Visitor comments concerning bra wearing, page 2

Bras only dig into shoulders if the bands are too big, because too big a band can't offer the correct support. A good-fitting bra will support even without the straps. Call me conditioned or whatever; I don't care. I feel very uncomfortable without a bra and do not want creeps staring at my 30Es.

Jen

My wife buys new bras and uses the old ones for sleeping. She says she has to buy new ones because the old ones stretch and could cause her breast to pull away from her chest. I was looking for information about what she has said and happened onto this site. I have thought for sometime that wearing a bra was for cosmetic reasons and public restriction rather than health. My mother never made my sisters wear tops, mom said they would be forced into that soon enough. Then came wearing tee shirts, and then the training bras which I could not understand because what were they training? I have often heard that beauty is sometimes painful. Some people and times are so ignorant.

Thank you for the eye opener.
Malcohm

Contrary to popular belief, if you go braless long enough, your nipples get desensitized and don't get erect unless it's cold out. Many worry about the braless image, and if they can get past the "always erect" period, you'll discover a whole new world later when they don't show anymore and people stop looking!

The looks are caused by our western culture society of course, as stupid as it is, because breast attraction has only occurred thru the "cover up" men and women have done over the years. If everyone would just leave your breasts alone, keep their eyes to themselves, and starting accepting new trends in women's freedom, then we could have you women being more free and live longer. God didn't mean for women to "strap down" their breasts. As in a comment I read by someone else, God would have made women's bodies a little bit different, like some automatic bra justs inflates at the proper time. Ridiculous thought right?
People just can't seem to get it in their heads-women's breasts are theirs, and what they do with them, braless or not, is their own business!

Chuck

You raise many points of interest, however, when one is exceedingly large, short in stature and have breast fed children, the gals really sag, and hide some if not all of your waist line if left to fly free. Also, I wake up in pain every morning that I have slept without a bra. I wear very supportive no-wire bras from Goddess (no choice when you are a size H cup with a 34 to 36 inch back), and perhaps have avoided some of the discomfort issues others have experienced by wearing ill fitting or underwire bras. While I will admit that it feels nice to go without on the weekend at home, I likewise ALWAYS hurt after sleeping and on the sides of my breasts the longer I go without. As for stigma...I have to admit, I think someone unkempt, etc. esp when they are top heavy and go out in public without a bra. Its a choice, but one I am personally not comfortable with (as in you will NEVER catch me outside without a bra).

Chris

I am so very grateful to all of you who put up this site and to all who commented. I have extremely low confidence level, but I think that everything I have just now learned is starting to change that. I am a C cup on the left and a D cup on the right, and have always just worn camis with bras in it. It's not wrong, and now I know it is. I shouldn't care what other people say or do. It's what I think is right. Going through all of my low self-confidence levels is no picnic. My mom used to take me to a shrink just because I didn't like wearing a bra, which I believe started all of my low self-confidence. She would "check" to see if I was wearing one, and I became so desperate that I ended up cutting the fronts off of one of my bras and just wearing the backs to make it appear I was wearing one. Shopping is still hard since I am limited to what I can wear with just a camisole (my day to day wear consists of a green jacket always zipped up and some non-cleavage bearing shirt). This is going to greatly help me throughout the rest of my high school career, so I just wanted to say thank you and maybe help others like me. :)

noelle

My size is 34G and I have not worn a bra for the last 2 years. I've actually found that my breasts have become perkier - not bad for a 55 year old! My advice for ladies who suffer with a sweat rash under the breasts, is to apply a good medicated body powder (not talc) after you have washed every day. Lanacane make a good one. My rash has completely cleared up and remains clear and skin feels lovely and smooth. Hope this helps.

Lyn

Love your site! I also wanted to add a great bra-alternative which I use--- I just buy loose fitting camisoles and then a bikini swimsuit top. I take the padding out of the swimsuit top (you could also chop up your old bras for padding) and stick it in my camisole. works like a charm, especially when the girls get cold.
thanks for all the great info!!!

Lucia K

GREAT news! The bagginess of my military uniform (desert fatigues) obscures the fact that I am NOT wearing a bra and I am confident no one can tell. Being smaller-breasted helps too. FREE!!

Rebecca Hammel

Bra Free comment:

your website is among the websites who convinced me to go bra-free seven months ago. It's been one of the two best things I ever did for my well-being in its womanly respects (the other being getting a menstrual cup and eco cloth pads -- if I may place this recommendation :). I used to hate my breasts: because they are huge (C+ when I'm otherwise slim), because they bounce when I do sports and move (oh how disgusting!), because they hurt before period time, because it is impossible to find a comfortable bra. Going bra-free solved all these problems; now my breasts are my friends :)

They are not huge but normal (I learned from the normal breasts gallery); and actually without the bra-push they look less huge and have a very nice harmonious shape (before I saw your gallery, I thought that the bra-deformed shape is the "natural" shape; now I notice how ugly straps and squeezes visible through women's blouses are compared to a normal breast :).

They bounce a lot and I like it - I still remember how great it felt when I went bra-free biking for the first time :) the sensation of wind and movement on that body part was amazing; later in the evening they felt happy and alive like never before. They also like brafree dancing, martial arts, and even short gentle jogs (though with tight-fitting blouses to reduce bouncing to a level where people won't stare ;). They feel incredibly good after sports, and they finally feel like part of my body (and not a dead, unwanted element glued to it).

They pre-period discomfort got close to zero (something happens there, but it is not painful).

And I don't need to spend ages looking for a bra that doesn't squeeze, itch, and constrain.

Strangely, I now feel a lot more confident in and about my body -- knowing it is natural and healthy, and it does not need external "fixes" to "correct" or conceal its shapes; I do not need any "fixes" or "supports" to run and jump around!! It is perfect as it is.

So even though I know it may not be for every woman, I greatly recommend the bra-free option to all who are even remotely considering the idea. Try it for a week; most likely you will not go back. Nothing to lose. Body and soul may feel a lot better.

I've read a lot of comments from people asking why people find nipples and the natural movement of breasts inappropriate. For me, it's mostly because of the simple fact that it draws the attention from sleazy men, and women who aren't wearing bras are viewed as "easier" by men in general. Also, I'm a 32C and I find it super uncomfortable to run or use stairs without one on unless I hold them, which looks weird, lol.

kassey

I'm 19 and decided about a week ago to go braless. It's been amazing. I've always wanted to gain the confidence to throw out the bras, but it took until my first semester of college to do it. It is so unfortunate how much insane peer pressure high schoolers have to deal with... It's winter break, so I still have time to get fully comfortable. I'll see what happens when I go back to school for the spring semester, but I feel like I'll be fine considering I've been doing so much research and been educating myself on the history of the bra as a fashion accessory. I know I'm lucky with size A breasts, but I highly recommend going braless to anyone who can. It is so freeing!

Tal

I am large chested and wore a bra for years with discomfort, and found that once I get one that fit right, things were great! As for cost, if they fit properly they last longer too. But it's true, now I find if I don't wear one, my chest hurts a lot. So maybe I should try going braless more oftem when I am lazing around at home and no need to worry about any bouncing.

ally

I'm in high school, and I really hate bras. But I have gym every other day, making it impossible to go bra-less. I get teased a lot because my size is only 34A. I laugh like I don't mind, but I see how differently I'm treated from other girls with "ideal" figures.
I'm glad this site is up, because sometimes I really feel like no one understands or cares. Thank you so much.

