damp attire, I can say, with confidence, my sweat glands don’t mess around. I’m not necessarily proud, just at peace with my pores.

The Application

I used to frantically apply duct tape to my chest before a night out, so this application was a breeze. There are many methods in which you can utilize boob tape. I chose to swaddle each with one piece of tape in a crisscross formation on top of my chest. I used the Boob Job in a Box because I had scissors on hand — the tape did not stick to the scissors, snag, or get irreparably stuck together when the sticky side accidentally connected. The adhesive also left room for human error: If I wasn’t satisfied with my placement, I could peel it off and adjust without losing any clinginess. Not only that, but the shade is akin to my skin tone, which will come in handy with sheer tops.

The Experience

Singer-songwriter Tove Lo once eloquently stated in her pop hit “Disco Tits,” “I’m sweatin’ from head to toe. I’m wet through all my clothes. I’m fully charged, nipples are hard — ready to go.” This almost too accurately describes my day out on the town. I forgot to mention that my nipples are hard probably 12 out of 24 hours of the day (should I see a doctor?), and although they were still a tad visible, the tape did a good job at keeping them at bay without discomfort. There’s a softness to each strip’s edges that won’t stab the side of your breasts, which is a major selling point.

The perspiration commenced and Nue’s swaddlers stayed put?! I’ve never seen anything like it. Sure, duct tape was not made for human skin, but I’m accustomed to a one- to two-hour stickiness time slot (cut that in half if dancing is involved), and this endured five straight hours of city life. Droplets definitely pooled, but the onus is not on the tape; it’s on hyperhidrosis. And the tape did not give out after five hours; that was when I peeled it off myself upon returning home.

A Boob Job On The Go, $15

The Removal

We’ve established that I have a sticky past with duct tape, but the same goes for the “nude” peach-toned rolls offered at Target and drugstores. Duct tape removal, which usually takes place after giving up on application and finding a new outfit, is extremely painful for the epidermis. The drugstore options don’t necessarily hurt, but they also don’t do the job. Nue’s Boob Job in a Box peeled off with little resistance and caused a tickle rather than a rip. It was slightly holding on for dear life toward the sweaty under-boob area, but it was still locked in on my chest.

This boob tape is my summer 2022 safe haven.

alexandra polk

So, What’s The Tit Tea?

Plastic surgery is out, and Nue’s $15 to $25 boob jobs are IN. Jokes aside, these products are safe for the skin, inclusive, and worthwhile. I love putting cons in my reviews, but I’m grasping at straws here. One could say sustainability, but the brand even offers to recycle gently used bras for 15% off your next order. So, apologies for this rose-colored, 10/10 review, but this boob tape is my summer 2022 safe haven.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Best Cotton Underwear For Down There

Cuup Bras Are On Sale For A Limited Time

A Guide To Buying Your Perfect Bra Online

The Second Yeezy Gap by Balenciaga Collection Drop Is Here

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 25: Ye is seen on January 25, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

Update: The second drop of the Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga collection is now available to shop here.

This story was originally published on January 7, 2022.

Balenciaga is coming to a Gap near you. At least, that’s the memo from Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Demna (Gvasalia). The two designers are partnering for an upcoming collaboration for Yeezy Gap, titled “Yeezy Gap Engineered By Balenciaga.”

Set to launch in June 2022, the collection is part of Ye’s partnership with Gap, which was first announced in 2020. The 10-year contract has already given us plenty to talk about, beginning with last year’s release of the Yeezy Gap puffer collection. And judging by how fast those sold out at $200, it’s safe to predict Balenciaga’s offering will be no different. 

While the partnership was described as a “first of its kind” via the press release from the brands, Ye and Demna are no strangers to creative collaboration. Last year, the Balenciaga designer served as creative director for Ye’s Donda album listening parties in Atlanta. “There are very few people that I know, especially of Ye’s caliber, who really understand my work so well,” Demna told Vogue. “He makes me come out of my comfort zone and be a better designer. There’s no ego when we collaborate, just a mutual drive to evolve and do something great and new.”

The news of this partnership follows a series of unexpected design powerhouse collaborations, including Fendace, that saw Fendi collaborating with Versace, and Gucci & Balenciaga’s “Hacking Project,” that cemented the return of the logomania trend. 

While no prices or product details have been released, according to Demna, the partnership is set to provide “utilitarian fashion for all.” Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga is set to drop this summer with a second installment coming shortly after. 

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Latest Kanye West Yeezy Gap Release Is Here

Kanye West’s Yeezy Is Coming To Gap

Logomania 2.0 Is One Of 2021’s Defining Trends

Fashion Upcycling Is More Popular Than Ever — 6 Tools To Get You Started

young fashion designer working sewing machine in her atelier

As fashion fans grapple with the environmental impact of the clothing industry, they are looking for alternative ways to shop. Chief among them is secondhand shopping and upcycling, a process in which people transform waste fabric or existing products into new clothing. 

