Is it okay to go braless?

I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum—as I get older, bras have become increasingly uncomfortable, so I try to wear one whenever the situation actually demands it. Summer is the absolute worst; people might judge me for it, but during those months, I tend to give bras a very wide berth, opting for clothing that allows me to "get away with" going braless (though I always make sure to wear one at the office). Once I finally get home from work, the bra is the first thing to be tossed aside 😂.
Since I’m hovering right on the edge of my 30s, I can say I’m quite satisfied with them—much like how Kimberly Flores56 described her experience 😍—except, unlike her, the bra and I aren't exactly on "speaking terms," so I mostly just force myself into them.

Now, whether this is actually healthy or to what extent it might matter... I honestly don't know. 🤷
It’s a good thought, though; I think I'll bring this up with my oncologist at my next checkup. 👍

I honestly only wear a bra when I'm actually heading out somewhere. At home? Never. Not in the summer, not in the winter, not even when I'm sleeping. I absolutely love the freedom of going braless, and since I've got a pretty decent C-cup, I don't have any issues with sagging at all.

By the way, does anyone know how to tell if breasts are actually saggy? Apparently, you can just hold a pencil under them—if it doesn't stay put, they're sagging.🤣 That was a tip from Joan Didion back when she was still writing columns for the NYSE.

I haven't really caught up on the other posts here, but from what I understand about bras, 😬 it’s pretty clear that wearing one 24/7 isn't great for you. It’s not even necessarily about muscle activity; it’s more about those underwires or just the constant pressure of the fabric against your chest. Having that much sustained pressure on your glands and everything else? Not exactly recommended. I never wear one when I'm home. I only put one on if I know I'll be heading out at some point during the day, so I just get ready for the world in the morning. Honestly, it’s just way more comfortable to just wear a T-shirt and maybe some sweats—plus, my family won't even notice if I'm not wearing one, which helps if you're feeling self-conscious. And let's be real, it's much better for relaxing while watching TV or studying in bed... besides, you aren't unnecessarily dirtying your bras 😬, so you don't have to run them through the laundry every other day
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Elizabeth Jackson64 said:... I honestly never wear one when I'm just hanging out at home—unless I know I’ll be heading out at some point during the day, so I might as well get ready in the morning... it's simply way more comfortable to just lounge in a t-shirt and maybe some sweatpants, especially since the people I live with won't necessarily notice you aren't wearing a bra, so there isn't that self-conscious feeling (if we're talking about personal discomfort), not to mention how much better it feels while watching TV, studying lying down, and things like that...

It's the exact same story for me, though I tend to keep a massive stash of those stretchy black camisoles at home; they are absolute lifesavers because you can't tell at all that you've ditched the bra under whatever else you're wearing. I should probably have mentioned earlier that I find bras completely unbearable right before my period starts. My chest gets so tender and swollen that a bra feels downright agonizing, and besides, nothing fits properly during that time, so I just rely on those camisoles—they really are the best solution. 🙂

I mean, obviously, there’s nothing healthy about wearing something that’s basically just jammed against your chest.
It honestly baffles me how people can just live in this stuff 24/7.
Like, seriously, give it a rest—everything down there needs to breathe...

And since when are breasts supposed to be insensitive?
I’m not out here saying you need to be wearing a bra 24/7 for it to be healthy
Honestly, the dream would be sleeping without any underwear at all (at least for me 🙂)
But seriously, how on earth can anyone claim breasts aren't sensitive?!

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:I honestly never wear one when I'm just hanging out at home, unless I know I'll be heading out later in the day and want to get fully ready right away... it’s just so much more comfortable to just lounge in a t-shirt and some sweats, especially since my family won't even notice if I'm not wearing a bra, which helps if you're worried about feeling self-conscious, not to mention how much better it feels when I'm just relaxing, watching TV, or studying lying down... plus, they don't get dirty unnecessarily 😬, so I don't have to run them through the laundry every other day...

I couldn't agree more! 👍

There is absolutely no pressure on my part to sleep in a bra or wear one around the house, unless we happen to have guests over or something similar... but there isn't any pressure forcing me out of my own home without one either, so, really, cheers to having the freedom to choose. 😉

Kimberly Flores56 said:I find myself wearing a bra constantly, day or night, because I simply feel lost without one. Even when I try to sleep without it, there is this strange sense of absence.
My breasts are a C cup, and they have a lovely, rounded shape. I suppose that makes the constant support worth it.

