The other day, as I was running some errands near my office during the lunch hour, I passed a woman who wasn’t wearing a bra. That isn’t necessarily notable in itself. There are many women who don’t wear bras in public and no one is the wiser. The noticeable part was that her breasts were shaped more like mine and in her thin t-shirt, it was noticeable. If you asked a more conservative person, they might say her braless state was pushing the boundaries of decency. But all I thought was “You go, lady!” and then I started ruminating on why, as a society, we have deemed bras to be a thing. When did we decide that women have to keep their breasts tucked away? When did we decide that acknowledging that breats exist is somehow shameful and we should strap them in, immobilize them, as much as we can for politeness’ sake. I get that many women find bralessness uncomfortable. And I have several sexy bras that I enjoy wearing. And I know I’m not the first person to make this argument. But I was really wishing we could just choose, without any baggage, to go braless and not be embarrassed or assume everyone is staring.
Unrelated to the above story, but relevant to my photo, is another thing I’ve been thinking about. Awhile back on Twitter I had a conversation with a few friends (I think it may have been @ht_honey and @19syllables) about the fact that I am pretty happy with photos of myself naked at this point (thanks to Sinful Sunday) but that I lack confidence in wearing clothes. Clothes are mainly functional for me. I tend to feel like I don’t really look that great in them, so why worry too much about what they are? I’m getting somewhat more comfortable with body conscious styles but generally still dress to blend into the background and disguise my size.
So this photo is partly a homage to the braless woman I saw, just going about her business. And to the idea that I want to celebrate myself in clothes as well as out of them.
For more Sinful Sunday (and believe me, you do want more) click the kiss.
I understand the “more comfortable with my body naked than clothed” perspective. I have a much easier time liking my body when it’s not smushed and squeezed into fabric. No clothes? No undergarments? Double check.
I’m loving your denim skirt and the tantalizing can’t-quite-see glimpse at the shadowed “V” it provides. đŸ™‚
Mrs Fever recently posted…Follow me up…
Thanks! Yes, I wish clothes were optional in more situations.
When I was in my late teens and early 20’s going braless was very common. And you will never stop people looking as sex is a natural urge and breasts are seen as sexy.
What I find interesting is my daughter is young and big breasted but up until recently wore one of those padded bras. When I asked why she said so people can’t make out my nipples! I told her how at her age I was walking braless down the street in just a t-shirt and she said “but people would look”. They did but I didnt care.
Nice image – you sitting there all comfy.:-)
Interesting! I wear a padded bra too, for the same reason! Especially at work, for the high air conditioning. And you are right, I wouldn’t want them to stop being sexy, just maybe wishing sexiness was not so taboo in everyday life?
exactly – sex is natural and normal and so is sexiness. Its society that is wrong here
May More recently posted…Sinful Sunday Stairs ~ Scorching Hot
I love this so very very much.
HappyComeLucky recently posted…Reality
I hear you about bras. I have lots of them but not many that are both comfortable and fit well and working from home means I have grown used to the braless state of being and so putting one on seems to be becoming less and less tolerable to me.
Mollyx
Molly recently posted…Up or down
Yes! Sadly I don’t work from home, but mine comes off immediately when I walk in the door at night
I rarely wear a bra when I’m at home. Yet when I’m out I could never be without one. Firstly, my nipples are like coat hangers and are very reactive but actually I’m very aware of my small breasts so I love to have a bit of padding for some shape.
Bee recently posted…There on the stair
There is really no need for me to wear a bra, and still I do every day. I have been to the office before without a bra and absolutely no one has noticed, but still I felt very vulnerable and self-conscious. Reading your words, I ask myself why. I would love to go without a bra every day, to never wear them again, but somehow I am reluctant to just take the step…
Love your image!
Rebel xox
Marie Rebelle recently posted…Smut Marathon 2.0
Me too! It may not be as noticable as I think but I definitely feel vulnerable (but also, so free!) without one.
Oh this is a gorgeous post! The words and photos both ???
I absolutely love to see a nipple beneath a sexy whit T shirt! ?
The great feeling as you walk through the door and discard the bra! Clothes you must wear them, not the other way around. I like this image, you appeared relaxed yet sexy
Love sexy bras and love sexy braless. Have to ditto Tabitha!
Elliott recently posted…WHAT DO YOU DO?
What an interesting post and important points. Interestingly I’ve put on weight over the last year since I stopped regular running after last marathon and hadn’t really noticed how badly my clothes had started to fit/look in their state. It interested me because I realised I am so much more confident in my naked state and feel so much better that it came as quite a shock when clothes didn’t fit and then that zapped my confidence. It amused me that previously it was being naked that bothered me but now being clothed does! Xx
Exposing40 recently posted…TenementÂ
Yes, i feel like I’d be much more comfortable naked all the time – though that likely goes along with the fact that when naked, I’m usually doing stuff I truly enjoy (fucking, wanking, sleeping). But I think I’m going to push myself to take more Sinful Sundays clothed.
mariasibylla recently posted…Braless
I have similiar feels to Bee – I wish I was one of those lucky buggers who can get away without wearing one x