Are There Any Rules About Going Braless? (2024)

Style|Are There Any Rules About Going Braless?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/28/style/no-bra-fashion.html

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A reader wonders when it’s OK to abandon the undergarment.

Are There Any Rules About Going Braless? (1)

I find bras totally uncomfortable, hot and itchy, for both work and leisure. But looking around, I seem to be in the minority. What are the rules for going braless? Is it OK to show my nips, or is it rude? — Eddye, Madison, Wis.

You are not the only one having an anti-bra moment. When many dressing mores went out the window during the pandemic lockdowns, the no-bra movement, which has resurfaced regularly since the 1960s, once again began picking up steam (led, in part, by Florence Pugh, above).

Still, when it comes to the question of “to bra or not to bra,” especially as we return to offices and summer draws to a close, there are really three kinds of issues: the literal one, the physical one and the sociocultural one.

First things first: There are literally no rules, which is to say laws, that govern women’s underwear. Instead, laws focus on body parts, and what can be shown and not shown. Indiana, for example, prohibits public indecency and then defines it partly as “the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple.”

However, a number of states, including New York, Utah and Oklahoma, and many more cities (including Madison) allow women to go topless in public. Which also means braless.

This gets a little more complicated when it comes to workplace dress codes, according to Susan Scafidi, the founder of the Fashion Law Institute. New York City was, she said, the first jurisdiction to insist on “full gender neutrality,” meaning an employer can “require an individual identifying as female to wear a bra or hide her nipples, but only if the same rule applies to a male employee.”

It is possible to imagine “S.N.L.” having a field day with that. But the current situation is better than it was back in 2010, when the investment bank UBS issued a 44-page dress code, which, among other things, dictated that its female employees wear flesh-toned lingerie.

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Are There Any Rules About Going Braless? (2024)

FAQs

Are There Any Rules About Going Braless? ›

First things first: There are literally no rules, which is to say laws, that govern women's underwear. Instead, laws focus on body parts, and what can be shown and not shown.

Is it acceptable to go braless? ›

Shapiro, there are no known health risks associated with not wearing a bra. “There is no 'wrong' answer,” Dr. Shapiro says. “If you find that you're the kind of person who's comfortable and confident without a bra, that's fine.”

Is it disrespectful not to wear a bra? ›

Blake says this very personal decision all comes down to your comfort. “It's OK to do whatever is comfortable for you. If not wearing a bra feels good to you, that's fine. If you feel that some support is needed, then maybe a bralette or a wire-free bra would be a happy medium at home.

Is it mandatory to wear bra? ›

Personal comfort: Wearing a bra is a personal choice and depends on what feels most comfortable for each individual girl. Some girls may choose to wear a bra to provide support, while others may not feel the need or may find it uncomfortable.

Is it okay to go braless at home? ›

THE NOT SO PERKY BENEFITS OF GOING BRALESS

This can lead to symptoms such as back pain, neck aches and even headaches. Symptoms can then be exacerbated if you are working from the kitchen table, couch or bed and not using a proper desk and chair at the right height and with customised back support”.

Why does going braless feel so good? ›

We all know that feeling that we (and our skin) can breathe after we #freethenipple! Going braless benefits our skin by allowing moisture to naturally dissipate and reducing potential for clogged pores. Other benefits of wearing no bra can also include improved circulation and reduced neck and back tension.

Is wearing a bra 24 7 bad? ›

Is this true or not?" There is no credible research showing a link between wearing, or not wearing, a bra and developing breast cancer. It has been claimed that underwire bras cause breast cancer by obstructing the lymph flow, however, there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.

Is going braless a new trend? ›

Going braless is nothing new. About 25 percent of women in the US report taking off their bra the moment they get home and 52 percent do it within the first 30 minutes. But there's a big difference between taking a bra off for a couple of hours versus never wearing one again.

How do you go braless and not draw attention? ›

Opt for Prints. Busy prints distract the eye, so if you want to draw attention away from the fact that you aren't wearing a bra, Stolch recommended opting for patterns around the bust area or extra embellishments, like ruffles or pockets.

Does going braless cause breasts to sag? ›

Contrary to popular belief, going braless doesn't mean that your breasts are destined to droop. There's also nothing unhealthy about wearing a bra as long as it fits properly. Bras don't preserve the shape or perkiness of breasts.

What culture does not wear bras? ›

Much like India and Japan, Peruvian women do not often wear bras, even in public. Ponchos and Shawls are traditional clothing in Peru, which are extremely loose and do not shape the wearer's figure. This means that not only is a bra not required for support, but it also would not make a difference aesthetically.

Why should you take your bra off at night? ›

There are high chances that if you wear bra while sleeping, the hooks and straps may protrude into the skin. This may cause skin irritation. There are high chances that if you wear bra for a longer duration, it may cause lesions and even cysts. Immediately remove your bra if you feel any discomfort.

What to do if you don't want to wear a bra? ›

One way to enjoy the comfort of bralessness is by wearing a top with a shelf bra, says Shirley Archer, author of Busting Out: Putting Your Best Breasts Forward. "Too much compression may interfere with the lymphatic flow, but camisole or tank tops are not overly restrictive."

Should I be ashamed of not wearing a bra? ›

“Women have been taught in some form or another, 'Your comfort is not as important as the comfort of people around you,'” she said. “Part of me personally not wearing a bra is saying, 'Actually, I'm comfortable this way, and if seeing a body part that we all have bothers you, that's a “you” issue, not a “me” issue.

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