Rozzi

Thank you so much for the work you have done in support of changing how society views womens breasts. I stopped wearing bras over 2 years ago and this has been great for my breast health and I have enjoyed the comfort. One thing I would like to comment on though is how there is this perception that women who go brafree are somehow selfish if we do not conceal our breasts, (which is hard to do if you have larger breasts). We are considered selfish because our breasts entice men and offend women. So, therefore, we are still expected to acquiesce to the rules of the breast taboos and bend to accommodate others. I find this expectation to be unfair.

It's my opinion that no man is enticed who does not want to be. He has a responsibility for how he sees womens breasts. He could choose to see them in a more mature, respectful way. Women are also responsible if they feel offended. They, in my opinion, are buying into all the lies of the breast taboo that states breasts are indecent and should be covered. Granted, men and women have been conditioned to view breasts in these unflattering ways. But, why should I have to be the one who makes all the adjustments because of their beliefs? Why should my being in the world, how I dress and express myself be based on their views of my breasts? What I do is based on my views of my breasts, not some unknown strangers. I don't agree that my breasts are sex objects. I don't agree with the ideas that they are taboo or indecent. I don't believe that I should have to worry about whether my nipples show or not, they are a respectable part of my body. I have no problem with dressing appropriately for an occasion such as work, church or a wedding. But in my free time, I have the right to make my own choices. If my nipples show, they show. It's sad that so many negative beliefs are associated with nipples. Is there any part of the body that is treated as badly as the female breast?

This society (the U.S. where I live) has decided that my breasts are indecent, taboo, objects that are ok to sexualize 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without asking me, without my consent and Im selfish? These ridiculous, negative, overly sexualized attitudes and beliefs about breasts are imposed upon me on a daily basis. Im expected to agree with these attitudes, no questions asked, step in line like a good girl and Im the one who is selfish? Women have basically been told what their breasts are, and thats sexual. My breasts have been defined for me, without asking me how I felt. And Im the one who is selfish? Often times, the sexuality imposed on womens breasts is a cheap version of the deeper, more loving connection that sexuality can embody. And the original intent of breasts, which is to feed and nurture babies, seems almost lost in this society.

If someone had asked me, I would have told them that I would like my breasts to be respected for what they are and allowed to be what they are without being constantly sexualized by men and viewed with disgust by women. I would have said that my breasts are sexual when I want them to be, not all the time just because they are breasts. I refuse to accept the label of selfish when it comes to my bralessness, especially when I live in a society that is so hostile towards womens breasts and just allowing them to be what they are. Could I go and get a fitting for a properly fitting bra? Sure, but why bother. Whats so wrong with not wearing a bra? Whats so wrong with the female breast that they are treated like they need some piece of cloth and straps to make them ok? Im going to continue to stand up to these taboos.

Chris

Before my breast reduction, I could have never felt comfortable without a bra. The weight of the 4.4 lbs I had removed was much too heavy to have flop around and pull at me. I wore a bra 24/7 except when showering for 30 years. Even now I am a 36D and cannot feel comfortable without a bra except when sleeping on my back occasionally. The old pencil test is a good gauge for me. If the breast lays on the chest wall, it gets hot and sticky between the breast and the chest. If I were an A or B cup, I would simply wear a supportive camisole as suggested here. I see no harm in a lady with no breasts wearing a gel bra to fill out her clothing. If it fits right, there should be no pulling, digging, etc.

Carol

This website is an eye-opener. I stopped wearing bras when I graduated from high school at 17. During my high school years, going through puberty and wanting to be accepted and all that, I was under the influence that wearing a bra was "the thing" to do. Back then the Wonderbra was the big thing, as was anything push-up. I wanted to get one of those bras, but I was too busty for them (40C then, now 42C-D). I would try squeezing into them in the fitting room, but no luck.

I wasn't sure about the feel of my breasts back in my high school years, but I do know that ever since I went bra-free my "babies" felt much better. The only "support" I give them these days is those camisoles with the hidden bra underneath, which I've been wearing for a few years now, and I'm not sure if those are good for your breasts either now that I read this article!

Recently, I got told by a couple of my co-workers that I "should" wear a bra so my breasts don't "sag" when I get older. Suddenly under the fear of gravity getting the best of my "babies," I finally brought my old bra out and wore it recently. However, I noticed a different feel when I wore it. Nothing too serious (little aches and slight tenderness), but it wasn't something my breasts didn't experience when I went bra-free. And when I unexpectedly stumbled upon this site and its helpful links just today, I finally took that bra off for GOOD. I should tell my co-workers about this article (one of which is also a breast cancer survivor), and they'll be astounded!

Thank you for this article. Hope that many women (and men) unexpectedly stumble upon this site as I did too, and get something out of it.

Dee Lauren

I am 56 years old and have not worn a bra since I was 16 except for when I was breastfeeding. With the extra weight of the milk and large glands my breasts were often tender and sore. I found the support of a bra more comfortable, but only sometimes. I think I needed the bra as a way of holding breast pads to absorb leaked milk. My breasts were quite small until I had children (2 boys I breastfed for about 2 years each) and even now they are not large and are still quite shapely and attractive. I think bras are used to hide nipples. My nipples are quite big and are quite noticeable when erect so that can be a little embarrassing when men pass comments about them. Men think erect nipples mean you are horny. I try to buy shirts with pockets over my breasts! Sometimes I just don't care and wear what I like, but not in winter!

Sheridan Arlen Williamson

If a bra feels uncomfortable then it doesn't fit properly. If I didn't wear a bra during breastfeeding it was painful. Bear in mind, you should wear a bra without underwiring during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. A good bra will give you a good upper body shape, which is what a lot of women like. Lovely underwear makes a lot of women feel good,like a lovely dress. It is a matter of choice for women and should not be determined by anyone else apart from the individual.

Alison Bryant

I wear one because I don't like the nipple show through from not wearing one. I prefer a smooth look. You may call that "programming", but I know what I like and that's NOT prominent nipple show through.

Leah

When I was 15 my mom who always went braless encouraged me to try it. At first I was afraid to, but the more I tried it, the more comfortable I was. I am now 22 and still am a 34A. I don't worry about my nipples getting hard or showing anymore either.

Sara

Thank you so much for this informative article. Nine years ago I reluctantly bought a new bra. It was thickish (not padded) and flattering but when my superior exclaimed, "Wow! Did you get a boob job?" I went to my secretary and asked her if I looked weird or riding too far up, etc. She assured me I was fine but I've not worn a bra since. I'm not large. Now that I'm older and weight shifts, I wondered if a bra was necessary because I was taught, "If it'll hold pencil when standing up straight, bra it!" Thanks to your article, I'll remain free and comfortable.

Btw, sometimes I'll wear something simply too shear to go out "nipply" so my solution is a couple of round bandaids on both.

I hope mothers share this article with their daughters.

Ginnie

I'm nearly 14 and I've been going braless for about half a year and I've not noticed any bad affects! My breasts are 30E now but they don't sag or droop. I don't think I'll ever go back to bras and feeling uncomfortable. I really love the feeling of them bouncing and just being free! Thanks again for this great site!

