Plus size models, no bra- what’s going on?!

[TheIsaacs]

I’ve been looking for a dress for my sisters wedding over the last couple of days. I’m plus size myself and want something flowy with a nice neckline and sleeves.

I’ve noticed this weird trend on asos and H&M of some of the plus size models seemingly not wearing a bra. Has anyone else noticed this? What the hell is it about? It ruins the line of the dresses and makes them look baggy. There’s one in particular that I think if you put a bra on and actually lifted your boobs, the neckline would come under the bra!

I can’t buy the dresses and not wear a bra so it put it’s me off buying them massively. Am I the only one who can’t see why they would do this?

Examples:

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1019981001.html

www.asos.com/asos-curve/asos-design-curve-dobby-shirred-wrap-maxi-dress-in-blue/prd/201963458

www.asos.com/asos-curve/asos-design-curve-dobby-twist-front-pleated-midi-dress-with-all-over-embroidery-in-navy/prd/201024988

I think the dresses look nice on the models but would look totally different once you bought it, like a lot of asos stuff.

Personally I couldn't wear this dress as I wear an underwire bra 23.5/7, only take it off to shower. I wear it to sleep. Very uncomfortable otherwise.

That ASOS pale blue one looks awful!

She has really droopy boobs and that would surely be very uncomfortable.

The main ASOS demographic is one that doesn’t subscribe to the same body standards that dictate all boobs must be in a bra, lumps and bumps must be smoothed and all imperfections hidden.
I think the body liberation and acceptance by younger generations is briliant. There’s 24 years between me and my sister, she’s 17. She doesn’t shave her legs, she isn’t obsessed with having a flat stomach, she wears a bra if and when she wants to and she doesn’t body shame other women. It’s enviable!!
If you want to see boobs tucked neatly in bras then maybe try shops that cater to a different crowd.

Fascinating. I am of the bra wearing generation but maybe it’s just a big cultural shift like a hundred years ago with corsets? I’m sure there were lots of women my age going ‘I’ll never give up my bodice it gives me support and a nice shape’ and the flappers were like yeah whatevs mum

Flappers like 20s flappers not suggesting peoples boobs flap before anyone gets in a flap.

Out of interest what and where are these crop tops and camis - can someone link a nice comfy one? Do they have adjustable straps as I am tall and thus need the extra strap length usually.

I did buy a nice soft bralet thing from aerie in the states but had to wrestle it on and it was cut for someone much shorter than me so a massive uncomfortable hassle!

I'm with you OP. I have to wear a bra and what would be so much more helpful is plus size dresses with smaller plunging neckline allowing for a bra. I'm a size 18 so would hope that smaller us size would sometimes allow for boobs but it never does as dresses like these just open right up.
I suspect these are designed for plus size women who have relatively small boobs to ours. The thought of not wearing g a bra put and about is awful for me and this is not due to social conditioning! Since the age of 16 going braless has hurt my back, made anything more than a slow walk uncomfortable (some will never experience the jarring heavy yanking on breastfeeding tissue and skin that comes with any movement over a sedate walk) and the soreness that comes following and sweatiness between skin. I havectried bras from m and s and agree they are not comfy as some people say ---- a good bra stops back pain, keeps everything supported all day and prevents swestiness. Minimiser bras are the devils work - boobs the thecside so clothes rub between sleeves and chest, wearing out and bobbling and chafing, and squishing your cleavage yo make it sweaty and on a warm day this is awful (as is braless).
So these clothes are probably okay for plus size with smaller boobs but not for you and I! And I get why you posted as it does get a bit depressing never being able to find anything. My favourite dresses are bravissimo/pepperberry.

[quote MakingShiteMemories]@hellosunshineagainx "Only a D" 😂 I'm an AA! (Have never worn a bra, btw).

OP, the first two dresses look terrible. The third one looks better. The second one doesn't even fit the model.[/quote]
Me too, laughing at only a D 🤣

I'm an A cup and go braless, or at most wear a bralet. I like the new trend as there's loads more choice everywhere for nice bralets and crop tops.

@NeedAHoliday2021

I read lots of posts here about bras being uncomfortable but I like mine. I like to prop them up a bit but then I’m a 1990s/2000 woman so maybe it’s a generation thing. I’ve never got home and removed my bra for comfort… except my lovely red one where the wire came through and stabbed me last week.

I’m a 40D. I couldn’t wait to take off any bra I was wearing until I discovered Wacoal. It may be an individual thing, but several (not all) of their styles fit me so well that they are totally comfortable 🙂

As to the original question, it’s interesting that it has become a trend amongst younger women. I applaud it. Good for them. Women have lived under a ‘tyranny of shoulds’ for long enough!

I always, always wear a bra because I prefer to. But why does clothing have to be flattering? (And why is "flattering" generally used to mean smaller or in keeping with a particularly body type or shape?) Why should people dress so that other people find them pleasing to look at?

I can, after surgerery for breast cancer, go without a bra quite comfortably for anything other than strenuous exercise. But for 40 years I would have grabbed my bra in preference to anything except my child. It wasn't aesthetic, only comfort.

I’ve noticed this
ASOS are the worst for it.
Puts me off buying the dress as it just makes the dress look terrible

Yours clothing is really good - there models seem to wear bras

I heard about the padding but does not see realistic the thing is being plus size myself I would not wear a lot of the clothes I'm not for the anyone can wear anything I'm an e cup so one false move

It's all part of the body positivity thing - "you can wear anything regardless of how you look" . It's the kind of image embraced by Snag tights. I actually think that the younger generation of women are being told it's OK to be obese ( on BMI scales for example). There seems to be so many young women who are like this - they cannot be told by NHS that they need to lose weight despite it obviously being a health issue. The fashion industry wants to sell clothes so they do these shoots with saggy boobs and fat tummies.

@PlainJaneEyre

It's all part of the body positivity thing - "you can wear anything regardless of how you look" . It's the kind of image embraced by Snag tights. I actually think that the younger generation of women are being told it's OK to be obese ( on BMI scales for example). There seems to be so many young women who are like this - they cannot be told by NHS that they need to lose weight despite it obviously being a health issue. The fashion industry wants to sell clothes so they do these shoots with saggy boobs and fat tummies.

Nice! Just dismiss the distress associated weight and body image for larger women, made worse by years of yo-yo dieting. If someone chooses not to do that anymore and to take a different approach, that should be respected. Not your choice or your business!

Oh.. I didn't see anything wrong with the modelling in any of those links. I think you're being silly. Everyone has different shaped bodies even of the same size. So even if a model was wearing a bra it doesn't mean it will sit the same on you at all. That's what being able to return the clothing is for.