# Boob duct tape? Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132 "2001-08-20T14:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/1 "2001-08-20T14:01:50Z")
OK, so one of my pals (ex co-worker) forwards me an email with a graphic attached. The text is thus: > [@](#): > > Formal dress: $120.00 > Dinner and drinks before formal: $80.00 > Having a picture passed around on the internet that shows you duct taped your boobs together to achieve cleavage: PRICELESS And the picture shows some folks at a formal. One of the women is wearing a fairly low cut gown. The front of this gown has slipped a little but **too** far and reveals that she has duct tape connecting the front of her breasts. It clearly has to cover her nipples (unless they’re oddly placed, I guess) and I can’t imagine how painful it might be to get it off again. So I worked up the nerve to ask my assistants (both female), “Do women really do this?” and they both replied, “Not this one.” (Though, as an aside, one did reply that she was wondering if the women in the picture was the 'take the band-aid off quick or slow" sort.) Now remember, Mrs Chance and I have been together since I was 19 and she was 18. We’re apparently a little limited in our perception of the ways of the world. She couldn’t answer the question and I can only think of one place I can ask. So…has anyone heard of this before? And, for the ladies, have you ever done it? Was it worth it? Color me confused in a befuddled sort of way… -JC PS - and no, I won’t put the pic up on my site and post a link here. Poor girl. ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/2 "2001-08-20T14:06:44Z")
I have heard of taping one’s cleavage to achieve that effect, but never **duct tape**! I would guess that there is a special product for this purpose, and that the lady in question was a “do it herself-er”. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/3 "2001-08-20T14:08:45Z")
I received that same e-mail and I thought it was hilarious! I know that some women in beauty pagents tape their boobs together to make it look like they have more cleavage. I’ve also heard that they (beauty pagent contestants) will duct tape their ass to give it a little lift or something. Seems kinda odd to me. I’ve never done it and don’t think I ever would. I’ll stick to my push-up bra! ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/4 "2001-08-20T14:13:46Z")
Well, I never duct taped my breasts to achieve cleavage, but I did once use some double sided tape to try and keep myself in a Halloween costume while at work. I ended up being able to leave early, went to another bar and had a few drinks. (No, I didn’t drive home.) Well, let’s just say removing the tape while tipsy wasn’t the best choice I could have made. I think I removed a few layers of skin, and had to wear band aids for a few days after that._ouch_ I have seen the picture you’ve mentioned and it does look like duct tape. I think she didn’t really think it through and was “winging it”. (My advice to any ladies who might be considering doing this…use medical tape. Breast skin is pretty thin and removing tape with a strong adhesive hurts and may leave a scar.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/5 "2001-08-20T14:14:12Z")
“Why would you want to tape your breasts?” “So you can play them back, later” (Ducks and Runs) ---
**Author:** ![katiekilldare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/6 "2001-08-20T14:15:32Z")
Yep. I have personally witnessed this phenomena. Back in high school I as in…a…[sub]pageant[/sub]…ahem, and I watched one desperate girl smoosh her boobs together with duct tape in order to achieve the proper cleavage that ended up being shown through this thoroughly inappropriate-for-a-17-year-old peek-a-boo evening gown. She lost. I needed no such assistance. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/7 "2001-08-20T14:29:26Z")
This site used to have an article about how to bind yourself for those medieval fairs: > **[The Wench.Org Forums - Home](http://www.wench.org)** > > Home I couldn’t find it just now – but it’s a fun site. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/8 "2001-08-20T15:01:48Z")
Good lord almighty, no! Shoot, there’s been times I’ve _really_ wanted cleavage but, heck, not that bad! I like to keep my skin, TYVM. Besides, duct tape leaves an oogy residue. Ick. Buy a Wonderbra[sup]tm[/sup] if you need cleavage that much. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/9 "2001-08-20T15:06:30Z")
I’ve also heard of the practice, but not being the sort that enjoys that kind of pain, haven’t ever tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/10 "2001-08-20T15:11:42Z")
Saw the photo this morning. I pity that girl, I really do, especially if she went through the “traditional” prom night act of losing her virginity. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/11 "2001-08-20T15:15:55Z")
