We Tested the $178 Posture Bra Taylor Swift Made Famous
NBC Select wore Forme's Power Bra for five months and found it works — but only while it's on.
A $178 sports bra that promises better posture works as advertised while you wear it, but not well enough to justify the price, according to a five-month test by NBC Select.
The Forme Power Bra is a physical posture corrector — a garment designed to pull the shoulders back and support the upper body so the wearer sits and stands taller. Forme has been in business since 2019, but the bra's popularity surged after Taylor Swift wore it while rehearsing for her world tour. It has sold out multiple times since, according to the brand.
The reviewer tested a courtesy sample for five months, wearing it at least three times a week for two to four hours at a stretch — walking, using the elliptical, and during Pilates, barre, yoga and weight lifting classes. The bra was machine washed on a cold cycle with gentle detergent and hung to air dry, per the brand's instructions.
How it is built. The bra uses eight panels and six fabrics of varying tension, some looser and some tighter, which together apply pressure to different parts of the upper body to pull the shoulders back, lift the chest and align the spine, according to Forme. Wide straps — a hallmark of posture bras — distribute weight more evenly across the shoulders than thin ones, said Noam Tamir, a certified strength, conditioning and mobility specialist and founder of TS Fitness in New York City.
Posture correctors can lead to better spinal alignment, less muscle tension and less back, neck and shoulder pain, Tamir said. Maintaining proper posture also helps prevent injury and can affect how effective an exercise is, he said.
A regulatory caveat. Forme says the Power Bra is a low-level medical device and FDA-registered. That means the FDA has basic details about the company and its products. It does not mean the bra is FDA-approved or FDA-cleared, designations that require a more intensive review of safety, quality and effectiveness.
The bra comes in sizes XS to 3XL in seven colors and runs true to size, the reviewer said, though anyone between sizes should size up because the fit is compressive. Forme has partnered with Flex, allowing purchases with an FSA or HSA card.
The verdict: effective during wear and a useful reminder not to slouch, but not a long-term fix.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
