Archived comment by Beth:
On the Star Wars tack: I gather that George Lucas commanded the use of duct tape on Carrie Fisher's breasts because "Imperial Princesses don't jiggle!"

Archived comment by Charming Songbird:
no! duct tape is bad!!
use gaff tape if you have to... or a soft cloth tape. the adhesives in duct tape will take your skin off!

Archived comment by Obsidiana:
I used masking tape once...it hurt like hell going on *and* coming off.

Archived comment by Oliana:
Thing worth duck taping your breasts for:

Gravity defying chest coupled with the slit to the belly button and a sexy backed dress.

Of course duct tape would only be used by ladies who were of ample size or age that the "pertness" of going without a bra is a factor (i.e., sagging chest != nice looking)

Now, as to the use of duct tape as a lifting system, you would have to understand some of the properties of duct tape.

1. It is very sticky,
2. It doesn't stretch,
3. It is amazingly strong,
4. It is flexable.

This in mind (and in my case some carefully placed kleenexes) you would basically create a form across the chest.

There are two methods. If you are wearing strapless, but not backless, you can circumnavigate the chest with duct tape much the same as a strapless bra would, but without the readjusting, poking and general uneasiness that accompanies the strapless bra. (Saran wrap can be used here.) This is also a good way to get a good "shelf" effect if you are going for the corsetted look. (You know the look, think dangerous liasons.)

The other method is used for stunning back lines, where even a low-back strapless bra would show. Or if the front of the bra (cleavage area) would peak out. This is where you would afix the tape below the breast and circle under and towards the armpit, akin to an underwire. Then finish the "tape bra" by covering over the chest using the adhesion to higher parts of the skin for lift. This method is similar to the "pasties" sticker bras that don't work well on anyone with a cup size over B. Of course the tape will have to adhere to skin for this to work, but you can cover the more delecate areas with kleenex or whatnot for easier removal.

I've use Method two for a fabulous dress that had slits down the back and down the front in a situation where I would have to be running or walking briskly. (In high heels, no less.)

O

Archived comment by boB:
All right, ladies, I'm confused, and I'm going to take the plunge and ask for some clarity here.

How do you duct-tape [yes, I know, I'm verbing the noun] your breasts in lieu of a bra? ShadowVee speaks of using Saran Wrap over her ribs and then applying the tape to the Saran Wrap, but I'm still not getting the visual here. [In fact, I'm more confused, if anything.]

I realize this may sound like a perverted question to some, but I'm curious to know what pain you are putting yourselves through in the name of fashion. I mean, aren't high heels bad enough?

Archived comment by Arlene:
Okay, this really made me cringe until I read the Saran solution. I twice made the mistake (okay so I'm a little slow) the mistake of using scotch tape (dress would have shown a bra, a no-no in this case). Decided I didn't like the dress THAT much & never wore it again. I just couldn't imagine duct tape.

Archived comment by ShadowVee:
I've done that before. It's a way to get around having to wear a bra, if you're wearing a strapless dress. I just wrapped a sheet of Saran-Wrap around my ribs first, then put on the duct tape, then removed the excess Saran Wrap. It works quite effectively.

Archived comment by Valarie:
I didn't realize that so few people knew about this. You stick the duct tape to a towel so it's not as sticky and doesn't rip off all your skin. This is very useful for formal dresses.

Archived comment by In Passing Admin:
And yet women end up doing it fairly often from what I understand, for modeling or beauty pagents. Though I can't imagine what it does for their career when the shoot is over and they take off the tape, and probably the skin underneath it too. Yeow!

Archived comment by Hisako:
Well, Carrie Fisher did duct tape her breast in Star Wars. Something about Princess Leia being less feminine.

Archived comment by in_tern:
I can't think of a thing that would possess me to put duct tape on my breasts.

Archived comment by bitterball:
what exactly WOULD be worth duct taping your breasts for?