Is going braless in middle age really such a social faux pas?

[DustyHedgerows]

Not sure what's changed, whether it's the heat or just a general feeling of being 'done', but this summer, I have parted company with my bra. I'm middle-aged, not particularly busty, and am just not bothering to put one on in the mornings when I'm not working. I suddenly resent the idea of wearing one, as it's not as if I really need support -it really only sheilds the world from seeing a hint of my nipples under my top. DC are embarrassed to be seen with me and although I don't really care, I've noticed the odd person do a double-take when I'm out. I'm not wearing anything revealing, just a t-shirt, a buttoned shirt or loose-fitting dress.
Is going braless in middle-age really the social faux pas that my teens imply that it is?

I’m currently bra-less, but am at home doing housework. I wouldn’t go bra-less out, apart in winter with jumpers and coats on.

I don’t like seeing the shape of protruding nipples through my tops.

People my will come along and say it doesn’t matter, it’s part of your body, and you see more on a beach but I prefer not to see a nipple outline.

Let it all hang out. Who cares if anyone is offended by the shape of your nipple 🙄 that’s their problem. I’m sick of the idea that women have to disguise parts of their bodies we all know are there.

There must be something in the back of your mind that's telling you there's something wrong with this, otherwise you wouldn't wear one to work either?

Personally it depends on the top I'm wearing, although I have a very small bust anyway.

There may be something about aging. My aunts and Mum are braless, and me and my similarly aged friends are braless. None of us is big though, I'm sure that makes a bit difference. In winter, layering hides any nipple protrusions. In summer, you want a patterned top. So I have lots of check, etc., amd this means nipples are very unlikely to show. Funny thing is that when I was young, I liked underwire and thin fabric, so nipples were always out anyway. I wasn't keen on the look, but that was the side effect of the most comfortable bra style for me at the time.

Being blessed with the chest of an 11 year old boy certainly has its advantages.

It is, unfortunately, very ageing to go braless unless you have practically no bust, and then you need a bra to give you some shape. I was in a café the other day and there was a lady at the next table, smart, white hair very well cut, very nice linen dress and boobs round her knees. It’s sadly not a good look.

How do your kids know you are going bra less? Cant be just a nipple thing as I doubt they’re protruding this weather unless you’re permanently aroused.

I‘m mid 40’s. D bust and haven’t worn a bra for about 8 years now……..

yes, you get the odd look, but it doesn’t bother me.
I much prefer the comfort of not wearing one. I just don’t wear thin white tops.

you can see my nipples, but no one has died from this (yet).

I took my bra off in March 2020 and never put it back on. I can’t say I’ve noticed any difference in the way it looks through clothes, unless you’re wearing something skin-tight or sheer there’s not a lot of nipple flashing.

If I didn’t wear a bra I’d have to tuck my chebs into my waistband to keep them out the way.

Well I think it’s the same as going bra-less at any age. Can people tell? Faux pas. Nobody can tell? Totally fine.

I often do. I'm quite ... perky ... I suppose, so I'm not sure anyone has noticed!

That’s not true some people just have nipples that always point out. Mine do no matter how warm I am it’s just their anatomy.

Go out naked then. Why bother with clothes at all if you want everything on display? Thought not...

Sagging? This is what I usually notice about older women not wearing bras .

I’m middle aged with small boobs. I don’t wear a bra. It is visible, but I could not care less what anyone think. Womp womp as the kids say.

I ditched the bra when I stopped working due to illness round a decade ago. Never looked back! I used to get the most horrendous debilitating costochondritis for about 6 weeks 2-3 X a year. It must have been the bra as I haven't had it since!

No bra ever seemed to fit me. And my breasts are fairly small so I don't actually require support for my back or posture.

I’m braless a lot at the moment but am currently off work. I’m not particularly well endowed and I wouldn’t do it in a white vest for example but a patterned cotton dress or top and just to walk the dog etc. I’d be mortified if it made my kids uncomfortable so even if I’m braless around them I make sure it was non revealing and not obvious

Just tuck them in your knickers then you set 😆

This would be me. It's also a bit uncomfortable for me. I'll wander about at home in just a vest top. But I look far far better with a bra on when I'm out and about.

I've never been braless in public since I was 11. At home gardening or working from home I'm braless. Its not great if your kids are embarrassed by it though! You might not realise how obvious it is to other people when people are braless.

I have medium/ biggish boobs and I wear an underwire unlined material bra so it looks like I'm braless (can see nipples through tops etc) but it's way more comfortable for me because it lifts and supports my boobs so theyre not swinging everywhere as I walk...

You can get unlined material bras that are more comfortable than being braless imo. But maybe if you are flat cheated it makes no difference to comfort? I used to have very small boobs pre kids and a bra still felt better/stopped the bounce.

I’m braless at home but wouldn’t go out without one. I have a big bust and they would look very droopy in certain tops which would make me personally self conscious and uncomfortable plus painful if I had to run for any reason! May give myself a black eye 😂 Sports bras are a happy medium sometimes. Comfy but supportive.

It's the sagging rather than the nipples, I wear boneless bras which also show the sag but not quite so badly.

I had to go out this morning, it is so hot I wore zero underwear under my on the knee loose summer dress.

The dress has a regency style bust line with ties so they sit comfortably on that