Is it necessary to wear a bra?

The long and the short answer to this question is – no. It’s not necessary any more than any other clothing item is necessary, be it low-rise jeans, stilettos or that coveted fake fur gilet you picked up in the sales last week.

Human beings were born sans apparel, yet they evolved and covered themselves in animal skins, their hair grew thinner and less abundant in response, and clothing is now necessary in most corners of the globe, if not only for warmth but also for decency.

The premise of the Bra Free website states that ‘healthy breasts can support themselves, free of wires and hardware’ and ‘there are no known health benefits from wearing bras’. The ultimate aim of this particular organisation is to promote awareness of their perceived ‘disturbing parallels’ between wearing bras and the incidence of fibrocystic disease and breast cancer, which is another topic entirely, but they do make a reasonable case for the unnecessariness of bra-wearing, namely:

Indeed healthy breast tissue requires unrestricted circulation of blood and other fluids, and any form of undergarment involving straps and wires will hinder this to an extent. The site quite rightly states that no manufacturer can claim any health benefits to wearing a bra, a subject that has been explored in our articles Do bras cause saggy breasts? and Is it a good idea to sleep with your bra on or not? Medical research has proven to a certain degree (and it’s arguable) that wearing a bra can actually cause ptosis (drooping breasts).

Realistically the argument for and against wearing a bra is likely to be far from the mind of any woman entering a lingerie shop, whether that’s as a teenager for the first time , as an expectant or breastfeeding mother, or simply in the aim of replacing old garments. We know from experience that wearing a bra can both help accentuate a woman’s appearance, as well as prevent back pain and improve overall posture. Women with flat chests desiring a little more oomph find it here, among the padded uplift bras, and women with larger chests should experience relief from the added support in terms of avoiding painful rubbing and skin sores on the skin underneath their breasts, and quite literally, the weight being lifted from their chests.

In all cases, bras can disguise the appearance of prominent nipples (potentially pertinent depending on the scenario) and, without putting too fine a point on it, make you feel a little sexier. Providing the bra fits well, it’s highly likely to give you a pleasing silhouette, and sports bras are a must to prevent painful jiggle, as breasts contain no muscles to support themselves.

Ultimately the debate on wearing bras or not boils down to whatever makes the individual comfortable. Here at Let’s Talk Breasts we believe that should only ever be a personal choice, rather than what society, fashion or advertising dictates.


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