Helen

My breast is uneven, I had try go bra[free] for sometime now. But I feel the pain below my shoulder when I touches my breast even when I am not sleeping. The reason for this is, without wearing bra, my arm touches my larger side of breast when sleeping.

I do not have this before starting this trial. I did not expect this. Somebody help please..

YY

Thank you so much for this wonderful website. I have learned so much. I stopped wearing bras completely 9 months ago. Intially, I stopped wearing them due to the discomfort I felt. I was one of those women who would take it off in my car as soon as I got out of work.

I finally found the courage to go against societal standards and I've been so much happier ever since.

There are lots of women who only wear bras because it's socially unacceptable not to, otherwise, they would not wear one. I was one of them. And sadly, most of the disapproval and mean looks come from other women, who have breasts themselves. I think it is pathetic that so many women have been brainwashed to think that their breasts and other women's breasts and nipples are disgusting or gross without a bra. I'd like to ask them if they think God should have put a bra in our DNA, timed perfectly to develop with our breasts at puberty. How did it come to be that the natural movement of the breast along with nipples are somehow obsence and inappropriate?

I'm here to encourage other women with larger breasts (I was 46 DD) to go braless if you want to and stop caring about the opinions of other people. Not all large-breasted women need a bra due to back pain. I have never had any pain as a result of going braless. But, prior to my going braless, I had been having severe breast pain and tenderness. I had that for years and thought it was normal, but it wasn't. I even started having sharp pains in my breasts that I wasn't familiar with. It was so painful at times, I couldn't even lay down in bed on my stomach. But now that I've been brafree, the past 6 of 9 cycles have been completely pain free!!! Oh the joy of it. You can't tell me there is no correlation between wearing a bra and breast pain, at least for me. May, June and July have been completely pain free as it seems my breasts have started to heal after decades of wearing bras. I'll never do that to myself again.

My conviction to remain brafree for the rest of my life is strong. There are so many ways to go brafree that are tasteful, professional and downright beautiful. I'm tired of the notion that brafree women are "slutty." It's incredibly harsh, judgemental, narrow-minded and unfair. You can't judge the kind of person a woman is by whether she wears a bra or not.

To end my comment, I would like to express my love and respect for breasts. Breasts have been ogled and objectified, poked and prodded, smashed into mammogram machines, judged, rejected and loathed, measured and restrained. When are they ever going to just be loved and accepted as part of our bodies that deserve respect? My brafreedom is my statement of my love and respect for my body and my breasts.

Theresa

I started going without a bra about 7 yrs ago.

Fortunately I worked at an alternative health food store and had an apron on all day as part of my uniform. No one even noticed. It was great!

At first my breasts hurt when I would drive over bumps in the car, and the like. But after a month or so there was no more pain as the tissues had recovered their health.

I see it this way, if you bounce around a broken bone it aches, but once it's healed it doesn't. The ligaments, lymph, and muscles became stronger and by breasts had no more pain.

I do still wear one when doing high impact activities as my breasts are very large and it hurts if they bounce too high, but it doesn't hurt during most activities even my small breasted friends complain about even with their bras on!

I also want to add a comment about fashion. You can still dress very stylishly and have trendy clothes that look great without a bra. I personally know of many very wealthy, stylish women who do NOT wear bras and are still considered very attractive.

It is simply a matter of choosing clothing that fits and enhances your natural breast shape instead of the shape of a breast in a bra. I have such a wardrobe.

When I went into Nordstroms to find a bra to wear while doing those high impact excercises, I was wearing a shirt that fits my natural breasts very nicely and is fitted enough to see my curves (and thick enough material most people do not notice my nipples).

I had finished selecting some bras, and come out to ask the fitting expert a question. I had removed the bras, as I did not feel like wearing them at the moment. I was dressed as I had been when I arrived, braless under my shirt. The attendant said,"... like the bra you are already wearing."

I was shocked that she couldn't tell the difference! I said,"I'm not wearing any bra." She and the rest of the store's patrons looked at me in shock. :) Not one of them could tell I wasn't wearing one. :)

I can tell you, I felt extreamly confident about how my breasts looked the rest of the day!

elena

Great site. I can't wear a bra because I feel it restricts my breathing. This has got worse as I've put on weight after having children. I'm going for the camisole alternative. Thank you.

Amanda

I would say I can't do without my bra. I recently stop using one to sleep because everyone was compaining. Well there is definitely a freedom when I remove it but still I can't just do without it. I think every lady has her or choice 2 wear bra or not.

loveth

Hi, I just found out that my aunt (she is 46 yrs. old) has breast cancer so she has to have her left one removed. She has been wearing a bra even when she sleeps. This article has really made me think... I like to take my bra off, as soon as I can, bc wearing one is such a pain. I breast fed my daughter until she was 4 yrs. old and my breast are diffrent now. Women should really do a lot of research before putting a bra on, know why they do it, and go bra less a lot. Set Them Free! "XOXO": Jakline Burnett Briones

Hi,
This is a very interesting website with great information. Thank You so much for giving us this site.

I am a 42DD breast size and I am very happy with my breasts and their size. One is a little larger than the other and they hang different but they are great.

There is nothing better than going braless, I find that my breasts are much more comfortable and they feel much better over all. I used to wear a bra but was miserable. I like very much to feel them swing and sway and bounce. It took me a while to get used to the idea but now I would NEVER go back to wearing a bra.

I hope more ladies try going braless and realize the comfort and the freedom and I would bet they will not want to wear a bra again.

I am in my early 60's and want to keep my breasts happy and healthy.

Jan

Excellent site. Very enlightening. I am a 35 year old breastfeeding mother, size 36E. When I went to buy nursing bras I was told by the fitting lady that I needed the one with the strongest support and I must wear it all day and night. I have ignored this advice because my nights were just too uncomfortable, and I am brafree during the day as much as possible (although the leaking is a bit of a nuisance). I was worried that being brafree would lead to sagging, mastitis and even tissue damage. Your site has completely reassured me. Thank you.

Karen

This is a cool site. I'm 23 , 34C and have always worn a bra due to conformatity to societies standards, and just feeling really awkward with out one. But not wearing one is definetly much more comfortable and I have such a hard time trying to find one that fits right (one side is a half cup larger than the other). I think I'm and going to try wearing camisoles instead. I want to thank everyone on here for making me realize it's OK not to wear a bra :)

katie

I'm 26 with a D cup, and I was so sick of bras cutting into my shoulders, and making me feel restricted, so I just stopped wearing them.

My mother and grandmother will come to me on occasion and ask: "Don't you just hate it when you get those sharp pains in your breast?" (both wear bras religiously).
All I can say is no, because after going bra-free for 4 years, I don't get pains at all. Even running down my stairs braless isn't painful anymore. If need be I'll wear a nice cami, or tank, but that's all.

The non-physical discomfort that most women feel about not wearing a bra, is just caused by the horrible brainwashing society has done.
Screw that! Im through with bras!

