to completely give up on wearing bras?

[Bigredsevs]

It started innocently enough; I would skip wearing bras if I was going on a flight, or long car ride, but now I can't seem to persuade myself to wear them at all!

I am not flat chested (36D, kind of 'wide based' if that makes any sense..). I am pretty sure that ianbu but every so often I feel unsure, mostly because of peoples reaction... my sister is appalled and her boobs are much smaller! I increasingly feel like I shouldn't have to wear a surgical support to change/camouflage the shape of my breasts every day of life.. and that men's people's reaction to the outline of my breasts through clothing is their problem... I do get anxious about whether it is unprofessional for work though, but then I get angry about how the fact that they are so over-sexualised that I feel responsible.

I would wear one if I was in a 'who has the nicest shaped boobs?' competition but am i being unreasonable to give up on wearing one for daily life?

p.s. walking, jumping, doing up and down stairs felt weird and wibbly at first, but normal now :)

There are some odd replies on here. I don't care whether you want to wear a bra or not. I do think, however, that the saggy, baggy look on well endowed women is not a good one, but that is my problem rather than the saggy one's.

Does anyone remember Dimmock from Groundforce? Guess what people remember her for.

That was supposed to say Charlie Dimmock.

I remember her for her water features :) I liked Groundforce!

I am 36 d and sometimes even with a bra people stare because my nipples are quite pointy! Unless you have tiny boobs I'd definitely wear a bra. People will notice.

I am very physically active, I need a bra. If I was a relaxed stroller, I could just about envision not wearing one, but I am always on the move & I move fast.

Plus, I do a lot of horseriding - I don't think even the greatest bra-less devotee would advocate sitting trot without a bra (I understand the more endowed often wear two sports bras....).

WHAT? (Business is it of manager/hr?)

I didn't realise her mum dies in the tsunami. How awful for her. Such a sad story. (Sorry to go off topic).

You can do what you like but part of your decision has to be how other will see you and the effect that has on your life, professionally and socially.

You are likely to be interpreted as having a screw missing - not for being comfortable but for being inappropriately sexually revealing.

If you do choose to go without, you may need to rethink your wardrobe so that you have no clothes that are even slightly translucent or clinging.

Im 38F and I completely detest bras, I never wear them at home.

My boobs are quite heavy, so bras can be really uncomfortable.

'It's grim for other people' - pretty much exactly what was said when the idea of not wearing a corset began to take off. Good for you OP. It's a different thing altogether I guess but I last wore high heels in high school (I'm in my midthirties now). I've had a few comments and yes, I probably would look smarter/sexier/more professional in heels. But I love wriggling my toes around in my comfy flats and I simply cannot be fucked feeling uncomfortable for the sake of what other people think. I'm slipping the same way with regards to makeup actually. I had severe acne in my teens and twenties and have a lot of scarring which for years I felt I had to cover up to make other people feel better iyswim. I feel so much more relaxed and, as a point of interest (not that it makes any difference either way) I get chatted up/admiring glances a lot more when barefaced. And in flats obviously har har. I bet absolutely no one in RL has even noticed your lack of bra.

And I bet absolutely that people HAVE noticed the lack of bra!

Yanbu to do what makes you happy or comfortable,I have b cups and hate wearing and see little point of wearing wired or padded bras so I have stopped.
I only wear a non wired triangle bra for work or outings and it's very comfortable and still has some support.

I do agree great sagging boobs is not pleasing to the eye but it's not up to you to please other people.
At work though it might be seen as unprofessional or slatternly.

Sorry, but whilst i agree with you in principle, i do find it a bit gross really. I agree that it is more comfortable not to wear a bra, but that should only be done in the privacy of your own home imo. I find jogging pants comfy, but would never wear them for work.

I also think you are kidding yourself to think nobody has noticed. My mum gave up wearing bras a few years ago, and though no one has said anything, people do notice and talk behind her back. She never has her boobs out eg wears shirts with vest underneath, but it just looks lazy and as though she no longer cares about her appearance. Changes her shape from a more structured one, to resembling a shapeless sack of potatoes.

I cannot wear a bra - I have nerve damage in my back which is where the bra strap cuts across. I wear vest tops, some with a little elastic 'shelf' inside for support, some not. I have done this for over 10 years and can honestly say that I haven't seen any drooping yet (I'm 36). I would like to be able to wear bras sometimes as some clothes just don't look right with a vest top underneath! and I'm not comfortable enough to just go without a vest top, very conscious that my nipples might show through!

Crazycat - sorry to hear that . Have you looked at underwired camisoles? They're available in lots of sizes from different retailers, and might make it easier for you to dress as you want to.

I honestly cannot go without a bra during the day (would look indecent and end up in a lot of pain), so sometimes I even cut bra cups out and sew them into posh frocks etc if there's no way of making a strapless bra work with the neckline or back design...

YANBU - it's up to you at the end of the day.

But for me, I would never go without a bra. I'm 36F and like to wear padded underwired uplifting bras otherwise I look fat and feel extremely uncomfortable.

I find that uplifting bras (plunge or balcony) reduce chafing and sweating under the breast.

If you are a larger size and prefer not to wear a bra I'd recommend talc under the breasts to reduce moisture (ok, sweat) and keep a careful eye out for any sore areas or thrush - lots of my larger size elderly patients who don't wear bras do develop nasty sores or thrush.

You are likely to be interpreted as having a screw missing - not for being comfortable but for being inappropriately sexually revealing.

Why would you be inappropriately sexually revealing? Surely that has more to do with the clothes you have on top of your bralessness? You could be inappropriately sexually revealing with a bra, depending on what clothes you have on top of it. That's down to using sheer materials, lots of lace across your chest, styles which are cut low and so on, not whether or not you have a bra on.

I'm assuming that 36D is your M&S size, OP, in which case I'm a similar size and they're just so bloody heavy. Sitting around braless is lovely, but if I want to be even slightly active, I find that I need at least something soft cup to stop them from bouncing and swinging about, or else they get sore. I also find that I stand up straighter with a good, supportive (32G-ish) bra on, which is better for my back and shoulders.

I'm slightly baffled that you mention wearing clothes that hide your breasts. How is that any less of a bind wearing a garment designed to directly support them?

Btw yesterday I went out in the garden down to the garage to put clothes in the tumble dryer in pjs minus bra... got the shock of my life when I heard a male voice shout ''morning'' turned round and it was my neighbours' elderly landlord grinning at me over the fence!

I was so embarrassed to be in just a pj top and no bra at 36F I wanted to run and hide. But obviously running was out of the question.

Does M&S have different bra sizes than other brands then?

They measure the old fashioned way, by using a tape measure -then ignoring it anyway and making up a number-- and then adding 4-5" to the measurement around the ribs to get the band size.

The way that modern bras are made, with lots of soft materials, the measurement around the ribs, give or take an inch is your actual band size and then each inch over that is a cup size. By this method, DH is a 34C :o

strikeout fail

I've stopped wearing bra's as much recently as do find them rather un-comfortable and a bit un-necessary. I'm about a B bra size wise. I'm usually a bit covered up in my cosy cardi's or whatever. If I was just wearing a T shirt I'd either have a bra or vest underneath. I'm getting more into vests as middle age creeps on

Without wishing to be a crushing bore, I bet there are a number of people on here who are wearing the wrong size bra.

If you find regular bras uncomfortable, how about the stretchy memory bras. They're super comfy and give you a bit of support. I don't have this brand but it's the best example I can find bra