Bralessness- an update

     Hello again! It is now late in October and I last wore a bra in April. When I first stopped wearing bras (primarily for comfort reasons) I switched to shelf camisoles. They were a good transition because they have a double layer of cloth in the chest area, and only a light band of elastic (which is not nearly as uncomfortable as a bra band). They also work under shirts or sweaters in situations where a high level of modesty is desired (the darker the color, the less shows; for example, my black camisoles look almost like I have some kind of bra on, but my lavender camisoles show my nipples and some of my breast shape quite obviously).

     I used shelf camisoles all summer, including on my vacations (First a trip to Minnesota, then a big trip to the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with a final stop in Amsterdam).  The camisoles work great under my uniform in martial arts class, and work fine as a stand alone shirt any time it's hot out. They provided me with a gradual increase in my confidence. Gradually letting me get used to my nipples being noticeable (but not as noticeable as with only one layer of cloth), and smooshing my breasts just enough to obscure their natural shape (because I am still working on getting used to natural breast shape over the artificial shape seen almost everywhere). They allowed enough movement that I experienced some benefits of bralessness, like a massive reduction in pre-menstrual breast soreness, and a firming up of my breast tissue.  I also no longer get a sweat rash between my breasts (I used to get that even though I am not ample enough to have cleavage).

     There were no problems over the summer with my choice of clothing from other people, either. I was mentally prepared for issues, because my choice to go braless goes against the mainstream. But then, I've never been one for going with the mainstream. Anyway, I am happy to report no problems (unless you would count the guy I crossed on the running path, who looked very happy about crossing me, as a problem- I don't count that as a problem).

A new development:

     Recently I have been getting annoyed by the light elastic band in my shelf camisoles, so I decided to ditch those too (well, I might just cut the shelf liner out of my favorites). It feels so freeing to have nothing constricting my chest. When I was walking to pick my daughter up from school on the first day that I went outside with only one layer of cloth between my breasts and the outside world, I thought “Wow, this feels so comfortable, I bet my upper body feels as comfortable as a man's right now.” Yes, that's really the thought that went through my mind, a few times. I was just amazed at how good it felt. Especially when the breeze entered my shirt sleeve for a moment (I was wearing a nerdy regular T-shirt, not a fitted T-shirt).

     Another benefit I have just noticed, is that what looked like a permanent dent around my ribcage where my bra-strap used to sit, has disappeared. My back looks smooth with clean lines now. Now all that's left is to get more used to my natural breast shape since, obviously, they did not grow in the shape that bras tend to push breasts into. That bra-induced shape is what I've seen on myself for so many years now (especially in the last few years, when I had more expensive bras), it's an adjustment that may take a little time, but my comfort and health are so important.  Bralessness is permanently a part of me now (I admit I may, on some years, use a bra as part of a Halloween costume, just like I sometimes wear a corset at the Renaissance Fair).  I have listed below some links that contain useful information about going brafree, including the health benefits.

Please keep my comment policy in mind if you wish to leave a comment. :)

http://goingbraless.net/  (If you plan to go braless, the forum is supportive and has useful information).

http://www.brafree.org/research.html  (Scroll down for lists of research article references).

http://www.007b.com/  (This site also has photo galleries of natural breasts- a great counter to the flood of commercialized images we are typically exposed to).

On Bralessness

Note: This was originally written in May, 2012.

     Yep. No bra. I am not wearing a bra today. I haven't worn one for three weeks. Not even in my little black dress which I wore to a Broadway show.

     Guess what? My breasts are starting to feel fuller, and look more even. I am not worried about future sagging. Bra or no bra, we all get old eventually and then everything will go south no matter what. I have actually seen, in person, tribal women who have never worn bras. There was nothing wrong with their breasts; and when considering different age groups, I saw no difference there with what I have seen in gym locker rooms in this country (not counting artificial breasts of course, I'm only talking about natural breasts here).

     So why should I wear a bra? To hide my nipples? Why? Everyone has nipples. They are normal. Sure, a few people get freaked out by them, and I'm sure some guys won't be able to take their eyes off of them. But, I don't think those are good enough reasons for me to go back to wearing a bra. I am not here to please other people's eyes, nor do I wish to be uncomfortable to prevent random males from ogling at me. To prevent sagging? That's not even true (that bras will prevent sagging), and there is even some evidence that sagging will happen sooner if bras are worn.

     After two weeks of not wearing a bra, I tried on one of my favorite bras. I used to wear it all the time (and indeed it is pretty- a nice silk one I bought in London). It was almost unbearably uncomfortable! Even my loosest sports bras felt very uncomfortable. It reminded me of those early insults to my being. First, when my mom said "You have to start putting on a shirt when you go outside!” She said something about getting older, and upcoming puberty... I really don't remember everything she said because I felt crushed when I heard that I could no longer run around shirtless like the boys. It felt like the end of my freedom. The second blow was the training bra. I hated it. It was so uncomfortable and held sweat against my skin. It did it's job. Through being forced to wear that awful thing I eventually came to accept wearing a bra. I wore them all through my teens and twenties, though they never fit right. The cups were never the right shape for my very firm unsquishable breasts, and the band always rode up my back.

     After I had a baby at age 30, I had a much bigger cup size (I breastfed), but the same band size. Finding a fitting nursing bra was impossible!  After weaning, my breasts went back to the exact size they were before, except they were not super firm anymore, I could squish them into bra cups. Eventually I also figured out my real bra size: 30D. No wonder those 34B's never fit right. The fitters in the US almost always told me 34B, by the way, unless the store had 32C's, in which case the fitter would then tell me that my size was 32C. I was properly fitted at a specialty bra shop in London. If you are from the US, you would be utterly amazed by the range of bra sizes they have.

     Anyway, I went a little off course there, now back to the topic of not wearing a bra. I have gone braless for a few martial arts classes (punching & kicking, and grappling), horseback riding, and some jogging. I have done the first four ZWOWs (can be found on this YouTube channel) with no bra, with jumping jacks for warming up. No issues. No pain, no unpleasant bouncing. I suspected that would be the case, because in the fall I ran the Bare Dare in nothing but running shoes. It was not a problem for me at all.

     I understand that we are all different, and there will always be some women who prefer to wear a bra, and that's totally fine. I think it is also totally fine to go braless, and I think that it should always be a valid and accepted choice.

I realize this is a sensitive topic for some.  Please keep my comment policy in mind if you decide to leave a comment.

:)