How to Keep Off Shoulder Tops in Place

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett

Last Updated: May 26, 2021

While off-shoulder tops are fashionable and fun, it can be tricky to keep them in place. Picking a top that fits your shoulders well and allows arm movement will help keep your top from moving around too much. If you have an off-shoulder top that rides up on your arms, all you need are safety pins and hair ties to help keep it in place. By fastening a hair tie to your top right beneath your armpit, you'll be wearing off-shoulder tops with no problems at all.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Safety Pins and Hair Ties

1
Gather 4 safety pins and 2 hair ties. To keep your off-the-shoulder tops in place, you’ll need 4 safety pins and 2 hair ties. The safety pins don’t need to be big ones — they just have to be able to attach to a hair tie. Look for soft hair ties if you have them since they’ll be under your arm. If you don’t have hair ties, you can use rubber bands, but rubber bands won’t be as comfortable.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kalee Hewlett
Fashion Stylist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2019.}
2
Attach 2 safety pins to either end of a hair tie. Open a safety pin and attach it to one end of your hair tie. Take the other safety pin and pin it onto the other end of the hair tie, making sure both safety pins are properly closed until you’re ready to attach them to your top.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Kalee Hewlett
Fashion Stylist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2019.}

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3
Hook one safety pin to the inside of your shirt at the front of your armpit. Once both safety pins are hooked to the hair tie, attach one safety pin to the inside of your shirt. Do this while you're not wearing the shirt to avoid poking yourself with the safety pin. You should choose a spot that won’t be easily seen, like inside a seam or near elastic.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kalee Hewlett
Fashion Stylist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2019.} Attach the safety pin to the front of your top, near your armpit.^{[5]
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4
Fasten the other safety pin inside of the back of your shirt behind your armpit. Take the other safety pin that’s attached to the hair tie and pin it to the back of your shirt, behind your armpit. Make sure both safety pins are securely fastened to the fabric. The hair tie should be positioned from the front of your shirt to the back.^{[6]
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5
Repeat the process with 2 safety pins and a hair tie to the other side of the shirt. Once you’ve fixed the first side of your top, repeat the same process on the other side. Use the last 2 safety pins to attach a hair tie under the other arm of your top. Don't put the top on until all of the safety pins and both hair ties are attached to the top.^{[7]
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6
Weave your arm over the elastic so that the hair ties are under your armpit. After both hair ties are securely fastened to your off-the-shoulder top, it’s time to put it on. Weave your arm over the hair tie so that the hair tie is sitting under your armpit.^{[8]
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Research source}^{[9]
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Expert Source

Kalee Hewlett
Fashion Stylist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2019.}
- If you need to make adjustments, take the top off and move the safety pins until they’re in the right spot.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Choosing the Right Fit

1
Choose a top that fits comfortably on your shoulders. You don’t want to pick a top that is too tight and cuts into your shoulders. Picking a top that’s too loose can lead to you having to pull up your off-the-shoulder top constantly, which is also an annoyance. Choose a top that fits your shoulders well, holding itself up while not cutting into your arms.^{[10]
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- Always try the top on to determine if it's a good fit. Adjust it how you'd want to wear it on your arms, and then move your arms up and down. If it's sliding all around on your arm, it's not a good fit.
- If you're purchasing an off-shoulder top online, read the reviews to see what people are saying about whether or not it stays on your arms. Try it on once it arrives, but make sure you don't take off the tags until you're sure you want to keep it.
2
Make sure your top allows arm movement. If you can’t move your arms in your off-the-shoulder top, it’s not the right fit. You definitely don’t want to be constricted to keeping your arms at your sides, and if it’s that tight, the sleeves will definitely slide up whenever you move. When you try on an off-the-shoulder top, move your arms around to test it out before making a decision.^{[11]
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3
Find a bra that works with your off-the-shoulder top. Most off-the-shoulder tops require a strapless bra. If you don’t already own a strapless bra that fits well, look for one that’s nude-colored so that you can wear it with anything.^{[12]
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- If necessary, you can attach your off-the-shoulder top to your bra using safety pins hooked on the inside of your top.

Expert Q&A

Question

Will the safety pins keep me from moving?

Kalee Hewlett
Image Consultant
Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’

Kalee Hewlett

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

No, if the hair ties are under your shoulders, you'll be able to move your arms up and down without the neckline rising up above your shoulders.
Question

I don't have pins, what else can I use?

Community Answer

Bra tape works for well for this purpose.
Question

How can I stop my dress from slipping off my shoulders?

Community Answer

If you know how to sew, you can take in the elastic band a couple of inches to make it more tightly fitted. Another option if to use tape to secure it to your skin, but don't use string tapes such as duct tape, as they can damage your skin.