Hello Everyone!

Back in December (or was it November?), Dixie of Rixie Clip contacted me about her amazing product, and I snagged some for the store in January (note to self:  buy more Rixie Clips) with the intention of writing a review that same month.  So, yeah.  Welcome to Review 1 of the 20 or so in my backlog!  Oftentimes when I do product reviews on the blog, they are usually bras, underwear, or bust-friendly clothing, and I realize I have done my readers a disservice in largely ignoring the wonderful world of bra accessories.  Bra accessories are typically designed to solve common bra problems in an easy, no fuss way and range from silicone nipple covers to bra extenders to low back converters.  In some cases, these nifty products can even salvage an unwearable bra, giving you more time with a favorite piece.

The Rixie Clip is a no-sew option to shorten the band of your bra, making it perfect for anyone in weight transition.  As someone who has struggled (and continues to struggle) with her weight, I know first hand how challenging it can be to change sizes quickly, thus necessitating you repurchase almost everything.  Because bras are usually a more expensive wardrobe component, customers often lament to me how they are sad an otherwise wearable bra is now too loose in the band for comfort.  With the Rixie Clip, these customers can prolong the life of their bras and save money during weight loss.  Rixie Clip is also marketed occasionally as extender too, but I recommend it more for shortening a band rather than lengthening it.

 

Furthermore, the Rixie Clip can also be used by anyone hoping to gain access to bras not traditionally made in their band size.  People in the 26-30 band size have successfully used the Rixie Clip to ensure their new purchases are tight enough in the band.  However, any time you shorten the length of the band, the tension can pull the underwire and impact cup shape to create fit issues.  With bras purchased during a weight loss program, the potential for shape change tends to be outweighed by the need to replace a bra in good condition simply because of a loose band.  With a new bra, I recommend evaluating how the shape can change and determining if the bra will still feel comfortable and wearable.  After all, there’s a difference between salvaging an unwearable bra and trying to make a new one work.  If you choose to use Rixie Clip for new bras, please examine the shape of the underwire and the side of the cup to ensure once they are pulled tighter, the angle does not rub or chafe.

While the purpose of this blog is to review the Rixie Clip, I would be remiss if I didn’t say there are ways of tightening a band, including some which have minimal impact on the underwire.  Nevertheless, not everyone can sew (*cough* me *cough) or wants to sew (*cough* me *cough) or feels comfortable modifying the bra itself (*cough* no, nevermind, I’m good with that *cough*), and I think an inexpensive accessory like the Rixie Clip which can be used on multiple bras is a good alternative.  It works by sliding over the eye closure part of the bra and onto the wing, and then uses metal teeth to grip the fabric and prevent the clip from sliding off or moving.  Now, when I first received my sample from the company, my initial observation was:  “Eek!  Are those metal teeth going to trash the wings of my bra, leaving a gnarled mess of fabric in their wake?”  Fortunately, no bras were harmed in the making of this review.  I tried the Rixie Clip on both powernet mesh as well as the delicate lace wings of my Anna Pardal bras without any issue.  On an older bra, I even went so far as to really tug on the clip to see if I could force it to pull anything.  All of my bras remained in the same condition as when I started the experiment.  In fact, I have to complement Rixe Clip on their use of materials and the overall high quality of the accessory.  I had seen something similar from a competitor (“knock off” would probably be the best term), and to put it truthfully, it sucked.  It was not well made and felt very cheap.  Rixie Clip really listened to feedback from customers and has constantly evolved their product to be better, and that dedication really shines through in the finished model.

How to Put On the Rixie Clip: A Visual

 

As you can see, it’s a very easy process, and inside each package, there are some additional tips Rixie Clip creators have offered to help you.  The clips themselves are available in both two and three hook-and-eye closures with either 1/2″ or 3/4″ spacing.  Like bra extenders, there are going to be times where the match is not identical to the shape of your bra’s hook-and-eye closures, which is not a fault of the Rixie Clip but more a symptom of a non-standardized industry.  However, I found with a little finagling, everything worked out just fine.  They’re also available in core colors black, white, and beige so you can try to closely match the bra.  Obviously those of us who buy very bright/pretty bras may find we don’t get a proper match, but again, that’s totally fine.  I wouldn’t expect a company to try to anticipate the many colors and shapes of the hook-and-eye closures on the market.  Overall, it’s a great product and a nice addition to the world of bra accessories.

Erica

P.S.  I did not include any pictures with the Rixie Clip on because my weight gain and bump into 32 territory essentially made it so even my stretched out bras weren’t all that loose anymore.