To BRA or NOT to BRA...What's your opinion?

So I have heard two conflicting opinions about wearing a bra and want to know what you think!

1.  Wearing a bra supports your breasts and lessens the effect of gravity and sagging.

2.  By not wearing a bra, your muscles work to support your breasts and prevent sagging.

I say it depends a LOT on what you are doing. Sometimes I do not wear a bra (when I'm staying at home, sometimes when I go out for a quick walk or to pick up something from the store) and sometimes I do wear one, when I know I'm going to be with respectable company (family gatherings, my friend's parents, police, hahaha).

Sagging is caused by the loss of collagen in the skin by aging. Your breasts are going to sag anyway. And I doubt that simply not wearing a bra will do significant muscle toning to 'lift' your breasts (depending on the size, of course).

I think it's just a matter of preference.

Your muscles don't support your breasts... it's all fatty tissue there. thats why working your chest muscles will not make your breasts perky. for small breasted people a bra might not be necessary, but for larger breasts not wearing one regularly WILL make their weight stretch the skin, causing them to sag earlier than usual.... if you have large breasts you know what the "pull" feels like especially when your period is coming and they are sensitive...

Original Post by 4theloss:

Your muscles don't support your breasts... it's all fatty tissue there. thats why working your chest muscles will not make your breasts perky. for small breasted people a bra might not be necessary, but for larger breasts not wearing one regularly WILL make their weight stretch the skin, causing them to sag earlier than usual.... if you have large breasts you know what the "pull" feels like especially when your period is coming and they are sensitive...

Yes, and it's icky.

I feel uncomfortable without a bra, but my sister (who has a bigger chest than me) despises bras. Weird. Agreed that it's a matter of preference...I only take mine off when I sleep, aforementioned sister only puts hers on in polite company or when an outfit requires it.

I am so uncomfortable without a bra on!! I used to sleep with one on for many years. Now I find it's more comfortable to sleep without it, but I cannot go braless anywhere else! I'm also sportin' DD's though. :(

I also feel uncomfortable with them but at home alone I'll slip my arms out of the straps and leave the underwire bra to do the 'work' - its a happy medium.

I know what you mean about the comfort and discomfort of sleeping with a bra cpt bunny.  Just not dealing with the weight pull is comfy and a well fitting, not tight sports bra can be a happy medium for sleep.

I wear a bra everyday (not at night) and they are not sagging yet;) I think it just depends on the firmness of your skin and weight fluctuations.  Keep your skin and body healthy and stay out of the sun and that is probably as much as you can do other than a boob job (yuck).

Speaking from the grand old age of 43 I can tell you that option 2. is a load of old bunkum.  Go with 2. and if you've got anything up top beyond a gnat-bite you'll end up with the pendulous 'National Geographic' look and there's no way back.  Even if you wear a bra every day, time and things like pregnancy still take their toll.

TIP girls..... over 75% of women wear the wrong-size bra so get measured rather than guessing and putting up with something that's pushing you out of shape or is uncomfortable.  And you need to get yourself re-measured every 6 months to make sure you're still wearing the right size.

At the age of 26 and sporting a 34 D mine are still pretty perky and I wear a bra most of the time. AT night time I only wear one sometimes but even then I wear a tank top with some type of shelf bra.

Other than wearing a bra some of it is just genetics some ppl have skin that is more resitant to stretching while others don't. Plus weight fluctuation, pregnancy etc.

Getting properly measured is also imperative as mentioned b4. I hate seeing women in bras that don't fit properly, I just want to tell them "please go get fitted"

And you don't have to have your headlights showin either ladies. I hate when ppl's nipples are looking at me, I don't want to be able to tell the temperature by looking at your shirt, lol

As far as I know, no other animal in the world needs to wear a support garment for their chest.  The only reason we think it is necessary is because that's what Maidenform told us.

Animals don't wear clothes of any kind.  Nature abhors a vacuum... Try thinking occasionally.

It all depends on what size you are... if you're large-busted, a bra is essential for comfort, but if the girls are small it won't really make any difference. I've always been comfortable either way. About the only thing that makes my boobs UNcomfortable is running. I'm halfway between a B and a C cup so my boobs are self-sustaining.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Animals don't wear clothes of any kind.  Nature abhors a vacuum... Try thinking occasionally.

 Capitalist slave.

I can't imagine trying to sleep while wearing a bra. I've done it, but that usually involves passing out or napping.

Speaking as someone who is sporting 36DD's.... definitely bra!!!! haha

I wear a bra almost 24 hours a day.... [I have no science to back this up]  My mom always told me that us big breasted women should always sleep with a bra and an extra tight one at that. I listened to her because she has some perky tatas.... and thankfully I must say, I do too which is awesome considering I'm a 27 year old mom :) I don't know if it's the 24/7 bra thing or what, but I'm not going to mess  around when this seems to work. I take the thing off for showering and sexy time, but after ward, they go back in their holster...

fan of bras here...but will not wear one to bed...38 and nursed 3 kids and they are still wear they are supposed to be :-) my sister never had children and her's sag and droop...go figure...so I think it is more a crap shoot then bra issue what you look like naked...

Original Post by dnrothx:

As far as I know, no other animal in the world needs to wear a support garment for their chest.  The only reason we think it is necessary is because that's what Maidenform told us.

 No. Not Maidenform, Doc. A male dominated history which has imposed modesty on women for several thousand years.

That said - wear the bra...just sayin'. :)

Original Post by kathygator:

Original Post by dnrothx:

As far as I know, no other animal in the world needs to wear a support garment for their chest.  The only reason we think it is necessary is because that's what Maidenform told us.

 No. Not Maidenform, Doc. A male dominated history which has imposed modesty on women for several thousand years.

 Every guy I know is against them, so I don't think the male domination thing holds up.  :D

My boyfriend is very much against Bras! lol

Coming from someone who is an AA cup (or in VERY rare cases an A) - it doesn't really make a difference to how I feel (besides, I always have trouble finding them in normal stores - the pain of being fat and flat, lol)
I only wear them when I'm wearing a top that would look bad if I didn't, or when we're going somewhere special