Tisha

Wow! I never realised so many women didn't wear bras. I have very small 36aaa breasts and as a result look very pear shaped (in my eyes). I always wear my gel bras. I feel incredibly selfconsious without them, because I try to balance out my shape (top to bottom) and don't feel I can without them. I would like to go without a bra but quite often I don't 'fill out' tops or camis (another knock to the confidence). I guess in a way my bras have become my comforter. It is not even to do with being sexy, gel bras are very plain. It is about confidence at the end of the day. I admire any woman who feels comfortable to go without a bra and one day I may do the same, maybe after a boob job (another debate, another place!) ;-)

xXx

Katie

It seems that some of the "bra wearers" who have commented feel defensive about their choice. I personally feel comfortable in a bra but am aware of the fact that I have been conditioned by my culture to wear one. I remember being in 5th grade and desiring a bra. Why? I had no breasts but the bra itself had come to signify a rite of passage. Wear or don't wear a bra for whatever reason. However, I think it is necessary for all women (and men) to be cognizant of the history of bras and to question the social norms under which we developed a necessity for a bra. Are we really on the forefront of feminism in the "west" if we can't even critically look at what makes us "women?" Ask yourself, for whom are my breasts to stay perky, circular, and cleavaged for? and if the answer is yourself, ask why again.

julian

My guess is that the bodice was invented by a woman. I'm only 5' with DD breasts. I can barely stand being out of a bra long enough to take a shower. When I am, they hurt tremendously. Sleeping without one, or one with not enough support, is especially bad. They flop off to one side and I wake up feeling like the muscles are pulled the next morning. Health of the body is only useful if you have quality of life to go with it. Frankly, I hate bras myself. I prefer a good old fashion bodice. Keeps the weight of them strapped closer to my spine, gets added support from the hips, support from the shoulders, and it even realigns my spine where the outward weight pulls it out of place. Friends and family agree that I'm much more active and less mopey in a bodice.

Now, I use bodice instead of corset because there's an important difference: bodices have little to no boning and only cover the ribcage. They're also worn on the outside of clothing. "Fashionable" woman may have worn corsets, but I can almost guarantee that real woman wore bodices. When the breasts are large, its just much easier to make them go away and stop bothering you. Braless may be good for small breasted women, but not everyone was blessed with good anatomy.

Katherine A.

Were women not made to dislike, and generally be so psychologically uncomfortable with, their breasts, would there be anywhere near the number of comments about physical discomfort from breasts in their natural state? I strongly suspect not (as someone who does wear an E cup). Being discouraged--in the name of "femininity"--from exercising enough to develop strong muscles couldn't help either. Just think of all the women you've seen who hunch around their breasts, rounding their shoulders; that's going to give you a backache all on its own, sooner rather than later.

It's enough to make a person weep. We need to stop handing over control of our bodies to other people. *shakes head*

Rachel

I like wearing a sports bra when at work or exercising. They aren't binding but give a little extra support. But at home, I just put on a t-shirt and let my boobs go free!

Cie

I just read your entire site and found it fascinating. I am a 50 year old man and have long been fascinated by breasts, growing up just as you say, conditioned by the media.

Recently, I made my first trip to a Carribean beach frequented by Europeans who were accustomed to going topless. At first glance, I was in shock at all the women topless. In a very brief time, I became used to it and actually became proud of the women who walked around and laid in the sun acting as if they had no idea they were topless. I realized how much more comfortable they were and how they seemed to pay absolutely no attention to being topless.

The interesting thing is that while this is a European culture, I saw many American women that jumped right in and were very comfortable with being topless. My wife was topless the entire week and she loved it. It wasn't a sexual thing at all, simply a totally relaxing and free feeling vacation. The american women that we met would sit around topless with no reservations and they spoke of how great it would be if this could become an American tradition.

Please - All you women out there - Embrace the braless ideas and stop hurting yourself - Don't worry about what others think and I believe you can begin a revolution that will last forever.

Please know that I say this for the benefit of all and I'm not some perverted pleasure seeker. I've long felt bad for women because of their breast problems and would love to see an Oprah led trend to reverse all the ills that have been put upon you. Your breasts should become a natural body part thats seen as natural as your hands or face. I've seen plenty of men that do not look good without a shirt on, but you know what - they couldn't care less and neither should you. Sincerely - D

Thank you so much for this wonderful website... all these years I thought I was practically the only one who thought wearing a bra was insane!
I am twenty-one years old and have a 34C bra size, but I have never worn a bra on anything approaching a regular basis. When I was ten and my breasts started developping, my mom took me to buy my first bra. I didn't think one way or the other about needing a one, but that changed when I put it on... it was horrible! My mother and sister told me it was "normal" to feel that way, that I would get used to it after a little while, but I never did. I took it off every chance I got and it got to the point where my parents were trying to coerce me to wear it. Eventually, they gave up, and my going braless was a known-but-never-mentioned fact during my early years. I was very self-conscious about it at school, especially in the locker room while changing for PE class, so sometimes I did wear a bra just to be "normal", but I always stopped it after a day or two. I simply could not stand the feel of the bra digging into me. It was all I could think about, and it felt like I was being tortured. I thought there was something majorly wrong with me, because I was the only one I knew who felt that way. Everyone else just seemed to take wearing a bra for granted, and I found myself envying them, because I couldn't do it. At that age, all anyone wants is to be "normal" and to fit in, and I was no different, but something inside me completely rebuked all of the social brainwashing about wearing bras and wouldn't let me do it. All the envying and self-consciousness in the world wasn't enough to make me strap a bra on; they just felt too wrong, both physically and mentally. I made a point not to let others notice, by wearing clothes that would minimalize the chances of anyone not noticing I wasn't wearing a bra--a few people did, though, and I was teased about it to some extent--but this was one issue my normally passive nature refused to cave in on. It just wasn't worth it to me.

When I was fourteen I noticed something odd with my breasts: they weren't developing evenly. One was a C-cup and one was a D-cup. Finding a bra that fit became anatomically impossible, and it was the main reason I decided never to wear a bra again (though I had only worn one very occasionally before). I never thought this anomaly might stem from not wearing a bra (which of course it didn't), but it did make me more self-conscious than ever. I was so ashamed of my breasts I went to greater lengths than ever to hide them under bulky clothing, hoping and praying they would even out, but the discrepancy between them only got larger. My mother finally noticed after about a year, and she took to see a doctor to find out if it was something to be worried about. The summer I turned sixteen I had breast reduction surgery on one breast only, which felt very weird because I had never heard of that before. I had to wear a special bra for two weeks after the operation, to keep the stitches from tearing, and by the time the two weeks were up I felt ready to climb the walls.

The surgery was worth it, though, and even though I no longer have an offical excuse not to wear a bra, I refuse to do it. My intolerance for them has only grown over the years, and even though I sometimes still feel very self-conscious about not wearing one, I feel better after coming across this website and for the first time realizing I am not the only one who feels this way. Camisoles have played a large part in liberating me from feeling awkward, and I wear one outside the house almost all the time.

Kristina

I love this website. We need more of these. To the whole crew that started this just know that your website rocks. I come from africa. I am sooo used to seing breasts since I was a child up to now am 19. We must fight the American ignorance.

abby

My aunt, of which I was the caretaker before she passed away recently, was overweight and coped with irritation caused by sweating under the breasts and other body skin folds by using deodorant.

I'm 62, and it only dawned on me in the last month or so that I live alone and don't have to wear a bra at home. I'll probably continue to wear them away from home out of modesty and habit, but loafing at home has sure gotten more comfortable. As for wearing them so my breasts won't sag... at 62 the sagging has set in anyway.

Susan

Thank you for this site. It is very encouraging to know that other women hate bras as much as I do.

