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?

Braless at 69 wearing a black maxi dress. Not big busted, no nipple showing and luckily not saggy.

I went out yesterday to an appointment and wore a bra. It was so uncomfortable, soaking wet and as soon as I got home it came off.

I’m busty and bra less when home as I’ve had shingles pain for nine months. Hate wearing a bra when I’m out and I refuse to answer the door when I’m home with my droopy boobs swinging😂.

Only for the flat chested..Even the slightest braless,wobble looks cringeworthy on older women.

Letting it all hang out was strictly for the Sixties. Feckless hippies etc

Like waist length, grey hair.

Not a good look.

In your opinion they looked terrible. Maybe they didn’t think they looked terrible?

I love feckless hippies.

Only around the house, even if you’re flat chested.

people always gorp in public and because society is extremely ageist too many people tut tut, think you’re an attention seeker or someone who fancies themself rotten, or think it’s disgusting.

unfortunately, society treats older women very harshly. And when I say “old” I mean anyone 30 years old or above.

only the other day, I saw a flat chested woman Kate Moss type, but she was droopy drawers, which is even worse if you have small boobs, overall attractive woman, but I immediately thought put it away love. And I’m relaxed about everything.

people can’t help but stare, men or women.

I recall working in a hospital once where one of the doctors who was slim and preferred wearing no bar, definitely not an attention seeker, and wore any scruffy clothing, hated wearing bras as she said they’re uncomfortable, there were so many complaints about her going bra-less, some went to HR, and guess what? All the complaints were from women.

says a lot.

Presumably her breasts are wobbling about as she walks and are far lower than their normal position when she's wearing a bra.
Personally Id never be without a bra. It just feels unpleasant to have my breasts unsupported. I don't have a large bust

Oh FFS! 🙄 there’s always one!

Where is the laughing emoji option when we need it? 😂🤣

You should really seek therapy for your deep-seated hatred of women.

It's much more ugly than a woman without a bra.

D cup here. Briefly breast fed, more on one boob than other, so one slightly saggy.

If I don't wear a bra in hot weather, I do sweat under them and hate the feeling of that. Got to be a cotton bra. Lightly padded as nips seem to come alive if I'm slightly cold. Like an air conditioned shop.

Happy to go bra free in winter under a
t shirt and snuggly jumper though.

Have recently discovered the joy of non under wired bras after ordering one in error from M&S. They actually minimise my boobs.

I’m the greatest supporter of women (no pun intended! lol)

But listen here, I tell you something, I’m just an observer in life, and I listen, and I tell you one thing, people don’t like braless women in public.

You can even see this more generally in society, back in the day, if it was summer on the beach, women used to go topless. That’s right, why not, you might ask, it’s our natural body, boobs have fed and reared the world. Nothing wrong with that. Old women, young women, fat, thin, grannies, teenagers, the lot.

Yet in 2026, people don’t even do that now, both here and abroad, even in their own private back gardens. The islamification of the western world means that anything highlighting the female form is totally haram.

blinks

Again, therapy.

Maybe teach them to be less mean and bitchy then? I have two teen girls who couldn’t give a shite what I or any other woman wears, doesn’t wear, shaves or not.

If the woman you saw was flat chested, then there wasn’t anything there to droop.

Also, gawp not gorp.

I think of myself as "the fallen madonna with the big boobies by Von Klomp" and so yes, need a bra when leaving the house. Most of the year I also wear one at home, until the eveing when I whip the whole thing throug my sleeves and free my boobies. But right now? In the heat? I can't be bothered to wear a bra unless for going out to do the necesssary shopping, or to an appointment. At home, with only my husband here and sometimes my very young grandchild, I wear a loose floaty muslin top and shorts. No show of nipples or contours. Nobody around to take offence.

Body Glide is your friend if you get intertrigo

what total nonsense

It's obviously noticeable then if people are doing double takes and your children are embarrassed. You can generally tell when people aren't wearing bras, and it's not a good look at any age, even for those who are flat chested.

I personally wouldn't be without a bra. I do leave the house every day, but even if I didn't I would still wear one. It's far better for breasts to be supported.

Hateful things, bras. Sweaty and itchy. Still wearing it when out though.

The islamification of the western world means that anything highlighting the female form is totally haram

Please can you explain further?

Good grief. If women only did what "society" thought was appropriate (and WTF does that mean anyway?) we'd still be at home barefoot and pregnant. people can "help but stare" and the sooner those who do stare are shamed into better manners the better.
I am on the fence about the doctor depending on what was involved in her job. I used to work in rehab in the NHS and much of my work was rehab and self care activities with disabled people of both sexes. At the time, mechanical hoists and so on were less used, also some of the rehab requires the therapist to use their chest and upper body to facilitate the patient's activity. It would have been most innappropriate for a woman to do this without wearing a bra.

"It's far better for breasts to be supported."

Why? would they fall off otherwise?

Oh please don’t explain further.

yoire like the team mate who when we all think a tedious meeting is ending and someone says is there any questions, shoved your hand up 😀

hahahaha