NBC Select test finds Forme posture bra offers temporary support

NBC Select found that Forme’s $178 Power Bra can help a wearer sit and stand more upright while it is on, but did not produce lasting posture changes in a five-month test. The review matters for shoppers considering a high-priced posture garment promoted as a more wearable alternative to brace-style correctors.

NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin said she wore the Power Bra for five months after Forme sent it to her for testing. She used it at least three times a week for roughly two to four hours at a time, including while walking, using an elliptical machine and taking Pilates, barre, yoga and weight-lifting classes.

Malin said the bra immediately pulled her shoulders back, lifted her chest and helped her hold a straighter spine. She also said she returned to slouching and tensing her shoulders after taking it off, which led her to conclude that the garment did not justify its nearly $200 price for her needs.

How the bra is designed to work

Forme says the Power Bra uses eight panels and six fabrics with different tension levels to apply pressure across the upper body. According to the company, that construction is meant to draw the shoulders back, raise the chest and support spinal alignment.

Noam Tamir, a certified strength, conditioning and mobility specialist and founder of TS Fitness in New York City, told NBC Select that physical posture correctors help users sit or stand taller by drawing the shoulders back and supporting the upper body. Tamir said that reducing slouching can support better spinal alignment and may ease tension or pain in the back, neck and shoulders.

Malin reported that the Power Bra resembles a sports bra rather than a medical-style back brace. NBC Select said it comes in sizes XS to 3XL and seven colors. Forme says the product is FDA-registered as a low-level medical device; NBC Select noted that FDA registration is different from FDA approval or clearance, which involve more extensive review of safety and effectiveness.

Test results and limitations

Malin said the Power Bra fit true to size in her experience, though she recommended sizing up for those between sizes because it has a compressive feel. She said it was comfortable during exercise, did not limit her flexibility and held its compression after repeated machine washes and air drying.

She reported one durability issue: small decals on the front and back began peeling after months of use. Malin said that did not affect how the bra worked, but she expected better cosmetic durability from a product at that price.

Tamir told NBC Select that posture correctors can temporarily reduce pain and encourage better habits, but they should not be treated as long-term fixes. He recommended wearing a posture corrector daily for two to four hours, while warning against all-day use because it may encourage overreliance.

Malin said daily use was impractical for her because the bra became sweaty during workouts and needed washing between wears. She also said buying multiple Power Bras was not realistic for her budget.

Malin said several less expensive, supportive sports bras gave her similar posture-related benefits, including models from Spanx, Lululemon and Brooks that NBC Select listed at $68 to $75. She also noted that back-brace-style posture correctors from brands such as ComfyBrace and Berlin & Daughter are typically under $50, though they are less discreet than a sports-bra design.

NBC Select’s takeaway was that the Forme Power Bra may suit shoppers who want a comfortable, exercise-friendly garment that reminds them to hold better posture for short periods. Malin said buyers should keep expectations limited and consider lower-priced supportive bras or brace-style correctors before spending $178.

This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.