Disclaimer: Going bra-free will not appeal to everyone. It does, however, appeal to some and differences in opinion should be respected.
We all live for the moment when we can finally take off our bra after a long day. Why not live in that moment?
Over the last ten .months, I have managed to wear a bra only on three separate occasions. On each of these occasions, I have deeply regretted my decision to do so. However, I did not go bra-free many months ago because I absolutely hated the existence of the underwire. I did so because I had relied on bras to make me like my body, and that's not the way I wanted to live.
Having a bra on always boosted my confidence, as I'm sure it does for many people. Whether your boobs are big or small, bras can help temporarily make them look the way you want. But at the end of the day, the body you have is yours, and it doesn't come with a bombshell bra attached. Why suffer through the pain that comes with the padding of a pushup or the not-so-gentle jabs of an underwire when you can go au naturel and embrace what you already have? Not wearing a bra helped me to love my body the way it was and even improved the look of my breasts.
The truth is, our boobs are better off without bras. Women who wear bras are more likely to have saggy breasts in the future. This is because when a bra is worn so often, boobs don't have the chance to develop as much muscle tissue! Unfortunately, older women are less likely to bounce back from boob trauma. The earlier you start living bra-free, the better the results. Over time, breasts learn to rely on the support of an underwire and they stop doing things for themselves.
Bras are a lot like significant others. Padded bras with underwire are controlling even though they make it look all pretty on the outside. They do everything you could want them to do, but at the end of the day you always want to do something for yourself and scream, "Do less!" At that point, you're so used to having them that it's hard for you to do anything by yourself (see previous paragraph on muscle tissue). Also much like partners, there are better options. You don't have to be miserable, and it doesn't have to always be just you and the girls. Bralettes are sexy and they let you be yourself. They give the perfect amount of added support while still allowing you to be the strong, independent woman that you've always dreamed of being (I'm talking about more muscle tissue and perkier boobs).
That being said, not wearing a bra does not always mean that your boobs have to be single ladies; although I prefer it that way. If you would rather wear a bandeau or a bralette, your boobs will still thank you. If you're worried about a wardrobe malfunction, I'll leave you with some tips.
While it is often thought that loose tops are better to wear when your boobs aren't being contained, I have found that tighter tops make for a better bra-free experience. Loose tops cling to breasts and make it more obvious that you have gone without a bra. Plus, the flow of a loose shirt makes nip-slips more likely. Tight shirts provide support, though very limited, and (when made of a decent fabric) can hide all signs of nipples—not that they need to be hidden.
Going braless is all about comfort. That is why I would never encourage anyone to do something that will make them uncomfortable in the long run. A little bit of stepping out of your comfort zone can be great! If you don't like the bra-free life, snap that bra back on and keep doing you! You do not need to go bra-free, and neither do I, but why not give it a shot?
Throughout my braless journey, I have found that the more physically comfortable I am, the more mentally comfortable I become. I have realized that beauty isn't pain; beauty is loving yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. Whether you're bra-less or bra-yes, make sure you're doing the right thing for you!
