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thoughts on bras over this past year
howdy, long time.
haven't been active here in a while, but thinking a lot about bras -- or more specifically, not wearing bras.
my body has changed quite a bit in the four years since I've started here. I've embraced health, am now quite fit/strong. I've changed the way I breathe. I've corrected my posture. I have muscle on my torso/rib cage, barely any fat. my measurements have changed what I feel is substantially. I'm not even sure if I know my bra size any more (time for an update)
my shape has changed, too. a gynecologist told me my breasts were 'cystic' back in the summer. this freaked me out more than my aversion to my own breasts, and I worked through a lot of discomfort in learning to touch them. said cysts seem to have disappeared, massaged away. my breasts have always been soft, but now seem to fall differently. this was either the biggest transformation, or the most recent (making it seem most significant)
I've been experimenting with various degrees of bralessness. I often stick to sports bras for instances of spontaneous running/dancing. I borrowed a friend's shirt with built in bra for a yoga class (taking solace in being on the end in a single row at 6am) and it ended up feeling like freedom. picked up some shirts with built-in bras - dance shirts? these don't exactly offer support, but exercise shirts combined with layering has felt good, and I've even gone into public. there was one experience where a boy couldn't get my bra off because it was too tight (hahahaha) and maybe something clicked for me there: none of my bras fit me.
none of my bras fit me. a frustrating realisation.
I started pulling out all of the ones that bothered me, however small the annoyance (even ones that had once fit so well, even favourites). I have so many bras (most in a box tucked away) - and maybe it'd be worth trying them on again, taking some new measurements. maybe it'd be worth sewing some of them up.
one part of me is tempted to buy a couple of panache sports and wear those until the end of time (even though neither of the two I own is the right size). another part wants to look into this world of bra-shirts put out by freya or panache or whoever else. another seeks more of these 'dancer shirts'. I'm not even sure if I'm interested in aesthetic any more. or maybe custom is the way to go - one at a time, slowly amassing a new rotation, maybe in forest chic(and, truly, what kind of artist isn't interested in aesthetic, except one burnt out on discomfort?)
surely others have been here -- had it all, and shifted out of it?
would love some thoughts
(have missed this place)
Filed under Bras ups and downs
I spent decades as a braless hippy, and my boobs were already pretty big. It took a little time to get used to no support, but i did. I wasnt out in public much tho - living in a college town and socializing almost exclusively with other hippies.
eventually I started wearing Decent Exposures unbras, which are made in the USA and come in a variety of colors and fabrics - but might not feel as free as those built-in lycra things.
I only started my search for a real bra because I was thinking of job hunting, after having been home w kids for 8 years, and my boobs are huge and heavy, and i'm chubby and old, and I wanted to look my best. I have to say I got rather addicted. I only have a few models that fit, but I feel so much better in them now than in my (very old and worn out) unbras, I wear wires most of the time now.
but its a huge difference on me, visually. I'm seriously saggy and the unbras dont support me much.
If you're comfortable, could you tell me more about the massage method you used to help clear cysts? I have cyclic cystic pain that is getting worse with time and I would love some tips.