Is gaffer’s tape and duct tape the same thing?? I have heard you are supposed to use gaffer’s tape. It’s mentioned in quite a few modelling classes, I myself never bothered, ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/12 "2001-08-20T15:22:52Z")
Duct tape works very well. This method is very common for beauty pageants too. Usuallythey use something better. I saw the other day for $25 a ‘pump up bra’. Yep, you pump it up. I didn’t get a close up of it though. But it is indeed real & looks like a regular bra. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/13 "2001-08-20T15:36:02Z")
Actually, I’ve only heard of girls of the _non_-biological type doing this, and sometimes the effect can be pretty amazing…although the drag queens I see out-and-about in New York are mostly of the comedian type (Hedda Lettuce, Coco Peru, Lady Bunny), who seem to go the padded-bra route. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/14 "2001-08-20T15:46:54Z")
“I saw the other day for $25 a ‘pump up bra’. Yep, you pump it up. I didn’t get a close up of it though. But it is indeed real & looks like a regular bra.” —Goodness, are those back again? My glamorous Aunt Mary had one, c1960. They had hollow rubber inserts, which you blew up to the desired size with a plastic straw. Ah, the more things change the more they stay the same . . . ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/15 "2001-08-20T15:49:14Z")
I’ve never heard of women using duct tape, although I’m sure this gal is not the first to have tried it. I’ve tried the “stick on bra” thingies before, though–they’re basically thick paper with adhesive on one side to keep your boobs from jiggling too much when wearing something that is too revealing for a regular bra–and all I can say is she can’t have had a good time getting that stuff off. Ow. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/16 "2001-08-20T16:51:17Z")
There is the accompanying email showing a woman/bridesmaid leaping for the bouquet and jumping right out of the top of her gown…quite impressively, too, IMO. I was assuming there was usually a body-tape, maybe a souped-up post-it type stick-um, for those things but from the sound of this thread, it would seem not. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/17 "2001-08-20T17:00:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > **There is the accompanying email showing a woman/bridesmaid leaping for the bouquet and jumping right out of the top of her gown…quite impressively, too, IMO.** Weddings can be a blast. My mother is a caterer/wedding coordinator and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen more than I supposed to see on bridesmaids. Cheaply-made, poorly-designed dresses can be a lot of fun sometimes, as long as you’re not the poor girl stuck wearing one. I work for Mom whenever she’ll let me. Tight, sheer summer dresses and printed underpants are a great combination, too.😃 Sometimes, watching the groom and groomsmen try to keep from passing out in the 100+ degree Oklahoma heat can be amusing, too. [sub]Been there, done that, in Mobile, at an outdoor wedding, in July[/sub]. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/18 "2001-08-20T17:57:10Z")
I’ve duct-taped my boobs - sometimes you have a dress on that won’t accomodate a bra, but would be enhanced by cleavage - grab some duct-tape and whammo! Boobage galore! It does suck taking it off though. It helps if you’ve had a martini or two before attempting it. Al. ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/19 "2001-08-20T18:16:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Poysyn \* > \*\*Is gaffer’s tape and duct tape the same thing?? I have heard you are supposed to use gaffer’s tape. It’s mentioned in quite a few modelling classes, I myself never bothered, \*\* I just learned this weekend that there’s a difference between electrical tape and duct tape. Duct tape, as we’ve discussed, is quite sticky. Electrical tape, it seems, is not. I believe electrical tape is used on wires, for insulating, marking, joining, or whatever. (Right?) As such, it doesn’t need holding power (stickiness), it just needs to stick to itself and the rubber or metal (like a sticky note). So, using electrical tape might make sense here, being only slightly sticky. Are gaffer’s tape and electrical tape the same? ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132/20 "2001-08-20T18:33:59Z")
Models do it too, you know, the gals on the cover of _Cosmopolitan_ and that type of magazine. I have never done it myself, but I remember at a friend’s wedding when the bride and I were in the bathroom. She was whining about how the tape hurt her boobs and she wanted to take it off…no way in the dress she was wearing. The night was still young. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-duct-tape-huh/77132.md?page=2)