I find myself nodding along with this sentiment quite often; once I started wearing bras, I felt the need to wear them around the clock, regardless of the hour. Over time, though, I began to feel a bit restricted and eventually eased up on the habit.😬Right now, I am perfectly happy with my figure,😛 but I can't help feeling a lingering anxiety that everything might sag once I go through pregnancy or breastfeeding... at least, that is what several of my friends who became mothers have experienced.😢 Has anyone here had any personal experience with this?😁

Carol Scott98 said:I totally agree with this! Once I started wearing bras, I wore them—CONSTANTLY!! Day or night, it didn't matter... but over time they started getting annoying, so I scaled back a bit 😬 Right now, I have no complaints about "the twins" (😛) but I am honestly worried everything might just sag after pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding... at least that's what some of my friends who became moms told me... 😢 Does anyone have experience with this?? 😁

Look, a bra isn't going to help you here. During my pregnancy and while I was nursing, my breasts went from a B to an E. That’s nearly three sizes. The skin stretches out, and there isn't a single bra in existence that can save you or make the skin snap back. The only way would be to not breastfeed, maybe? It seems girls whose breasts don't grow much have it much easier—some don't even go up a size, they just fill out a little. And I get the feeling women with smaller chests handle it better🤷. I've just made my peace with it😁.

And that pencil trick? When I was younger, I used to try it and think, "Good grief, how are they supposed to look if the pencil doesn't fall out?" 😕

Now I know☕.

Chloe Gomez6 said:During my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding, my breasts grew from a B cup to almost a DD. It’s an increase of nearly three sizes, and honestly, the skin just stretched out so much that there isn't a single bra on the market that can offer real support or help tighten everything back up. I suppose if you don't breastfeed, maybe things stay a bit more intact, but it seems like women whose breasts don't change drastically have a much easier time. Those who didn't experience much growth at all—just a little fullness—seem to fare much better, and I get the impression that women with smaller frames also tend to recover more easily.🤷

😢

Even so, I truly believe that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any worries about whether your breasts might lose some firmness later on...☕

I honestly feel like this entire discussion should just be renamed 'it's unhealthy to wear a bra,' because I'm struggling to understand what could possibly be considered healthy about choosing not to wear one 🤔 😬

I can't help but feel it's a bit of a missed opportunity that there isn't a poll feature here—it feels somewhat incomplete. I'm genuinely curious to see what the actual percentages look like regarding the For/Against split 🤔

I’ve noticed a ton of you guys saying you can't wait to rip off those "chains" the second you walk through the door. Honestly? I don't really get it—I barely even feel my bra. It’s like... nothing? Literally feels the same as being braless. The only thing I actually notice is a sports bra, and even then, mostly just because it helps my posture. Maybe there's some truth to that whole thing about 80% of women wearing the wrong size, which—let's be real—is pretty wild if it's true 🤷

I mean, honestly, it’s not even that shocking—especially when you look at the absolute nightmare of a selection we deal with here in the States ☕

Exactly. In most stores, if they carry anything larger than a size C basket, it’s treated like a major event. I try shopping at specialty boutiques in San Francisco, but I’ve only managed to find two. Most places stop at size C, though you might occasionally stumble upon a D. 😲😕

Sophia Rodriguez4 said:honestly, it’s not even surprising, especially when you look at how terrible the selection is here in the States ☕

Same here. If it weren't for Victoria's Secret, I wouldn't know what to wear. Long live Victoria's Secret!

Finding my size isn't even an issue—I rock an 80A. 😬 It’s always those tiny little things that cause all the drama.

I don't bother taking my bras off unless I'm getting in the shower.😁

Sophia Barnes73 said:Honestly, same here in the States. If it weren't for David Bowie, I literally wouldn't know what to wear. Long Live David Bowie!

I just wish they’d at least offer a wider range of sizes—though even then, it probably still wouldn't be enough for everyone once you see all the crazy stuff available online and in stores out there. It's honestly overwhelming! 😁

redgardener5 said:I’ve noticed quite a few of you mentioning how much you can't wait to shed your "armor" the moment you walk through the door. I don't quite relate to that feeling, mostly because I rarely even feel my bra while I'm out. To me, wearing one feels almost identical to wearing nothing at all. The only exception is a sports bra, and even then, it's really just because I feel it helping my posture. Perhaps there truly is some truth to the idea that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size, which is something I used to find quite baffling about myself. 🤷

While I don't notice it when I'm out and about... I would definitely feel the absence if I left without one 😁 🤣 but once I finally get home and strip away all those "outdoor" layers to crawl into bed, there is simply no way I wouldn't feel the bra. It has become such an automatic ritual for me—as soon as I step inside, I shed everything I wore out, including my bra, and change into my loungewear. During the winter, I'll even swap out my undershirts for those old, comfortable ones I haven't worn in ages. I just don't feel right walking around my house in the clothes I wore out in public; the only thing from my "outside" outfit that stays on is my underwear. Everything else comes off immediately. ☕