For the majority of us we are now waist deep into physical distancing and the new Work From Home (WFM) norm and our adopted ‘dress code’ almost exclusively of the comfiest clothes possible. Jeans? Doubt it. Makeup? Oh no! Bra? Do I have to? As I’ve been a WFMer for nearly 10 years, I often wonder how going braless for an extended period of time affects my girls. Is not wearing a bra a good thing?
Physical
Breasts are naturally held by connective tissue – called Coopers ligaments which help them keep their shape. Like all tissue in your body, they’re made up of collagen and elastin, which break down as you age. Whether your breasts sag or not is due to many factors such as – genetics, body mass index, number of pregnancies, aging, weight fluctuation, cigarette smoking and more. Aside from sagging, there’s also the issue of back pain. Typically, more problematic for women with bigger boobs (bigger than a C-cup), the support that a bra provides takes most of the weight of your breasts off your chest, back, and shoulders, significantly minimizing the strain.
Skin
Going braless from a skin standpoint can be beneficial, especially for those prone to irritation and breakouts. Wearing a bra can lead to build-up of sweat under and on your breasts, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and inflammation. Similarly, the excess sweat can clog pores and lead to breakouts. A caveat – you won’t develop acne or yeast on your chest overnight – that typically takes weeks or even months, and there are other factors that can come into play. For example, not showering daily, not wiping sweat off your chest after a workout, and/or leaving a sweaty bra on after a workout or hot day.
Mental health
What’s the first thing you typically take (took) off after a long day at work and breathe a huge sigh of relief? (Sure, hope you said your bra!) In addition to the comfort we enjoy with not wearing a bra, I think many women would also say there’s something very empowering about not wearing a bra. Going braless, which for many years was considered a political statement, has in recent years become fashionable. An increasing number of women feel more comfortable not wearing a bra, and what they wear is based more on what they want and not due to social norms or feminist ideology.
Who knew?
Sheesh!!! All I wanted to do was write a blog about ‘To Bra or Not to Bra’ and never knew I’d find so much interesting information. Personally, I’m a 50-50 bra wearer based on comfort and my activities in a day. I do think that clothes ‘make the woman’ in that my motivation and production level is much higher when I’m dressed for the task. Sitting around in PJs and a robe all day I’m inclined to be less productive (makeup and hair fixed…totally different blog!). I’m ‘old school’ and 98% (needed at least a 2% ‘what if’ factor!) I will wear a bra/lette, cami, or some other form of undergarment as it gives me confidence and a lack of worry of feeling inappropriate.
Whether homebound or not, wearing a bra is ultimately a matter of personal preference and comfort. The keyword here is ‘comfort’. These last several months doing things that feel good and comfortable take on a totally different meaning. And if not wearing a bra for a while does that, know that your girls will be okay.
Want to read more???? These are some of the websites used in this blog.
http://breastnotes.com/anatomy/anatomy-inside_of_the_breast.htm
https://www.healthline.com/health/coopers-ligaments#other-tips
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-women-wear-bras_n_4774248
https://www.prevention.com/health/a20468124/sagging-breasts-myths/
https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/health-centers/women/do-bras-cause-breast-sagging/
https://everydayfeminism.com/2015/05/wearing-bras-personal-choice/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/legally-braless-at-work_l_5d110f28e4b07ae90da1b757
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