Narrow shoulders and straps that will not stay put

Short answer: Choose styles with straps set close to the neck and shoulder seams inside the edge. A strap clip fixes the rest in a minute.

Why straps slide

On a narrow shoulder the distance to the edge is short, and anything resting on the shoulder heads that way. If the shoulder also slopes, nothing holds against it. That applies to bra straps and to tops.

Cuts that stay put

Racer backs, crossed straps and wide straps slide least. Avoid dresses and tops with straps set right out on the shoulder. See bamboo tops for women and bamboo dresses.

Tops with a shoulder seam

On t-shirts and jumpers the shoulder seam should sit just inside the shoulder edge. If it sits outside, the sleeve hangs down the arm and makes the shoulder look narrower still. See bamboo t-shirts for women.

The simple help

A small strap clip gathers the bra straps at the back and works with any top. It costs almost nothing and moves between garments. See bamboo bras without underwire.

Frequently asked questions

Does tightening the straps help

Only a little. On a narrow shoulder, position matters more than length.

Is a top with built in support better

Often yes, because there are not two layers of straps sliding in different directions.

Should I size down

Only if the rest is also too big. Otherwise the garment pinches without the straps staying put.