Ta-ta towel, anyone?
August 4, 2017 12:54 PM   Subscribe

Variously described as "a bizarre boob hammock" and "the breast accessory you didn't know you needed," it's an absorbent towel for women that only covers their breasts. (SL BBC) A woman with a broken AC unit in Los Angeles invents a clever way to prevent under-boob sweat, and the women advertising it are larger breasted than average runway models. It's also gaining appeal with breastfeeding moms.
posted by stillmoving (41 comments total) 18 users marked this as a favorite
 
Speaking as one of the more generously endowed (but not in, like, a perky way, sadly), boob-sweat is the worst part about summer. I mean, this looks goofy as hell, but then me wandering around apres shower with a towel tucked under my tits while I get ready looks just as ridiculous, tbh. I'd try it if it were gifted to me.
posted by Kitteh at 1:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]


jealous! (A-cup)
I kind of want to wear it just for the feel of letting my boobs look goofy. Not sexy or inadequate or whatnot. Goofy. MINE. There for my entertainment and nobody else's.
posted by Omnomnom at 1:04 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]


It looks like a neck pillow for air travel
posted by dov3 at 1:06 PM on August 4, 2017


If this shows up at Costco or Target I'll probably buy it. Death to boob sweat.
posted by emjaybee at 1:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]


When I first saw this on FB I was like "I don't understand how this would even work" and then I remembered that my somewhat limited boob situation is not universal
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]


I thought I understood the scourge of underboob sweat, but I don't understand the utility of this because it does not look like a thing you can wear under your clothes or instead of a bra or as a shirt when you go to work. So I guess it's just for lounging around in a hot apartment? Which is awesome but seems a little limited in use.

Still, those Wick'ems are quite uncomfortable but useful for the bike commute.
posted by crush at 1:20 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]


Let's just draw cat faces on ours, showbiz liz.
posted by Omnomnom at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]


the women advertising it are larger breasted than average runway models.

Thank god.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]


I'd try it if it were gifted to me.

Someone send Kitteh a towel boob thing! We can fund this. This is what community is for.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:29 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]


I have enormous breasts. Like, the last bra I bought was an "I" cup and this is after breast reduction. I sometimes/often find bras--even the comfortable, custom-fit ones I buy--irritating. I don't want to have to wear a bra around the house, but I have a large family of kids whose friends are in and out of my house all the time, and I'm not always comfortable not wearing a bra, because I feel a bit slovenly without one. This thing, a comfortable-looking bra hammock with no straps or bands, seems very promising to me as an around-the-house option. I think it would feel good to my breasts.

I don't know if it would be comfortable on the back of my neck, though. I don't like pressure there, alas. Perhaps I'll have to invent a variant with, like, a head strap. That would be attractive.
posted by Orlop at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [38 favorites]


o I guess it's just for lounging around in a hot apartment? Which is awesome but seems a little limited in use.

I don't understand? Lounging around is most of what I do. This has all of the utility of a work uniform.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:32 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]


GRAAAAAAAAAA!

Something ELSE I guess I should have posted when I saw it!
posted by Samizdata at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]


the women advertising it are larger breasted than average runway models.

Although, to be fair, so is the monolith from 2001.
posted by Devonian at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]


I want one.
posted by elizilla at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]


Over the shoulder boulder holder

but yes, and in humid conditions, it can lead to what is called prickly heat rash, I too would want one of these as a gift
posted by infini at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]


Who let Devonian in the room now? ;p
posted by infini at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2017


At the point at which it has become that hot and humid in the home, "goofy looking" is the least of one's concerns.
posted by Karmakaze at 2:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]


I'm gonna have to join team draw-cat-faces, but this looks like a really amusing thing for people who are physically able to wear it! (possibly practical too - I can't imagine it exactly, but I believe y'all when you say it would be)
posted by telepanda at 2:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


Absolutely, I say, posting from hot and unusually swampy Los Angeles. I'm not tremendously endowed but the sag is real and last summer was my final summer not wearing a bra at home. I've converted to Torrid's bandeau and bralette options, but the former doesn't come around underneath and the latter is pretty thick and warm around the band. Neither are very comfortable when sweaty, and when the weather is like this it's hard to get properly dry after a shower - especially when it's one of those days where showering or trying to do your hair makes you sweat for a good 10 minutes after you get out.

I saw this hit the internet just minutes after I one-clicked this very helpful but kind of unpleasantly-named product (and picked up the downstairs version for the spouse), which I can only use once everything's dry, so I guess now I gotta get the towel.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]


So I guess it's just for lounging around in a hot apartment? Which is awesome but seems a little limited in use.

Yeah, agree. I got all excited at the initial post description but once clicking on the links was like.... oh. I mean it's great for the people who can use it! But kinda worthless for me. I'm only average probably boob-wise but I was hoping for something that would help with athletics I guess, because I boob-sweat so badly that if I do any kind of workout in colder temperatures it gets downright dangerous and painful.

Still, those Wick'ems are quite uncomfortable but useful for the bike commute.

Oh. My god. Are these good? Do they work? Do they wick enough that I wouldn't remain absolutely soaked after climbing up a mountain in winter?
posted by suddenly, and without warning, at 3:04 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


Not for nothing, but Turbie Twists come two-to-a-pack, and sure as hell don't cost $45.
posted by ApathyGirl at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]


The Wick'ems--which are an athletic-clothing wicking fabric--keep me from having to change bras when I get to work on winter cycling days. I just yank it out and leave it to dry when I get to work. The version made of bamboo fabric are pretty useless.