I am 24 and haven't worn a traditional bra since I was 15. That was when puberty started and my mother told me it was best I start wearing one. I wore it to school for 2 days thinking it was cool because I was the same as all the other girls (I was late developing). That weekend I went without the bra at home and realised I preferred going without. I was (and still am) only a B cup so I don't have the problems other girls on this site have had.

Now I wear a sports bra when I play sport (but often don't wear any other top). I never wear any other sort of bra or substitute. My work uniform is a dark colour so not see through, so why should I? Bra fee is the best

Belinda

Okay, I may not have perky breast but I do have large ones. I'm only 15 and I am (professionaly fitted) a 36 E, but that is just too weird feeling and they don't feel right, so instead I wear a large sport bra or a tank top with a built in bra, but since I'm not a C (which those shirts are made for) I have to wear another tank top or shirt over it so no one can see my clevage. I have done this since I was 13 ( which is when I was a D) I have tried running without any support, but it was too painful for me because of all the tugging and pulling. But once I turn 16, my mother has agreed to let me have a reduction so I can live without the pains that my breast cause on my back, shoulders, and the occtional rib pain. I try not to wear a bra for more than 12 hrs but some days I wear one for 18 to 19 hours. But once I get this reduction I will be brafree!

Shanice

When I go out to a shopping mall I carry my valuables, such as money, credit card, and car keys, inside my bra cup. This is something I have been doing from my early teens and is something I've seen my mother and aunt do. So you can say my bra has two jobs, it does.

linda

My wife recently came across your web page. She asked me to write about a bra experience that we had a few years ago. This may be in-line with the, understandable, comments of Karen, Charlotte, Emily and Bob. This is a story about a male who had to wear a bra for a while. Call it, LESSON LEARED. I had never dated a girl who hated wearing bras more than my wife. After we got married she constantly tried to get me to put one on for a day, so I can see what she was going through. Shes small to start with, so I tried to convince her to just stop wearing bras. But, she was afraid to, because her mother had convinced her for years that she should. Anyway, during the first year we were married she tried repeatedly to get me to try on a bra, but I would always decline her offer, for many reasons, including the one that Bob mentioned of people seeing this. Then her parents offered to let us go away to their vacation house for a couple weeks. Again, she tried to convince me to try on a bra there, since nobody would be there to see me. She continued to push this over and over. So one day, I gave her the checkbook and told her to go and shop for a bra that she thinks would fit me. Then I did something really, really stupid. I promised her that if she did, I would wear it for the whole two weeks that we would be there. I did that in part, because I really didnt think she would go through with it, BUT SHE DID!!!
On the first day we were there, she opened her suitcase and pulled out a shopping bag with 5 or 6 bras she had gotten for me. I couldnt believe it. She told me to sit on the bed and she put that first bra on me. I will never forget that feeling as long as I live; it was horrible. I had never felt anything like that in my life. I couldnt understand how any woman can stand to feel like that all day. I had no idea bras were that bad; I hated it. Nevertheless, she held me to my promise and I had to wear it for next 2 weeks. No matter what I did, I could not get that stupid thing off of my mind. I thought about it constantly. I tried hiking, boating, watching movies, but nothing worked. Everyday, I would look foreword to night, because thats when she would let me take it off to sleep. It felt so comfortable to get out of that thing at the end of the day. I savored that precious time I spent braless. Of course that was night and I began to realize that the only time I was comfortable, I was unconscious (asleep) and couldnt enjoy it much. And every morning it was like clock work, Id take a shower and when I came out, she would be standing there with a clean bra ready for me and Id be in it again.
I read some of the comments on your page and I have to agree, if more men had to do this, they would learn something and would never want to do this to their women. I also have to agree with Joyces comment about a bra feeling like youre a horse in a harness. That is so true!!!!! Or, Veejays comment about the torment of an elastic strap across her back, I couldnt agree more. I was constantly aware of that. Sometimes I thought I was going to climb the walls.
When we got back from that experience I finally convinced my wife to give up her bras and she did. Happy ending, theres no bras in this house now!!!!!!

Carl

I stopped wearing bras when I was 16 (I am now almost 21) -- it was the beginning of my junior year in high school and I hadn't worn a bra at all during summer vacation... it was suddenly torturous to be wearing one every day again. I put up with it for about a week before I gave them up. Now the only time I'll wear any kind of bra is a sports bra when I go jogging -- otherwise the constant bouncing can make me really sore.
Troll

I hate bras and have always hated bras. I wear one only because my clothes look funny if I don't. I have never found a bra that was comfortable. It might be comfortable for a few weeks or months then would start irritating me. Of course I was told that I was wearing the wrong size so I had a fitting done. Well, the fitter sized me as a 32A, a size I hadn't worn in 15 yrs, and I was now wearing a 36A with a band extender to keep it loose enough for comfort. I can't stand any constriction. When I see women with tight band lines over back & shoulder I question how healthy it is. I cringe when I see my daughters wearing these tight fashion bras and try to steer them away with camisoles but to no avail. The theory about bras and breast cancer was something I had in mind over 10 yrs ago well before a book on it came out.

Roseanne

I am 34 years old and I have never worn a bra. When I tried it I felt a large discomfort, and had an intuitive feeling that it would be better for them to keep them free if I want them to stay firm and healthy (though I have heard opposite comments from other women). I am very glad to read on this page that my intuition was true. My breasts are small but well-shaped and still as firm as they were when I was 15. I love the feeling of freedom of motion, and love to feel my breast muscles which are strong due to this freedom. I enjoy exercising and have never felt it would be better with a bra. If you are lucky (like me :-) to live in a country where topless beaches are a normal thing, try swimming topless. This can give you an uncomparable more freedom in moving your arms/shoulders, and it is much more pleasant. I hope I will never need a bra in my life!

Dijana

I wear a bra because if I didn't, whenever I ran my 40DDD breasts would slap me in the chin.

April

Just a note to those who've commented before that bras give the female body a cleaner look. After I came across this site, that too was my first thought (and I am someone who has refused to wear bras for most of my life). However, as soon as I had that thought, I caught myself. Of course I (and some of you) think that - that's what our society has taught us. It has taught us that there is something a bit disgusting or wrong about breasts that aren't bound. When this kind of thinking has been pumped into you since day 1, it's obviously very difficult to overcome. I hope that someday we as a society will realize just how silly it is to believe that breasts must be bound to be beautiful or normal. Just as silly as the old Chinese tradition of binding Chinese women's feet in order to make them beautiful.

Renee

My bra size is a 34DD, and I have a very narrow back, however the main reason I wear a bra is to hide my large protruding nipples. I have tried 'nipple tape', but it shows through t-shirts without a bra. Just the rubbing of my nipples against my clothing when braless is enough to create "Mt. Fuji" on each breast. Very embarrassing.

aileen

Hi,I am encouraged to see I am not the only one who does not like bras. I am a 32 year old B-cup. When I worked in an office, I used a bra to hide my nipples under the blouse. But in my private life I find it more comfortable to wear none. I prefer cotton camisoles and shirts. Since in 2000 I stopped working and nursed my first baby, I put all my bras away. Now I am nursing my 2nd. Well, there is little problem with leakage, but never I had painful or swollen breasts like my friends who wear nursing bras.
In my opinion, a bra is a health-risk for lactating breasts due to pressure on the milk ducts and wet nipples.
I understand breast movement may irritate a woman that is not used to go braless. Myself I learned to accept and enjoy it as a part of my female anatomy. :-)
I will recommend this page to my friends.
Regards from Germany

Gisela

LOL--I think you are crazy. I am 43, I weigh 120lb's yet I am a 34 DDD cup. If I don't wear a bra it is very painful. Also, I literally cannot put a shirt on!!! Sorry, but some women really do need to wear bras.

