I tried the viral ‘red bra under a white top’ trick to see if it works – my pale skin had an impact

HAVE TiKTok addicts and fashion fanatics been making you see red lately?

If you’re getting worked up about an influx of red bras on your feed, you should know they’re the key to a massively popular clothing hack.

A viral trend on TikTok shows how red bras can ‘disappear’ under white shirtsTikTok/thebragenie

I tried the trick at home, pairing my white T-shirt with a bright red braletteHattie Hayes

Scroll through style influencers’ pages on TikTok, and you’ll see a series of bright red bras appearing and disappearing like magic.

According to content creators on the platform, a red bra doesn’t show through even the flimsiest white top.

It’s a counterintuitive solution to an annoying, common problem for many women: white bras showing under white T-shirts.

The pros say that a white bra’s cool tones often contrast starkly against the skin, whereas a red bra looks “warm,” just like human flesh.

I thought about other fashion and makeup hacks that use color theory, and this one made sense, too. So I decided to give it a go.

To put the trick to the test, I broke out a soft white T-shirt and a red bra as I got ready for a hot, sunny spring day.

Online guides recommend using a “true red” bra to execute this hack, as something with pink or blue undertones will be too cool.

So, I put on a triangle bralette in a bright red shade that would pair well with just about any Mac lipstick.

For my shirt, I chose a loose fit and heavier fabric, with a modest crew neck.

I hoped the hack would work better if I wasn’t testing the constraints of a knitted body-con crop top.

Plus, I hoped the unlined bra cups would look smooth enough to contribute to the “magic trick” and make my bra disappear.

But once I was fully dressed, two things were clear. One of them was my T-shirt.

I had high hopes as I put a white top over my bright braletteHattie Hayes

The moment my T-shirt was on, I looked down in disappointment at my visible braHattie Hayes

The other was that this hack definitely doesn’t work for me – or at least, it won’t unless I’ve built up more of a tan.

In the soft lighting of my apartment, the red bra showed against my skin from a distance or up close.

For science’s sake, I decided to see how things looked under fluorescent lights, as well as in direct sunlight.

Standing in the lobby of my apartment building, I had to laugh.

It looked like I was wearing a novelty T-shirt you’d buy on vacation.

The bra showing through looked like a printed-on bikini. All I needed were the words “Daytona Beach Spring Break 1991” to complete the look.

In fluorescent lighting, it looked like I had a triangle bikini top printed on my shirtHattie Hayes

Everyone in the great outdoors got a decent glimpse of my bright red bra, tooHattie Hayes

I didn’t fare any better outdoors, where bra visibility levels ranged from “distinct pinkish outline” to “Is that a sunburn?”

Luckily, my neighborhood was fairly quiet so early in the day, so no one shamed me for my fashion faux pas.

The effect was so dramatic, and so unlike anything on TikTok, I actually wondered if my T-shirt was to blame.

So, when I got home, I switched to a nude bra instead, putting on a hue that matched my pale chest.

And while a beige bra is boring, it also works. Go figure!

Old reliable disappeared under my shirt, letting me keep the focus on my comfy, casual top and not what might be hidden beneath.

For pale girls with cool undertones, a beige bra is definitely the best camouflageHattie Hayes

It’s likely a red bra could still work for other skin tones.

If you have a darker skin tone, or warm undertones, for example, a red bra may be the solution to all your wardrobe issues.

But if (like me) you’re susceptible to freckles and haven’t been outside since last August, go ahead and skip this one.

I won’t be trying this trick again – at least, not until I’ve had a beach day or ten under my belt.

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