Is Taylor Swift's viral Forme posture-correcting bra worth it, or is it a total slouch?

As a style editor, I was immediately curious when I spotted Taylor Swift wearing a posture-correcting sports bra from Forme in her Eras Tour documentary and TIME Person of the Year profile . Does it actually work? And how does it hold up against the best sports bras that we tested ?

Forme was founded by an orthopedic surgeon in 2020 with the goal of using clothing to encourage better posture. Forme's sports bras are arguably its most talked-about items — high-compression, high-coverage garments that feature strong elastic panels along the back that the brand says help draw the shoulders into better alignment. The brand also makes shorts, skorts, leggings, jackets, T-shirts and socks, all designed to support various body parts during exercise, movement and daily life.

So, what does the Forme bra claim to do?

The Forme Power Bra is marketed as a posture-correcting bra. The website says it's "engineered to immediately improve your posture" — a fairly bold claim for a garment. It describes a patented "Muscle Memory Technology" that supposedly engages different muscle groups throughout your spine and shoulders to encourage proper alignment. My understanding is that this refers to stretchy fabric panels with varying levels of tension placed throughout the bra.

Posture correction isn't the only benefit the brand claims. In the website's FAQ section , Forme notes that its bras can help reduce post-breast-surgery swelling. It also explains that people with hypermobility, whether due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or another condition, may benefit from the stabilizing effects of Forme products. It's worth checking with your doctor before purchasing one in either scenario.

My question was whether these posture claims are actually true, or even possible. To get an outside perspective on Forme founder Dr. Stephen Liu 's approach, I consulted two orthopedic surgeons, a chiropractor and an exercise specialist.

What do experts think about the Forme bra and how to actually achieve better posture?

"Wearables like this are great as a cueing mechanism," says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Graeme Matthewson . "The tension pulls your shoulders back, and that feedback reminds you when you're slumping." But he adds: "If the cues are ignored, they won't have much effect and there's no good evidence that a garment alone produces lasting posture change once you take it off." He concludes, "The muscles still have to do the work." Dustin DebRoy, a chiropractor with The Joint Chiropractic, agrees: "I do not believe a sports bra alone can correct posture. It's not a long-term solution. It may provide some immediate relief, but lasting improvements in posture require more than external support."

The posture benefits may not do much from an exercise perspective. "Certainly, good posture plays a role in good form and good form is important for injury prevention," says certified exercise physiologist and Yahoo Senior Health Editor Laura Williams . "But it would be a bit of a slippery slope to say that a posture bra prevents injury or led to better results." Williams notes that it's not a bad thing to try wearing during a workout; it just may not be a true game-changer for improving your workouts.

Are there downsides to trying it? Matthewson explains that it's fairly low risk for most people, but the bigger downside is false reassurance. "If you rely on the garment to hold you in position, you're not building the strength or habits to do it yourself," he says.

As an alternative, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alan Hinton recommends physical therapy and targeted core-strengthening exercises. "Posture improvements require education on the appropriate posture and recognition of the muscles required to hold it," he explains. "Once this recognition is achieved, the patient can actively work on good posture, which will lead to strengthening the muscles that maintain it." And DebRoy adds that changing positions throughout the day is important: "The body generally does not feel good staying in one position for too long, even if that position is considered 'good posture,'" he says.

To be fair, the Forme bra may offer benefits beyond lasting posture correction. Keeping your shoulders back while wearing it may have aesthetic benefits (useful when performing for a million fans and their social media followers). And in my past life as a classically trained singer, I relied on good posture for breath support and a stronger vocal sound, so I could see why Swift might find it useful during Eras Tour rehearsals. The consensus among experts seems to be that the Forme bra is neither a miracle nor a permanent solution, but that trying it is low-risk for most people.

My experience with the Forme posture-correcting bra

I've owned the Forme Power Bra for almost two years, and have worn it for everything from Pilates classes and boxing workouts to a regular day at the office. I tend to assume my worst, most hunched-over posture when I'm typing on my laptop, so I'll reach for it as a cue to adjust my head and neck throughout the workday.

The positives

Engaging your muscles to maintain good posture doesn't usually feel great or relaxing in the moment, but I've found that the Forme bra helps make it feel good. Rounding my shoulders and sitting hunched over feel more fatiguing because I'm working against the fabric's tension, whereas sitting up straight feels "easier" because it relieves that tension. It's entirely possible to override those cues, but I find that doing so takes effort.

Another unexpected bonus is that the stiffer back fabric of the Forme bra actually helped support my right shoulder blade, which sticks out more than my left due to my scoliosis. It seemed to reduce some pain I tend to feel there and helped keep that shoulder blade in place.

As far as design, the original Power Bra is unpadded and a little thin, but the brand released a padded version ( the Power+ Bra ) that I wear much more often. I like to wear it as a longline sports bra with high-waisted leggings or joggers, although the thick straps and higher neckline don't look great under my thinner workout tanks. Do I think it boosts my endurance when I work out in it, like the brand claims? Not really. But it's very compressive and pretty much eliminates bounce during high-impact activities.

I tested the bra using our methodology for sports bras and found that, score-wise, it outperformed 18 other sports bras and ranked around the 60th percentile. It scored a respectable 4.2/5, earning perfect marks for support and compression but losing points for how it looks under clothing due to its high coverage and for being a little difficult to put on and take off. It's a great sports bra on its own, posture benefits aside.

Yahoo reporter Kerry Justich says that the Forme bra has been her go-to for high-intensity workouts for years. "For women with larger chests, nothing compares in my opinion," she raves. "I can't say if my posture has improved from it, but the compression of the whole piece keeps me well supported while running or jumping around." She adds that she likes the amount of coverage and that the quality holds up over time, "which makes the cost well worth it."

The negatives

At first, it can be a little tricky to put on due to how compressive it is. When mine arrived, I manually stretched the mesh fabric and armholes to make it easier to put on. It's also not an instant cure and won't change your musculoskeletal structure. But if you're already committed to having better posture and want extra reminders throughout the day, it's a low-stakes tool to aid in keeping your shoulders back and your head up… that is, if you're willing to spend almost $180 on it (or almost $190 for the padded version). It's one of the most expensive sports bras I've ever seen. The cost is pretty prohibitive, especially given that our best overall sports br a outperformed the Forme bra and costs just under $60.

Our final takeaway: Is the Forme bra worth it?

If you're expecting it to change your posture permanently or fix deeper issues like muscle weakness or scoliosis, you'll probably be disappointed. I haven't noticed lasting posture changes after taking it off. It can, however, serve to cue your posture while you're wearing it, acting as a reminder to keep your shoulders from slouching or rounding, especially when you might be prone to falling into that — like when looking at a phone or sitting at an office desk. As a one-off observation, I do find that I have less neck and shoulder tension even after I take it off.

On its FAQ page, Forme states that the products are designed to support better alignment, reduce neck, shoulder and back strain, improve scapular stability, support recovery and increase posture endurance. Basically, tight garments are meant to support, stabilize and guide your body, not to act as a magic posture wand.

It's a good, properly compressive sports bra on its own too, especially for anyone with a larger bust. So if you have the budget and are interested in seeing if it would help remind you to have better posture throughout the day, it's worth trying. Think of the Forme bra as a prompt rather than a solution. It can help you keep your shoulders back, but experts agree that improving posture also takes work on strength, flexibility and everyday habits.