Let Loose

There’s no better feeling than taking your bra off after a long day and letting everything hang loose. Being freed from a bra can be intimidating, as we’ve all been taught from a young age to wear one, but it can also be a very liberating experience. During COVID-19, many women took the plunge and took an extended break from wearing bras. This allowed women to rethink their decision about wearing a bra and whether or not it’s even beneficial. Spoiler alert: many women ditched the bra permanently. 

Generation Z has been the reigning champion of activism and empowerment, hence the reason why the no-bra movement has been on the rise and is continuing. Many Gen Z’s see bras as an accessory and no longer an outfit staple. Today, many women are replacing bras with scarves, bandeaus or nothing at all. 

Everyone should be allowed to leave their bra in their closet and receive no judgment. If men aren’t forced to wear bras, then women shouldn’t either. When we scroll through our social media and stumble upon celebrities who are transparent about not wearing bras, we admire them. Braless icons such as Kate Moss, Florence Pugh, Rihanna and Bella Hadid all taught us that it’s inspirational to take back ownership of one’s own body and not be told what to do. 

History of Bras

The modern-day brassiere was invented and patented by a New York activist, Caresse Crosby, as she was frustrated with the whalebone corset that ripped through dresses and ruined them. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the brassiere was shortened to a bra. The brassieres took off in America when they first appeared in the DeBevoise Company’s advertisement describing their newest bra technology. Crosby would sell her bras to her friends for just one dollar. We wish we were her friend! She later founded the Fashion From Brassiere Company, a two-woman factory in Boston. Crosby sold the patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company for $1,500, and the Warner Brothers ended up making more than $15 million from the design. 

The development of the underwire bra started in the 1930s, even though it didn't gain popularity until post-World War II. Frederick Mellinger created the first padded bra in 1947, followed by a new invention of the push-up bra a year later called “The Rising Star.” Three decades later, childhood friends Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller and costume designer Polly Smith all created the Jogbra, which is now called the sports bra. In the 1980s, bras were the foundation of a woman's feelings and looks. Many models and celebrities, including Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, used extravagant bras for red-carpet events, which became the norm. 

The late 1990s brought the infamous brand Victoria’s Secret. Every cool girl owned a bra from Victoria’s Secret, leaving girls dying to add VS to their wardrobe. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was a new way of introducing the latest bras from the runway. Supermodels such as Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima and Heidi Klum began to build the brand’s image as “sexy, fun and cool.” The Bombshell Bra became the brand’s most iconic bra, with Kylie Jenner crediting the bra for her cleavage. During the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020, bralettes became one of the most popular bra options due to comfort and lack of underwire. Because of this, major lingerie brands such as Victoria’s Secret had massive declines in their sales and the brand as a whole. However, there were many other reasons why Victoria’s Secret became a flop. Bralette sales increased by five percent during the pandemic, while underwire bra sales plummeted. After the comfort of being at home for 18 months, people were tired and simply no longer wanted to wear a bra. 

History of the No-Bra Movement

The Miss America Pageant of 1968 was never meant to be a political statement, but it became a feminist rebellion. From the beginning of time, women have always been looked at as the caregiver — the one who sits back and listens, and the one who remains silent. Women became tired. The 1968 revolt was created by feminist icon Carol Hanisch who publicized the phrase, “The personal is political.” The Miss America Pageant became an instant target for Hanisch and other feminists due to the excessive rules it contained, such as maintaining a certain weight, always looking “put together” and always remaining lady-like. Hundreds of women marched the streets of Atlantic City on September 7, which happened to be the same day as the pageant. The protest included a “freedom trash can” in which women threw away all their physical manifestations including wigs, false eyelashes, curlers, girdles, bras and issues of Cosmopolitan, Ladies’ Homes Journal and Family Circle. Many of the women participated in a burning bra ceremony, which consisted of angry feminists setting fire to their bras in demand of one’s own liberation. The 1968 protest became an inspiration for many women, and the mindset of wearing no bras trudged through the 1970s. The symbol of the bra represented the fight for the liberation of women’s rights and for freedom from misogynists. 

Self-Love

When you think of self-love, what comes to mind? Some might say that self-love involves implementing a daily skincare routine, journaling thoughts, eating healthy, exercising and, most importantly, taking a bra off. Self-love is all about engaging in activities that will benefit you and could create possibilities for change. Some might question whether or not being braless makes an impact on your mental health, but when you’re practicing the daily habit of not wearing a bra and you’re putting yourself first, it can be a form of self-love. Deciding you’re freeing your breasts for the day can be quite a liberating feeling. 

Do you remember the first time you went out in public without a bra? You felt the initial panic of your heart racing and constantly thinking about whether or not you’re being judged by individuals. But, why should we feel this way? We have been taught from the beginning that wearing a bra is the norm for women. Once we have deconditioned our mindset from constantly wearing a bra to becoming braless, we won’t feel as embarrassed and will become more comfortable with our bodies and love ourselves just as we are. You could even begin loving and accepting other parts of your body, too. 

Every woman is beautiful, and there is no denying that. It’s common to feel vulnerable and uncomfortable when taking the first step to becoming braless, however, it’s a true representation of female empowerment. Owning your body and not being afraid of showing some skin is a step closer to loving and accepting your true self, and it can even make you appreciate other women’s bodies as well. Ladies: it’s time to ditch those irritating bras and take back your body!

Cover Photo by Reese Garrity