Bra stories
So there is the bra. I don’t suppose we could find a more controversial item of the female wardrobe-even though thongs have been rather spotlighted lately…But still. From the - never happened - burning of the bra by the feminists of the past century to the numerous You Tube videos on going braless, the bra still provokes societal norms.
What is the bra anyway? Just a little piece of fabric encircling metal wire created to support female breasts - a support maybe no one ever asked for or needed? Searching around scientific articles made it obvious; there is no evidence that the female body actually needs it. According to Jean-Denis Rouillon of the University of France - Compte, who conducted a 15 year long study, “ medically, physiologically, anatomically-breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity.” So braless could do us no harm.
I was one of those girls whose breasts grew up overnight at twelve becoming a 75 b and …stayed there even after giving birth. At first I was really excited to having acquired access to the world of lingerie. My inclination to textile made me enthusiastic about the lace, the silk, the colours…but I soon enough came face to face with the discomfort that comes with it. Lace made me itchy and I loathe bra underwire! So after years of denying what felt natural to me I decided to quit laced underwired bras once and for all. And never looked back ever since. Because that is what works for me and my well being.
Can’t help but wonder why we, women, continue to invest in garments that make us uncomfortable. I guess it is the societal consideration of appropriate or pretty or sexy that still messes up with our brains. And marketing strategies target exactly upon this lack of female self-esteem that has been cultivated for centuries.
But times are changing. We are lucky enough to live in those times. So if you want to quit wearing whatever makes you less of yourself… today is the day. Go braless, thongless, makeupless - just go and dress you for you by choosing brands that support freedom of expression.
Free is the new sexy.
*photography from 'Emoji' by Steph Wilson for Dazed
