Ladies do We Really Need Bras?

Bra or brassieres is a form-fitting undergarment designed to support a woman's breast. Bras are complex garments made of many parts. Most come in 36 sizes standards and methods of measurement vary widely and up to 85 percent of women may be wearing the wrong size. It gained more acceptance in 1904

Women who go braless may actually have the right idea, new research suggests.

According to the results of a 15-year study in France published Wednesday, bras provide no benefits to women and may actually be harmful to breasts over time.

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically, the breast does not benefit from being deprived of gravity,” Jean-Denis Rouillon, a professor at the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, told France Info.

Conducting the study at the university’s hospital, Rouillon measured and examined the breasts of more than 300 women, aged 18 and 35, taking note of how the additional support provided by bras affects the body over time. (It should be noted the study does not mention breast size.)

Overall, he found that women who did not use bras benefited in the long term, developing more muscle tissue to provide natural support. As France’s The Local notes, Rouillon also noticed that nipples gained a higher lift, in relation to the shoulders, on women who went braless. When bras are worn, the restrictive material prevents such tissue from growing, which may actually accelerate sagging, the study concluded.

Despite the findings, Rouillon said it would be dangerous to advise all women to take off their bras based on the study’s sample, which may not be representative of the population.

Speaking to France Info, Rouillon cautioned women who have worn bras for a long time — several decades — from following the recommendation since they would not benefit from taking off their bras now.

Capucine Vercellotti, a 28-year-old woman who participated in the research, found that she breathes easier without the constraints of a bra.

“At first, I was a little reluctant to the idea of running without a bra, but I got started and after five minutes, I had no trouble at all,” Vercellotti said, according to the Agence France-Presse.

But don’t throw away your bras just yet, ladies.

7 Things That Happen When You Stop Wearing A Bra

1. You're Free!

If you're like me, you understand that many cup bras are a total hassle, and are often pretty uncomfortable. When you take it all off, your boobs are free to do whatever they wish — swing, bounce, jiggle, and, most importantly, breathe. It's so freeing to feel the soft texture of your favorite comfy tee brush up against your boobs instead of the underwire of a push-up bra.

2. Your Tops Fit Differently (For Better Or For Worse)

Without the assistance of a bra, my boobs tend to appear a lot smaller. And I love this. It helps me fit tight crop tops better, it beats bra lines in thinner tops, and it transforms my silhouette in a way that's super satisfying for me. I prefer to present more androgynous, so going without a cup bra and downplaying the feminine curves of my body make me feel way at home in my own presentation.

3. Your Bod Moves Differently

As I was saying before, your boobs have full freedom to move about however they want to. With the exception of the creepy passersby this can attract, it can feel very liberating. However, it's nothing short of a full process to get used to the new way your body moves.

Having your boobs jiggle and bounce so freely while walking or running can be a little uncomfortable or painful at times, depending on the size of your breasts. This is why tight tops are my savior, as well as the occasional sports bra. From my own experience — since my boobs aren't very large — I've gotten used to the new way my chest wiggles as I walk. At this point, it feels completely natural.

4. You May Get Acquainted With The Bralette

After not wearing bras for a while, wearing a cup bra can feel incredibly strange. When I want to wear a bra, or if I believe an outfit calls for one, then I wear a bralette. These are usually flimsy in their support and construction. For someone who isn't used to all that padding and wiring, it's a great (and not completely ineffective) alternative.

5. Your Back May Not Be Happy With You

If going without a bra hurts you, don't just grin and bear it. Even as someone with smaller boobs, I noticed more back pain arising once I stopped wearing bras with support. From my experience, it can be more difficult to maintain good posture as well. If the pain persists (especially if your breasts are larger) and wearing a bra seems to relieve said pain, I definitely recommend wearing the bra.

But that doesn't necessarily mean returning to the wires and cups. I've found that wearing a well-made and supportive sports bra does wonders for relieving the tension in my back, and my posture always improves while wearing one, too.

6. People Make Comments

Time and time again, people have made rude comments to me about my lack of a bra. Even some of my closest friends have snickered at the sight of loose boobs in my shirt, and joke that when I wear a bralette, it's "hardly doing anything."

Chalk it up to stupid beauty and gender expectations, and skip on your merry way (boobs flopping and all).

7. You Wonder What Took You So Long

As soon as I got into the swing of things (pun absolutely intended), I couldn't help but wonder, "Why did I go my whole life wearing bras before this moment?" I don't regret it, of course, because it was a valuable lesson, and bras certainly have their benefits. But I wish it was common knowledge that people with breasts don't have to wear bras — that come puberty, you don't have to rush out to the nearest mall for a training one if you don't want to.

What not wearing a bra has proved to me is that what you do with your body and where you choose to house your boobs are choices that no one but you has any right to make.