If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.

I’ve suffered from back pain for as long as I can remember — not a typical statement for a 22-year-old to make. Visits to orthopedists, late-night WebMD doomscrolls, and research into alternative medicines were, for the most part, fruitless yet all confirmed one thing: I had scoliosis that wasn’t severe enough for a back brace (or surgery, for that matter) but still pronounced enough to diminish my well-being.

Over time, I learned that daily exercise makes the aches and tension go away, and my dad even went so far as to build a triangular, wooden contraption for me to lay on when I was doing my schoolwork: leading to better spinal alignment and pressure reduction in the long run.

At this point, my scoliosis-related struggles are not as severe as they were when I was hitting puberty, but I nonetheless wake up with pain and, on days when I can’t squeeze a workout in, feel worse for wear.

So imagine my delight at finding a way to ease these challenges while also improving my notoriously bad posture — something that didn’t involve complicated tech (like wires and sensors) or unwieldy physical objects. Relief came in the form of Forme’s $178 Power Bra, famously spotted on Taylor Swift during her “Eras Tour” rehearsals last year, as captured in the documentary “The End of an Era.”

And while the pricey yet ultimately worth-it sports bra generated the most hype last year, it remains one of the leading posture-correcting clothing solutions on the market — precisely why I had to get my hands on it as a fashion commerce writer who regularly tests out trending brands and styles.

Here’s how that testing fared.

Editor’s Review: Forme Posture-Correcting Bra

As with all the most rewarding things in life, getting properly acclimated to the Forme Power Bra (sold in seven distinct colorways, across sizes from XS to 3XL) took some time.

When I first put the piece on, in a summer-ready Rosé hue, I could sense my scapulae — for the first time in months or even years — retracting to their rightful places, effectively opening up my airways and giving me (I’m not exaggerating) a new lease on life.

The way this award winner works, after all, is by achieving immediate posture enhancement: “engag[ing] spinal and shoulder muscle groups in real time and naturally guid[ing] your body into proper alignment,” per brand copy.

Responsible for this outcome is Forme’s proprietary technology that operates based on fabric alone — no fancy gizmos or uncomfortable add-ons in sight. Leveraging neuromuscular feedback and proprioception to essentially train your muscles to remember the sensation of standing up stick-straight, the Forme bra sets your body up for anti-slouching success: at some point allowing it to go through the proper motions without needing any kind of reinforcement.

This is a long-winded way of saying there’s a lot at play in the Forme Power Bra, and the fact that it doles out active, targeted resistance against skin meant that, two hours into my inaugural wear, I got an unexpected migraine that went away shortly after I took the product off.

Interestingly enough, bad posture is linked to headaches, but they can also arise when you overcorrect for it while straining neck muscles that are unaccustomed to holding your spine in proper form: probably what happened in my case.

For this very reason, Forme recommends starting slow — wearing its Power Bra only several hours a day to begin and then incorporating it into your routine on a more consistent basis, for longer stretches of time. Once I eased into these physical changes, the initial migraines were gone completely, and I actually felt freer in all senses of the word: breathing fuller breaths, too, which is likely why Swift has been using Forme to expand her own lung capacity before shows.

Over the past few months, I’ve taken the bra from work to workouts and even wore it under my outfits for casual date nights in the city. At the gym, Forme’s Power Bra has been crucial in establishing a stronger mind-to-muscle connection when I’m doing moves like army crawls on the reformer or overhead presses with free weights, even boosting my endurance during reps.

And when I’m putting in the hours at my desk job, the Power Bra keeps me from entering Hunchback of Notre Dame territory — reflected in everything from reduced EOD fatigue to the alleviation of my carpal tunnel symptoms.

Another bonus: The Power Bra is, quite simply, cute. I’m usually not one for racerback constructions but am more than happy to make an exception here based on Forme’s attractive mesh overlays, multidirectionally stretchy yet shape-retaining tensile material, ample bust support for my 32DD cups, and wide spectrum of shade options for every mood, season, style sensibility, and OOTD.

An additional lifesaver was Forme’s user-friendly website: optimized with AI features to help make the shopping experience smoother and more intuitive. For instance, you can ask all about the bra’s potential risks and side effects by typing your questions into the on-screen “ClinicianAI” search bar or get an in-depth product analysis from a dedicated medical advisory board (who can summarize key takeaways of controlled lab studies surrounding posture-cueing compression garments).

Worried about the bra being too small and constricting? Forme lets you input band size and cup size on its landing page, spitting out the ideal size for your body.

I’m not the only one who’s raving about this posture savior either, with thousands of reviewers sharing sentiments along the lines of the following: “Absolutely love this bra. I’m 5’10”, DD, and it has been excellent for everyday wear under work clothes. It gives great lift and separation without a uni-boob, and it smooths nicely under tops. The biggest surprise for me has been how much it has helped my posture. I’ve actually noticed my daily headaches have stopped since wearing it regularly.”

Forme’s industry-dominating, cutting-edge posture science can also be enjoyed holistically via releases like the Smart Posture Jacket, Scrub Top (the first-ever posture-correcting medical scrub), Power Skort, and Sculpt+ Legging.

And if you’re just as intrigued about spine health–promoting clothing as I am, plenty of other brands are also coming out with exciting new ways to overhaul your wardrobe while keeping full-body wellness front of mind.

Here are more posture-correcting bras, vests, shirts, and activewear I’m adding to cart, so as to wave goodbye to my back pain woes: once and for all.

Best Posture-Correcting Clothing to Shop Online

Sign up for WWD Shop‘s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.

Why Trust WWD

Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, wrote about tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending clothing brands that blend style with function (and, in some cases, tangible health benefits).