Sheila

Hurrah! I've been released from my bra-wearing bondage. . . I never wore a bra in my early 20's, but became afraid of sagging breasts; what man wants to marry a wife with sagging breasts, so the bra came back out. I HATE WEARING A BRA! and it aggravates my heart arrythmia. The pictures of the normal breasts has freed me from my misconceptions that I must look like I'm ready for a Penthouse pinup! I also was concerned about breast cancer . . . Thanks a million from a 46 year old sexy woman with naturally sagging breasts!! Amen . . .

michele

I have always had large breasts on a small frame (I'm a size 32E), and I can honestly say that it is more uncomfortable for me to NOT wear a bra than to wear one. In fact I usually wear a camisole w/ a built-in soft bra for sleeping, because otherwise my boobs flop around and are very uncomfortable.

Right now I'm breastfeeding my third baby and I'm a 34F. If I go braless I really feel like my boobs are about to fall off my body from the weight!

Maybe for people with smaller cup sizes or bigger frames braless is more comfortable, but not for me!

I do like this site, I was getting a complex about my droopy boobs but after viewing the gallery they don't seem so bad!

Sally

I did a bit of research on the new and could not get past the point that bras are supposedly for modesty, when the people selling them use words from this list to advertise them. Obviously for sex appeal, not modesty.
Sexy
Seductive
Passion/passionate
Alluring (lure)
Hot
Flirty (flirt)
Enticing
Luring
Foxy
Ravishing
Sophisticated
Glamorous
Cute
Adorable
Sensual
Demure
Devilish
Indulgence
Rapture
Exotic
Magic
Miracle
Ultimate
Sultry
Charming
Provocative
Irresistible
Angel lined
Secretly angelic
Rendezvous
Innocent
Revealing
Heavenly
Enhancing
Devil bra
Angelic/angel
Hypnotic
Transparent
Divine
Feather
Furry
Cavegirl
Enlightened
Wicked
Leopard
Fringed
Tiger print
Zebra
Rubber
Jezebel
Daring
Goddess/ diva (female god)
Leopard skin
Candy bra
Uplifting
Mesh
Silicone
Boosting
Stud and chain
Tank bra
Edible bra
Candy bra
Open tip bra
Net bra
Beaded bra


Dr.Kayla Brown, Phd.

I would feel funny going around without a bra on. The size that I am it would be very noticable. WHich is 40DD. Because they are so big I get back pain all the time.

Darci

It is painful for some large breasted woment to go without bras. I've gone a few days without a bra before. I did wear a-line tanks for some support. I ended up with terrible chaffing and my nipples even blead a little. I had to support them with my hands if I wanted to run because the bouncing was so painful. I am stuck. Bras, even well fitted ones give me pain under my breasts, but not wearing one gives me much more pain and discomfort.

michelle

I spent some time in Africa where bare breasted women are the norm and I know of young teenage girls who have never wore a bra, never had children and their breasts aren't even particularly large but they deffinately sag. I never met any women there with pert breasts but I have met women with pert breasts who come from a country where bra wearing is normal.

About the relation to breast cancer, I do not wear a bra to bed and I think I would advice other people not to so that at least some time is spent bra less.

Maria

...the idea that everyone could or should go braless is impractical. My breasts HURT after going braless about an hour. They have always been this way and I am 56 and they are not excessively large. Some of us have adhesions or something in our breasts and they are much happier supported. We don't have to wear weird, tight bras, but we need support.

PB

When I was younger I stopped wearing a bra as much as possible. I have always been a between a FF and HH cup. Got larger after nursing my children. Thinking as you do that it didn't matter whether I wear one or not... I now SO VERY MUCH REGRET that decision. My breasts sag HORRIBLY and am ashamed at the way they are. My sister (who is 9 1/2 years older then I) who is a DD cup stayed throughout the years wearing a bra and her breasts (as well as others that I know that are large chested who did the same and not as I did) are tight and firm.

Pain, yes I have had pain with wearing a bra, but nothing compares to the pain of sagging breasts. Saggy breast pull on the chest wall, the problem with sweat under them, the movement when not supported, the back aches, necks aches, feeling top heavy, etc is a problem MORE WITHOUT a bra then with and I haven't even discussed feeling so very unattractive. I so wish I had never went without one. Now if I could afford a breast lift I would do so, but cannot as insurance does not pay for cosmetic surgery.

The problem is finding a bra that fits properly most do not make them my size. The best and most comfortable I have been was when I was able to find a long lined bra in my size (at that time I was a teenager and a FF cup) and they don't. And the saggier you are the harder you are to fit. So again, I SO REGRET MY NAIVE earier years. If I could go back I would wear one 24/7.

Sandra

I have been going braless for 6 months now, and being such an active person who cycles everyday, being braless is the most comfortable feeling I ever had. When comes to work environment, it's your attitude and not your outlook counts, simply avoid clothes that makes the nipples and breast transparent... and you are on the way to long term good health and pain free and most of all your self-confidence will increase tremendously.

Nic.Tong

Thanks so much for your site. I recently became brafree and your site was a big encouragement to me. I decided to stop wearing a bra because they were always so uncomfortable and I really felt confined. I wear a 36dd. My breast feel so much healthier now. I have actually come to enjoy the movement of my breasts as I walk. It just feels healthy. Thanks again!

allison

Can anyone help me? I am trying to find a "new alternative" to the traditional bra. I want to buy, or have custom made, a thick cotton camisole, cropped just under the breast (i.e., like a sports bra), with a v-neck and thin straps. I do not need support, but I need thick material to provide padding for my constantly cold nipples. I've been searching the web and I think my best best is to have this custom made. But I have no idea where/who to go to. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Laura

I am a 41 year old married male with one child. I have worn a bra regularly since I had Testicular Cancer nearly two years ago which has resulted in a hormonal imbalance and a resulting growth in 'breast' tissue. I feel more confident in being strapped up rather than being floppy as I walk around.
I don't get a 'kick' out of wearing one-and I wish I didn't need to, but I would rather wear a bra that have widowed my wife and left my son fatherless!
Food for thought for those who say ALL MEN SHOULD NOT WEAR BRA's.

Nick

Wonderful article. I've been brafree for four years (since I was 16 - I think I was a 34B or C at the time) - I saw a documentary on the link between breast pain and bras, and decided to try giving it up. I always felt relieved to take my bra off at the end of the day, so being without it all the time seemed like a great idea. It's been a good decision for me and I've never regretted it for any reason at all - I don't even have to think twice about most clothing, I don't worry about bouncing or sagging, and I'm free from problems like itchy underwiring and feeling I have to make my breasts look just like everyone else's. It's good to know that I'm far from alone in finding that this is the way to go.

Lucy

I am 27, have a 13 month old little boy. I tried to breast feed, but it was difficult because he was diagnosed with a cyst on his vocal cord at around 2 months (he sucked really hard). I've tried to wear bras in the past but just found them too uncomfortable. I constantly pull on it. I work at Wal-Mart and wear a vest, so not wearing a bra works out for me. Of course when I worked in accounting at Sam's and Wal-Mart we did not wear vest and I work thick shirts or wore t-shirts or tank tops under my shirts. I have small breasts (A). I can't stand to wear a bra and refuse to wear one. I just feel so self-concious about my nipples showing.