On TikTok, #upcycling has over 6 billion views, while #upcycledfashion has over 600 million views, thanks to creators on the platform showing transformation projects that vary from turning a pair of pants into denim cutoffs to a brand-new dress (yes, really). There are also niche communities on the app like #sewingtiktok, and #fashiontok, which have rapidly become social media’s answer to Project Runway, thanks to amateur and expert sewers sharing their projects and know-how. 

Still, as popular as upcycling has become on social media, the practice requires some basic level of sewing and craftsmanship, as sewers must deconstruct old products or materials and then decide what projects are most suitable based on the materials they have available. 

That’s why creators like Kiana Bonollo, who has over 270,000 followers on the app, are helping followers figure out how to start learning sewing and upcycling with little to no skills. “It’s great to see more and more people upcycling,” says Bonollo, who is a fashion designer and patternmaker. “I don’t think it’s a trend; I think it’s going to continue to grow and stay with us in the future.” Bonollo, who started her channel in 2020, is dedicated to teaching people skills she learned while attending fashion school, as well as offering original patterns for her followers to try. “There’s just so much knowledge that I learned in college,” she says. “I’m very passionate about bridging the gap and making that knowledge more accessible.”

According to Bonollo, you don’t need a vast assortment of tools to start upcycling. Still, before you ruin a pair of pants with the wrong pair of scissors, here are a few essential tools and practices to make upcycling work — no matter your experience level. 

@kianabonollo Day 2 of my sewing tips! #sewingtips #sewing #fashiondesign #howtosew #sewingtutorial ♬ original sound – Kiana Bonollo

A Good Pair Of Scissors

While most people tend to use the same pair of scissors around the house, at school, or at work, Bonollo says that it’s key to pick up fabric shears, which have slightly thinner and sharper blades, for sewing projects. “Otherwise, they [blades] will get dull,” she says. 

A Marking Tool

Upcycling requires a good amount of fabric cutting, so Bonollo recommends a marking tool, which varies from disappearing ink pens to tailor’s chalk. The latter is Bonollo’s favorite: “It applies really easily and it gets in the marks and gets removed when you use heat on your iron.” Marking tools are also important to guide the fabric through a sewing machine, so stitches are precise. 

A Wide Variety Of Rulers 

While most people use straight rulers, Bonollo recommends also adding a curved one to your toolbox. “A lot of people freehand sew and cut things, so I’d suggest using both straight and curved rulers in addition to the marking tool so you can really plan out those lines you’re creating,” she says. 

@kianabonollo SUCH a time saver!!! #sewingtips #sewing #fashiondesign #howtosew #sewingtutorial ♬ Skate – Trees and Lucy

Many, Many Pins 

When assembling a new garment, it’s important to keep all the parts together before passing the fabric through the sewing machine. This is why Bonollo says it’s key to have multiple pins available when doing an upcycling project. She adds that pins also come in handy when you are tailoring garments to your body, which is why it’s helpful to have pins in several shapes and sizes. 

A Seam Ripper

The reality is that, while patterns and marking tools make sewing easier, projects go awry easily. “You don’t always have a concrete plan or something doesn’t always come out in the right way,” says Bonollo. “So you probably want to get acquainted with that seam ripper and start over.” She noted that it’s normal if, when starting out, people spend more time ripping seams than sewing. 

@kianabonollo Reply to @user273859394 for my beginners on a BUDGET!! NO- you do not need to break the bank to sew!!! #sewing #sewingmachine #beginnersewing ♬ original sound – Kiana Bonollo

A Sewing Machine

While a sewing machine is an investment, Bonollo recommends getting one if you’re at all serious about the craft. “I would recommend either a Singer or a Brother machine,” she says, referring to two of the most popular sewing machine brands. Many of these machines are available for under $100 and are small and portable. Bonollo says that people should focus on finding a machine from a reputable brand, but not “spend crazy amounts on the machine before you even know how to use it.” 

Bonollo emphasizes that people should look online or ask people on social media for advice on how to start using these tools. “When I was starting out, I could find basically anything that I wanted to find on YouTube or Google,” she says. She also says that it’s important to start with projects that are not too complicated. “Before you start a full project, try the basics, like cropping and hemming things,” she says. “Once you hit the machine, I’d say start with a skirt because it’s easier to fit on the body.” In terms of choosing materials to upcycle, Bonollo recommends opting for a piece that already fits, as well as garments with details like collars or embellishments that can be upcycled into other garments. 

Now, go make it work. 

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Sewing TikTok Is Social Media’s Own Project Runway

How This Artist’s Heritage Inspires Her Skin-Care

This Teen Is Sewing Her Own Dress For Virtual Prom