They feel a lot like wearing a sock in your bra, though.
posted by crush at 3:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


I saw this on FB also, and this morning I was thinking about buying some terry cloth and attempting to sew my own. Seems useful, yes, for drying off after a shower, but the back of the neck area looks too bulky to me.

Turbie Twists don't' work as a makeshift. I tried... :)
posted by gemmy at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]


the women advertising it are larger breasted than average runway models

...so are average bra models. so are almost all catalogue models.

anyway, it might be a good idea but the sizing is completely incoherent. a bra without a band is a good idea if you like to breathe, though a bad idea if you like your neck unbroken, so on balance, an interesting design. but what are they even talking about with their cup size ranges without an equivalent translated band size range. might as well just label them S/M/L alone.
posted by queenofbithynia at 3:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]


The black-and-white fail-o-vision opening of the TV commercial for this product is going to be EPIC.
posted by dr_dank at 3:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]


I clicked on this as I have a throw pillow shoved up under my boobs to give them some relief from the sauna underneath them in this abhorrent weather. I need like, seven of these things, color coded to days of the week. Honestly I'm thinking of sacrificing some towels I used to use for hair dying to rig up something similar right. freaking. now.
posted by Mizu at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]


I don't know if it would be comfortable on the back of my neck, though. I don't like pressure there, alas. Perhaps I'll have to invent a variant with, like, a head strap. That would be attractive.

I know you are joking, but there's no reason a tumpline shouldn't work for carrying loads on the front instead of on the back, where it is normally used. (And to my surprise, there are more companies than I had thought still selling tumplines, including Patagonia and Duluth Pack.)
posted by Dip Flash at 5:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


I don't know if it would be comfortable on the back of my neck, though.

This was my initial reaction as well. (My partner showed this to me a few days ago, mildly annoyed because she had the exact same idea but hadn't had the time to prototype it yet.)
posted by tobascodagama at 5:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


Hm, I don't really see how a tumpline could work for a load on the front - you lean forward to use one the normal way, but you couldn't really lean analogously backwards.

(I am very much in favor of innovative thinking in this area, for the record, just not convinced by that one)
posted by yarrow at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


I'm thinking of sacrificing some towels I used to use for hair dying to rig up something similar right. freaking. now

I have in the past rigged something similar from my beloved jumbo flour sack towels, as I'm not especially fond of terrycloth.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:50 PM on August 4, 2017


Since it doesn't seem to be structural, I'd guess that it doesn't apply too much pressure to the neck. Though they have this disclaimer: "Please know that these towels go around the neck, so if you get neck pain from wearing a haltertop or a bathing suit that goes around the neck this product may not be for you."

Band size would not make any sense because there is no band. And they are just S, M, L with the small for cups sizes starting at C and going up to H. And then it looks like it has some adjustment.

I love seeing more products designed by and for women! I may try one out!
posted by amanda at 5:57 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]


I get neck pain from halter tops and have been thinking about this since my previous comment. What about a shoulder holster situation where it loops back under your arm (bonus wicking for pit sweat) and a clip between the shoulder blades to connect them together? Also then pockets in the side holster area for snacks or ice packs. God, I'm sweaty.
posted by Mizu at 6:18 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]


Mizu I am trying to picture what you describe..intriguing.

Do they make bras with that freezable-gel stuff that goes in products you put on the back of your neck? Seems like a thing someone should try.
posted by emjaybee at 6:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]


emjaybee, that would be amazing. I think these are perfect for lactating moms, though. It seems a lot less painful than nursing bras for around the house. In the difficult stages of breastfeeding, it is not unusual to have the girls out at any time it is not illegal to do so.
posted by domo at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]


Metafilter: I too would want one of these as a gift.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:01 PM on August 4, 2017


About a year ago I was riding a Lyft in L.A. with an incredibly charming driver. She regaled me with the story of her invention...the Ta-Ta Towel!

I'm in the tech startup world and it was refreshing to hear about a tangible invention created by a smart, funny, passionate woman. Her enthusiasm for her invention was infectious.

She was being really clever and strategic about creating this thang, with no formal biz background. I was impressed with her at the time so damn it I'm very happy she's getting press (tearing up over TaTa towel over here).

I'm cheering you on TaTa towel lady!
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 8:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]


Whoo, go entrepreneurship! Clearly this will help a lot of people.

But as for me -- how do you wear this without causing nipple sensation?
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:52 PM on August 4, 2017


I just mentioned this to Mrs Plinth and she said, "oh, is this the boob sling for humidititty?"
posted by plinth at 6:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


I saw this on Facebook too. On one of the posts, a couple women piped up "I don't understand this at all! Why would anybody want this? Maybe it's just because I have small breasts. It's forty five dollars! That's insane!"

Listen, honey, I have a serious case of the bigtitties, and if you have ever had to order bras from England or Poland because your cup size is not a passing grade, forty five dollars doesn't sound that outrageous.
posted by louche mustachio at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]


This would have been great when I was breastfeeding. I remember the nights with hand towels shoved into sports bras, to try to contain the leakage. Something made of towel already is brilliant.
posted by Margalo Epps at 6:06 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Back in the day, well before I had my own knock-out knockers, I was surrounded by chesty relatives, and in the summertime they often wore terrycloth tube tops around the house to combat this problem.
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:35 PM on August 5, 2017


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