It's been almost six months since I converted from underwire, pushup bras to bralettes and going braless, and I haven't once looked back.

Other than the obvious benefit of comfort, I've come to a number of realizations about the other benefits of culling underwire from my wardrobe. While the change isn't right for everyone, I do recommend that everyone who wears bras gives it a try, at least for a short period of time, to experience all of the upsides that come with letting it all hangout.

1. No more hunting for the right bra size means time saved.

Anyone who wears a bra knows the struggle: finding your right bra size is a never-ending search. At one store, you may be one size, while, at another, you may be two cup sizes off from that. Did you gain or lose weight? You’ve probably also have to change your bra size. When I gave up bras, I let go of the time – and money – that I spent trying to find my “perfect size.” Bralettes are usually offered in small, medium, large, and so-on, due to their structure and stretch, making all of my shopping experiences monumentally shorter and less stressful.

2. Bras are too expensive.

Bras are so expensive, especially for high-quality ones that are actually comfortable and long-lasting. While bras can go for $50 or more each, bralettes are usually around or under $20. Giving up bras means saving potentially upwards of a few hundred dollars per year, which can be spent on clothing you can actually see or something else entirely.

3. My body image is ever-changing.

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my chest, and, as a result, I’ve spent most of my life going through phases of either trying to minimize or maximize any attention to it. Giving up underwire bras changed my body image entirely and put me at peace with my chest. Letting my boobs exist as they are instead of forcing them to look any particular way helped improve my body image in its entirety.

4. Back-fat be gone.

Anyone who isn’t stick-thin probably has experienced those awkward behind-the-armpit bumps that is created where back-fat meets the band of the bra. Converting from bras to bralettes, which are usually looser and sit lower on the back, decreases the appearance of any back-fat lumps and bumps.

5. No more concealing bra straps.

I’d never been one to worry about letting bra straps show, but there were occasions where I had to work to conceal them for the sake of achieving a particular look. Saying goodbye to bras also meant saying goodbye to any bra strap concerns. Bralettes are not only comfortable, they’re also made to be visible under clothes. I have no fear wearing a wide neckline or a backless dress with any of the bralettes that I own, which opens up both my clothing and styling options.

6. A little bouncing never hurt anyone.

Yes, my boobs bounce when I go up and downstairs. Yes, it can be quite visible. However, neither of these realities ever really impact my life. I may feel it happening, but it isn’t worth feeling self-conscious about something that nobody else is really going to notice.

7. Nipples don’t matter.

We all have them and they aren’t going anywhere. I went through my preteen- and teenage-years paranoid about the possibility of my nipples peeking through my shirt. Culling my padded bras from my wardrobe helped me to erase this insecurity entirely and, now, I don’t spare a second thought to walking around with an unlined bralette or sports bra.

8. But, when nipples do matter, adhesive bras are my savior.

I might not care about my nips peeking through a shirt in my daily life, but a job interview, a business-casual dress code, or wearing a sheer top in public might require me to put on something with more coverage. Backless, adhesive bras that clip in the front – creating some cleavage, if you’re in the mood for that – offer just the coverage that you need, as well as a little support and shape, without the strict confines of an underwire bra.

9. When I want a boost, wireless push-up bras do exist.

Once and a while, when I want to achieve a particular look, I do wear a wireless pushup bra, which is the perfect middle-ground between an underwire bra and a bralette. Victoria’s Secret has some great ones if you’re looking to shell out a little more for a high-quality one, but you can also find wireless bras at almost anywhere that carries underwire bras (including Primark, where most are under $10). They’re ten times more comfortable and look pretty much the same from the outside.

10. Bralettes are way more aesthetically pleasing, let's be honest.

Sure, bras can be pretty, but bralettes are designed to be seen through clothing, so they come in a much greater variety of cuts and designs. I’d much rather wear a beautiful piece of dainty lace than a full-coverage, padded set of cups any day. Not only is it way more comfortable, it’s also just prettier to look at.

11. All boobs – and bodies – can go braless.

I don’t have small boobs and I’m not a size two. Objectively, I would probably look “better” if I wore push-up bras to accentuate the figure that I already have. But I’ve realized that it isn’t my ultimate desire to look objectively “better,” but instead to be comfortable and confident in how I look. Usually, the image of the girl going braless is one of someone relatively thin and flat-chested, but that is not the only type of body that can give up underwire. Anyone can choose to go braless, regardless of their chest or their size, and can look good and feel good doing it.