Tonya

I'm still 14, but have a full B cup, and sometimes a C. It's impossible for me to not wear a bra. It's simply too painful to walk, let alone go up and down stairs. Perhaps it's just my age, and the fact that I'm still growing, compared to a grown adult.

Drisana

I think bras are very uncomfortable. I wear no bra in my house and it feels very comfortable. The only time I wear a bra is when I go out in public. I would not wear a bra in public but I live in this tiny town that if someone sees you with no bra then you become the talk of the town. I think todays society plays a big role in what we do. I bet you, if todays society wasn't like that women would be wearing nothing under their shirts.

Elizabeth

This is in response to all of those women who have posted about not wearing a bra to work by violating the "dress code". I used to work in Human Resources for fortune 500 company and let me give you this advice. If anyone, ANYONE, at work ever asks you to wear a bra to work simply respond with this...." Excuse me, are you discriminating against me because I have breasts? So, I will assume all the men will also be wearing bras as well????" This will shut them up. You have the right to not wear a bra. It is discriminatory based on gender to require you to wear a bra. So Ladies, LET FREEDOM HANG!!!! Happy working!!

Melissa

I just asked today if the dress code at work required us to wear a bra and a supervisior looked it up and said it isn't in the dress code== when I go to work on sat. I work better and feel better - I hate wearing bras I feel like a old horse in harness - I believed some man invented bras because they hate women to be free

Joyce

I came upon this site about 4 months ago and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it had a hand (or future hand) in saving my life. I was one of those girls who was never interested in having breasts in the first place, and was certainly not interested in strapping some bra around my chest. That made for very difficult teenage years. -pressure, teasing, humiliation -all from friends and family...and all in the name of helping me become "normal." I would never give in though..there just seemed to be something a bit sadistic with "the bra". I was told, "You'll feel much more free if you wear one." Free? "Bras give the breasts a more natural shape." OK, I think we need to review the definition of "natural." "Your chest muscles will start to drag if you don't wear one." OK, over time I was starting to believe that, -that's all I ever heard until I came upon this site.

College came around and I gave it my best shot to be "normal." When I joined the tennis team, and since it's been mostly girls that have given me troubles about not wearing a bra, I wore a sports bra when playing...even though I had never needed one before.....

Several years after I graduate from college, I still only wear a bra when I run...actually, it's a crop top. I've gotten to a point though, where the pressure from "society" has become ridiculous. "I'm getting too old to not wear a bra and fit in. Why can't I just be normal and WANT to wear a bra?" I would think. I've also been tiring of the clothes I have to wear to hide the fact that I don't wear a bra. I don't like most of them. (in the summer at least). and day after day of wearing clothes that I hate was wearing on me.

On top of all this, for the last couple of years, I've had increasing breast pain, to the point where I didn't even want to walk. Every day, the ONLY thing I thought about were my breasts. How they hurt, how I noticed them moving all the time, how I'm such a "freak" because I refuse to wear a bra. And, wondering, am I really in pain because I'm not wearing a bra? What about the thousands of years before bras were invented? Didn't breasts do just fine then? Well, in the last few years, I've become increasingly suicidal. I don't know that I could ever actually commit suicide, but this personal hell that I've lived in for so long, had brought me to a point where I started thinking about how I could do it, with the least amount of pain.... those thoughts were a wake-up call... the thought came to me to research "breast pain." What a TREMENDOUS relief this site was for me. It was like the weight of 17 years began to slip off my shoulders. It wasn't just me who thought there was something wrong with these bras.

Well, just the mental relief began to east the breast pain. A couple days after, I went running, still with the crop top. Suddenly, the pain was back! You mean, wearing this crop top for a total of maybe 5 hours each week is the cause for my pain? Oh, and it was. After 11 years of wearing bras when running, it took some getting used to to go without, but I can PROUDLY say, I can once again go without. And, guess what...I have ABSOLUTELY NO BREAST PAIN. And I do think my breasts were starting to atrophy, but they feel "stronger" now. I don't notice them moving around anymore, I hardly notice them at all. I'm still dreading the summer. A person can only take so much staring and mocking, but at least I'm better prepared mentally. Thanks for your site.

Sara H.

I am 34 years old and haven't worn a bra in 10 years except while participating in sports such as jumping rope or mountain biking. I have 2 kids, breastfed for a total of 6 months. I do chest exercises with weights, and my breasts do not sag. Muscle supports breast tissue, if the muscles are firm then the breasts will look much firmer. I have found nothing that helps with the stretch marks though. C'est le vie! Great article!

Rabbit

Thank you for your site, my husband found it and requested I sit down and take the time to read this, at the age of 11 I was required to wear a bra as long as I was not in the bed by my father. Well as I got older it was like I could not go out of the house without one on. I guess you could call it my security blanket. I did not come out of my bedroom without my bra. I am now 30 and the pain I was having was unbareable. But thanks to my spouse he has showed me how the pain is not there when I do take the time to go braless. I wish there was a way we could get this article out to all the fathers like mine was and just let them realize the pain they put their daughters thru. Just because he might see his child's boobies jiggle. Thank you for the reading and I am going to work on going braless more often.
Tammy

Thank you for this website and the information. I am 71 and have never had a comfortable bra. Now that I am retired I find other alternatives.

One alternative I have found; I use heavy cotton tee shirts and paint a design across the bustline. Very comfortable and inexpensive.

Again, thanks. Elsa Limbocker

Is it really a possibility that the "no bra" dresscode play out in the workplace. What about the "jiggle factor"?
Virgie

Consider wearing camisoles or tight tank tops that are made of elastic material, and will keep the breasts somewhat in place.

I'm glad I ran across your site by accident. I love the idea of not wearing a bra. I'm 42 years old, a C cup, and I've always hated wearing bras. I usually whip mine off as soon as I get home from work. Occasionally, I'll wear a vest over my shirt at work and then I don't have to wear a bra. It's so much more comfortable! I think all women should just get rid of their bras forever, and we should make it the norm to go around natural all the time. Then no one would think anything about it! By the way, I'd almost bet that the bra was invented by a man!! Why do we need all those cold metal hooks, binding elastic, underwires, etc? We're all beautiful just as we are, ladies!

Kelly

I agree with the rest of the women about how liberating this site is. I remember when I was told I had to wear a bra (that never fit) and then taking it off and flinging it across the room relieved it off my body. I don't like wearing bras cause I feel like I look better without one. Besides I hate wearing padded bras cause when you do that you don't want the truth to be known that you are not that big so I say just be who you are and don't hide anything. But I also think you need to dress with taste and not have your nipples showing thru your clothes That is still a temptation to men and offensive to other women. I do agree that a man should not be lusting after other women's breast. But women can't be ignorant and dress any way they want either. That's irresponsible and selfish. Thanks again for this site. I have passed the link to others.

Tracy

I was raised in Malaysia and we were taught that all women had to wear bras. I even wore a bra to bed in the hot, humid climate. When I moved to the USA, I started to loosen up, wearing bras only when necessary under revealing clothes. Now that I don't have to work, I hardly wear a bra. Being bra-free means being really free to be yourself and to feel the freedom of not being confined by a bra. It's the most wonderful feeling. I just wish there were bra-free clothing out there - t-shirts, dresses, blouses, etc. I'm thinking about starting a bra-free line of clothes.

