Some products show up everywhere: subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we're testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype?
What's everyone talking about?
Kim K made headlines, as usual, for her innovative boob-taping technique that helped to create the perfect silhouette in her low-cut, form-fitting red-carpet looks. Skims Body Tape is a skin-friendly version of the duct tape Kim K used back in the day, making easy boob manipulation accessible to the rest of us.
What's the buzz about?
Skims Body Tape is a breathable, flexible, gentle adhesive cloth strip that is designed to make creating the perfect breast shape super easy for anyone. Basically, your boobs can have a Kim K red-carpet vibe without annoying and unattractive bra straps.
Where's all the hype coming from?
- Endless YouTube influencer try-ons
- Reviews from Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Popsugar
- Their insane 1.7 million following on Instagram
So does it live up to the hype?
How'd we come to this conclusion?
After 2 years of breastfeeding my son, the youth and perkiness of my boobs was essentially eviscerated. While I’ve always been a part of the itty-bitty titty committee, after going through the journey of breastfeeding, engorgement, and postpartum weight loss, I’ve pretty much sacrificed my ability to go braless with confidence. Despite my breasts being a bit more on the droopy side, they don’t stop me from wearing dresses and tops that are low-cut, spaghetti-strap, or otherwise more revealing. I’m a conductor on the body-pos train and am all about loving my shape for what it is, raindrop tits and all.
However, what I can’t tolerate is wearing the perfect satin-and-dainty-cowl-neckline spaghetti-strap dress featuring my absurd bra straps. Sure, I could go the 2005 route and pop in some chicken cutlets, but to be honest, they are uncomfortable and do absolutely nothing for my breast shape. I could also opt for a strapless bra, but in my 31 years on this planet, I have yet to find a strapless bra that stays in place on my super long body and doesn’t compress my breasts. Other than out-of-style clear bra straps, my options for creating the ideal silhouette in a low cut or sleeveless dress was minimal.
I remember very clearly when Kim Kardashian went viral in 2016 for her duct tape breast hack. When I saw it, my first thought was how painful that must be to remove. My second thought, however, was how genius of an idea that was. Fast-forward to now and she has created a product to help us recreate her famous tape trick at home.
Originally, I wanted to try out the Skims Body Tape for my birthday dress that I’d planned to wear back in March. I’d tried it on without a bra and my breasts pooled under my armpits, virtually disappearing from view. I didn’t like that. But, when I threw on a bra, the straps were poking out and clearly visible, which is totally unacceptable for my budding Instagram baddie career. While my birthday was canceled and I likely won’t have a turn-up brunch to attend for a while, I still wanted to give Skims a try so that I’d be a pro by the time I need to use it.
Before applying the body tape, I wanted to research some taping techniques and looked up a few videos. After watching a handful of women tape their breasts into place in 5 minutes or less, I was confident that I could get these little puppies sitting up like it was 2011. The Skims Body Tape, like their other products, comes in four tone-complementing colors for a more inclusive experience.
I chose the deep brown color Smoky Quartz to match my summer hue. I wanted to give this tape a full test by applying it under a spaghetti-strap tank top and going for a walk in the sizzling and humid 85-degree weather. Since I was wearing a top that would reveal my shoulders, I chose to use the technique of applying the tape from the top of my rib cage to just above my breast.
My first impression was that the tape was super soft and breathable, as it is made of 100% cotton. The adhesive feels sticky, but not like it’ll rip off the first layer of my skin. Once I applied the tape the first time, I wasn’t happy with how my breasts looked. The gentle adhesive is a one-time-use material — once you stick it on it can’t be removed and repositioned, which may be tricky when you’re trying to find the perfect technique.
Eventually, I got the tape on and it looked alright. To be super honest, I am not all that sure that I applied it well enough, and didn’t feel like my breasts were exuding Kimmie à la Met Gala 2018 vibes. I was seeing more of a “soggy donut with tape on it” aesthetic. In the videos that I watched, the women ended up with round, perky breasts that appeared to be unaffected by time and gravitational pull. Looking down at my taped-up results, I was left with mom-breasts that were slightly more centered than before.
Despite my less-than-pleasing results, I do think that using this body tape to hold my breasts just where I want them is not something that will happen overnight and takes some practice to perfect. With that being said, I intend on using up the 15-yard roll until I get it right. Also, on the plus side, the tape promises 12 hours of sweat-resistant wear time — and after my stroll, the tape that I didn’t remove and reapply stayed in place. As far as removal, the website suggests applying a damp cloth on the tape to loosen up the adhesive. I’m a rebel and didn’t do that — but it still slid off painlessly.
Skims offers a wide array of products designed to enhance the feminine shape. From traditional bras and bralettes to shapewear and loungewear, their products are inclusive and are created to make people feel good underneath their clothes. The brand also offers cloth masks that'll add a dash of fashion to your pandemic protection gear. I was able to try out their Core Control Thong and, when it's finally time to press play on my social life again, it will be my go-to shapewear.
What's the bottom line?
With practice, the Skims Body Tape can potentially turn back the hands of time for my boobs and transform them from dilapidated milk machines to the plump and round boobs of my youth, if even just for a night out.
