People complain about bras so they stopped wearing them.
I’m one of those people. It’s a world of freedom, flow, and comfort. The best part of my day isn’t getting home to take my bra off. It’s living out my day free without one. The “free the nipple” movement and #nobraclub are well and alive and it’s possible that the future of the bra is meeting its end. For those who have ditched the bra... bralettes and sports bra were a great substitute for days when you needed support or coverage. With warmer days approaching, the bra leaves too much room for discomfort. Bras replaced the corset. Now nipple stickers are stepping in. Could they replace the bra?
The corset became a well-known tool amongst women to train their waist and lift their breasts. It provided the pursuit of an "ideal" look coupled with its own tribulations. In “Revealing Garments: A Brief History of Women’s Underwear,” we get a glimpse of how these ideas pressed themselves through time in stories of art, history, and advertisements.
While the bra provides a freedom the corset never could, it still has its limitations. Whether you have bigger breasts or smaller ones, the pros and cons of bra usage do exist. If you currently wear bras (or have in the past), you’re well aware of pesty underwire pokes and bra strap marks. If you can and feel better without the bra, I encourage you to leave it behind!
A high school student in Florida recently made headlines for violating the dress code by going to school without wearing a bra. The news isn't just unsettling but also says something about the conditioning that is deeply ingrained in our minds when learning about the human body. Bras are not meant to cover our parts. They're to provide support when needed.
Just as it is a necessity to feed our lungs with oxygen, our breasts must also breathe.
We figured this out with the corset and replaced it with the bra. While bralettes have become popular, nipple stickers are back on the rise. Similar to the corset, nipple pasties have their own history and were popular in burlesque performances. They serve a different purpose today and although this is a move toward freedom, the fact that nipples even need a shield is an issue many women are exploring. An organization is already tackling this by selling fake nipple adhesives. Their message is to empower those who lost their breast to cancer and to trans women.
From the start, I always knew Just Nips Fake Nipples would be involved with breast cancer awareness and care in some way, but I wasn’t sure how. As the product gained publicity, women from all over the world reached out to share their stories about post-mastectomy life without nipples. Instead of directing them to our Shop page, I asked for their mailing address and we shipped samples out immediately free of charge. It was the least we could do.
- Molly, Founder of Just Nips
Just Nips plans on increasing breast cancer awareness by including self-check breast exams with each package.
The many uses of undergarments have a long history coupled with everchanging ideas. What was once used to achieve an ideal look has now evolved to feeling even more empowered in the skin you're in.