Choo Choo Love

If your bra fits correctly its comfortable. A bra can't be fitted correctly with a tape measure. Expert fitters can assist in finding comfort and fit.

Tracey

Fantastic reading! It confirms what I have always believed. I am 51 and only wear a bra for a few hours, once a week (when I teach Sunday School and go to church.) I breast fed all five of our children and and the only thing that changes the condition of my breast is gaining weight. I enjoyed your article very much. Thanks!

Holly B.

We would like to thank you for the info on this site, my wife used to wear bras all the time and was always having pain in her breasts. then she stopped wearing a bra all together when she read what I had been telling her that she should stop wearing a bra. You know what her pain is gone!

Scott and Laurie

This is a VERY cool site. An online friend told me about it. I'm 15 and my mom won't let me out of the house without a bra, but the more I'm learning, the more I try to NOT wear one! If I have daughters, it will be THEIR choice if they wanna wear one or not. But they'll know why I choose NOT to! Thanks for a great site!

Ann M

The professional bra fitter below raises an excellent point that much of the problems with bra wearing stems more from not wearing a properly fitted bra. However, the 80-90% statistic of women wearing the wrong size bra speaks more about the great difficulties in finding a well fitted bra rather than any real lack of a conscientious effort by women in searching for a properly fitted bra.
Consider this, breasts are asymmetrical, bras are not. For the small percentage of women who do wear the correct bra size, many of them are probably just lucky enough to have a very small degree of asymmetry and are of a size and shape that is catered to by bra manufacturers. For some of us it will be impossible to find a commercially available bra that fits and so could never join that 10% of women wearing the right size bra. I am a 36AAA and I have yet to see a bra available in that size and that's why I'm braless better than 95% of the time. I've been to several high-end, specialty-size shops and fitted by a professional in every one of them, but in their attempt to find a bra that fits in the cup, they have me in a petite 34A, but I already have 34A's that I unhook by midday because it is too tight in the band. Strap extensions are virtually useless in an industry that doesn't even have a standardized bra strap system.
One day I hope to have a smooth-cup, underwired bra to wear occasionally for when I want a certain look but I will have that bra custom-made, molded to my body rather than the other way around.

Tara

The only reason I prefer to wear a bra is because my skin sweats under my breasts even though I use anti perspirant there. I wear a sports bra that is a few sizes bigger than recommended just to provide an absorbant layer between my breasts and my chest where my breast lay. This way when I sweat it is absorbed and in normal weather evaporates. In very hot weather I wear the same type of bra but also place strips of terry cloth on the bottem of the bra between my breasts and my chest. This absorbs more moisture and I can change it though out the day if needed and I can also wash the terry cloth strips when I wash my bra so that I have fresh ones as needed.

I also want to mention. On special occasions (For Formal Dressing) I will wear a comfortable uplifting bra so that I don't look saggy under a tight fitting top or dress.

I also want to say that the reason I stopped wearing regular bras all the time is because I was getting head aches, neck aches and shoulder aches so awfully. I noticed on a regular basis that at night around 7:00 I would feel like ripping the thing off and not more than a half hour later my head aches, neck aches and shoulder aches would go away. In an instant I could feel the heat of the blood rushing up my neck like the bra was blocking circulation.
I am not a big breasted woman. I just could not handle the tighness of the straps on my shoulders or around my chest. Oh, also where my underwhere much bigger than recommended because I also cannot stand the tightness around my groin area or my waist.

Mariann

My motive may be a little different than most, but I don't wear a bra because my husband asks me not to. That's the way he likes me. I am 31 and measure a natural 36-C. To be honest, I was somewhat concerned that my breasts would sag from the lack of support. Fortunately, I've seen no evidence of that. I have remained high and firm. I am not sure if my husband is motivated by any health related issues or if he just likes the sight of my bouncing boobs. Either way, I do it because I enjoy him enjoying me braless.

Mona

It is totally crazy how many of us are so quick to blame the bra for our pain and problems. 80 to 90 percent of women wear the WRONG size bra. Imagine how sore your feet would be if you wore the wrong size shoes for 40 years. As a professional bra fitter I have seen it all. Women who don't wash bras grow mold. Women wear the wrong size and get grooves like river valleys in their shoulders. Wires that are popped out, backs up at the neck, breasts coming out in all directions. Believe me, I am a 32 GG. I have LARGE breasts, and have done the research. Go get fitted at a reputable store. You simply CAN NOT do it yourself. Get educated on how a bra should fit and be amazed at how comfortable a really good, properly fit bra is. No reddness, no rubbing, pulling, squishing and prodding. Join the 10% of women who have been fit properly and feel great everyday. Believe me, if I'd read this website 2 years ago (before being fit) I would have agreed 100 percent. Now my shoulders are groove free, I have solved my back pain and am able to run freely without pain.

jacquie

I cannot stand anything like elastic across my back - especially if the weather's warm. Sooooo, no bra for me. I do wear vests a lot, and the A-shirts (are they "husband-beaters" if we wear them?), and whatever form of camouflage I can come up with. I've already had a spot of cancer on my back, and to this day, blame the B-R-A!!!!!!!

VeeJay

Thank you for the info about breasts. I have shed my bra a long time ago, I only wear it when I work and take it off in the car. I have had a few stares from truck drivers but the relief is well earned and needed. On my days off I am free of the bind that the bra puts me in. I have been lucky to find a few from a few ladies stores that do not torture too bad, but there is nothing like taking it off at the end of a busy day or night since I do restaurant management I move and am in the public eye. I do need my releif at the end of the night or day.

Thanks again for this wonderful site, and I will be back to visit more.

Thank you, lyn hollen

I just recover from fibrocystic disease of the breast. My doctor told me not to wear a bra to reduce pain and lumps in my breast. At first I was not comfortable because my breast is a bit bigger than the normal size of a filipina woman (38,26,36 is my vital statistic) so its very shameful not to wear bra. I don't like the pain all the time, and am worried that it will become cancerous.
So now am used to it. Being bra less is more comfortable, and I feel free. I don't care what people think about why I am not wearing bra.

shaine

I choose not to wear a bra, just because of the confinement that they cause. If I absolutely need an undergarment, I will go for a camisole, which is still extremely comfy but does possess a undergarment look.

JAKI BOWERS

I like your camisole suggestion, but have another to add.

I've been wearing cotton bras from Decent Exposures that support just enough that I don't feel clammy and sweaty underneath for years now. My best friend thinks mine aren't supportive enough, but for me they do just enough and don't have me feeling cramped or confined. The girls can move, and they're readily accessible for nursing our daughter. Best of both worlds in my opinion!

Meiri

I am so shocked that the cause of my breast pain was from bras. I have bought so many bras over the years and am getting sick of it. I will be attempting the no bra for the second time. I believe that this time it will be successful. I love the idea of the gallery. I feel better about my breasts. They are normal and natural the way they should be. Keep it up spread the word.

Gemma Santiago

I haven't worn a bra for years and I truly love it! Wearing a bra was torture! the wires, the elastics...if men want to see women wearing bras, they should try wearing them before they say anything!

charlotte