One word to the wise: These binders are popular and often out of stock, but the company does a good job of communicating when more will drop.Ĭompression tops are not quite binders and not quite sports bras. But it’s still a fantastic option if you’re looking for a topless look when swimming or for something that will disappear beneath your shirt. As the company notes on its website, the Bareskin “has more give compared to other binders on the market,” which some commenters have noted gives them a slightly less “flat” appearance than the gc2b. Teresa Morcho, founder and CEO of the Stud Model Project, remembers that “it was a huge deal” because until Flavnt’s inclusive range of skin-tone binders, “my darker-skin models just couldn’t find binders that fit their skin tone.”įlavnt’s half-tank binders come in seven colors and feature thin straps, a non-stretch quick-drying compression panel (read: shirtless swimming!), and plenty of stretch along the back and shoulders. Here are our picks for the best binders to fit different needs, styles, and outfits.įlavnt (pronounced “flaunt”) Streetwear changed the market when it started making its “bareskin” binders in 2016. Whatever your preference, these new options make creating a flatter chest profile as safe and fun as it’s ever been. There are also lots of resources available online, including guides from the Cleveland Clinic, Callen-Lorde, and TransHub, to help you bind safely. That will take some trial and error, and most companies have generous exchange (but rarely return) policies, as well as good customer service, to help you figure it out. Focusing on fit, pacing yourself, taking off days from both binding and taping, being kind to your skin, and avoiding any tight binding during things that stress your breathing (like singing, exercising, or being sick) will ensure you’re binding in a way that is going to maximize its benefits. Helene Hedian, M.D., director of clinical education at the Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health at Johns Hopkins, emphasized, it’s a good idea to follow some best practices. The main piece of advice I received over and over - from medical experts, designers, and folks who experienced binding injuries - is that we all need to listen to our bodies. The variety can be dizzying, whether you’re trying binding for the first time or have been doing it for a while and struggle to find something that works for you, so I talked with 22 experts, 16 of whom have personal experience binding, about the pros and cons of different options. Different styles may suit different accessibility and health needs, too. Tank models were the go-to among panelists with larger cup sizes, while several people in the A- to D-cup range swore by taping. Some are safe for exercise and all-day wear, while others are best for only eight to ten hours at a time. Some stay discreet, while others show themselves off. Some offer more compression, others greater comfort. Of course, different binders have different strengths, and not every binder is right for every person. The number of commercially produced chest binders - which can be safer and easier to wear than improvised ones - has exploded in the last decade, propelled by queer- and trans-owned businesses founded in response to personal and community experience. The good news is that there has never been a better time for anyone across the gender spectrum to shop for a binder. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailersīinding is about loving the way you look and feel, but finding an approach that works for you is a series of balancing acts: between compression and comfort, between the full-coverage of your favorite chest binder and the plunging neckline of your new top, between the mental-health benefits of gender euphoria (and for some, increased safety moving through the world as a trans person) and the risk of physical injury if you wear a binder that is too tight or keep it on for too long.
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