Why I threw out all my old bras

Those of you who follow What Allergy regularly may have seen a previous blog about soft, comfy non-wired bras; I went down a rabbit hole of research and discovered loads of options. Check out “Wireless comfy soft bras for sensitive skin” for the full run down of kinder bras for those sensitive types out there.

But first, a rant about boobs and bras!

Your boobs are the least interesting thing about you

Before we get to the great bras, let’s look at the thought processes that got me to the point of finally finding joyful comfortable bras. I realise this is a step away from my usual blog posts but it really grinds my gears. Society is obsessed with boobs and the fashion industry has leapt on that band wagon. Bras that lift, shape, squeeze in to create a shelf you could pop your coffee on. It’s crazy when you pick it all apart.

Years of wearing wired bras that always left a red deep sore indentation didn’t prepare me for TSW. Topical Steroid Withdrawal has really made me look inside myself and analyse what’s really important, because having oozy sore boobs meant I had to stop wearing one at all.

Why we should stop commenting on boobs

Having a great pair of tits has always been one thing people, particularly men have always complimented me on. For the record guys, if you don’t yet know someone by name or anything about them, telling them their ‘boobs look great’ tells us more about a man than we ever need to know. There is more to anyone than their looks; what do they love doing? what are their hobbies? What subjects are they passionate about like advocating, safeguarding, child protection, the book they’re reading. If you think the shape and appearance of a woman’s rack is the most important thing to compliment her on you need to check yourself guys.

The fact that people will rank or judge someone on their chest size is pretty odd, when the rest of our bodies must resemble how we were as prepubescent girls; no body hair, flat stomachs, no wrinkles or grey hair. What is wrong with aging? What is wrong with all bodies being different and accepting how we all look? You can tell this all really grinds my gears.

Boobs come in all shapes and sizes and droop with age!

It’s absolutely fine to compliment someone on their looks and there is nothing wrong with wanting to look good yourself. I’m not judging anyone here. However, women come in all shapes and sizes. Can we not all just embrace that and be accepting of size and difference? Small boobs, big boobs, different sized boobs, boobs that go to the side, or are perky and point up… They’re all different and lovely and wonderful. Just parts of our bodies that require no comment.

If you value people based firstly on their looks you’re missing the best bit, because as we all know, boobs sag and looks fade. People, however are fascinating, ever changing and so compelling. It’s what we talk about, think about and how we approach life that make someone really attractive. Can you start to look past the boobs? This is for men and women because we all look and we all compare. Even I am probably guilty of doing that, but they really are just the luck of birth. Bigger boobs honestly, can be a right pain when trying to exercise, have a massage on your front, trying to find clothes and bras that fit!

Do my boobs look good in this?

Bras are not always designed with comfort in mind. The fashion industry is completely broken in my opinion, and here’s why. As women we are judged on how we look and in particular our chests. How big, how perky, how do we fill our dresses and tops? Do our boobs look good in this? It’s absolutely ridiculous. They are just tits, just a part of our body. Yet we encase these complex globes in tight, painful, wired cages that ensure they are on show for all to see in their most pert glory. The day I chose soft comfy bras was kind of a miracle!

I no longer want to rip off my bra the minute I get home
I don’t have red indentations where the wires dig into the flesh
I’m not struggling with those tricky tiny little clasps at the back that do them up – honestly who designed bra fittings?
I forget I’m wearing one because they’re so comfy

Years of hating on bras is over! I just don’t care now. The standards we are help up to no longer interest me. We are meant to look pretty, make the most of our assets, but not look too pretty or have too much on show because that’s just slutty. From now on I will wear a bra, or not. Show some cleavage if I want to, or not. It’s of no interest. But let’s make me comfy ladies!

Why is it so hard to find bras that fit?

My views on this have changed so much in the last few years and I’ve finally let go of all the expectations and embraced my ever sagging uniboobs. The reason it’s so hard to find bras that fit are many and myriad.

Those wires – We don’t wear any other clothing that has wires. Those crinoline skirts of olden times that keep your skirts all poofy have disappeared and corsets are blissfully a thing of the past. So why do most bras still work by shoving a wire under them?
Tiny clips to fasten – It never gets easier to fasten some bras, and many of us have to turn the bra around, fasten at the front and twist the bra round to fit.
Stiff itchy material – Lacy bits, stiff ribbed bits, synthetic material, all intended to lip, push, pull and make boobs look attractive. They’re just sitting there up front, just doing their thing. Listen to your boobs and you’ll hear them crying out for something softer and comfier.
Unsymmetrical boobs – Many women don’t have perfectly symmetrical boobs. If you have this problem, check out Evenly – the bra balancers who make products for this very problem.
Fashion not comfort – Despite the fact that bras are underwear and remain unseen by most, they are designed purely for aesthetic design. If men had boobs you can bet they’d be very different.

Do you love your bras or hate them? Even if you don’t have sensitive skin you owe your chest the best! See what’s out there and find comfort instead of fashion. Your boobs will thank you!

The image above is the Peony no wire bra and pantie set I chose and I love it.

Why I love Julie May Bras so much

I have found some really lovely bras from Julie May Lingerie that are pretty, affordable, soft and comfortable. These were gifted – thanks so much to Julie May for the kindness. Finances have been really tough so I’d not have been able to afford new bras otherwise.

I’ve worked with Julia May Lingerie before and shared my faves online so I was thrilled by the offer to work with them again. Here’s why I love them so much

Extensive range – These guys don’t just have one or two non wired bras to offer, they have loads. I think I counted over 20 on their website. This then causes a problem for me because too much choice and I’m totally overwhelmed. I found it incredibly hard to choose from their huge selection but I guess that’s a nice problem to have.
Expert advise – The staff at Julie May, (Thanks Awena) are so helpful. I ordered a few and none of them fitted. I’ve put on weight and found it hard to work out what size would fit despite using the size guide and measuring before ordering. Due to having uneven breast sizes it can be really hard to find bras that look right and feel comfy on both boobs. After a few phone calls, we found some, I chose a few sizes and sent back those that didn’t fit. It worked for me and I now have a new comfy bra and knicker set. I don’t know any other companies who offer this personal service and help.
Allergy safe – With approval from Allergy UK, all the bras sold by Julie May Lingerie are guaranteed safe for those with nickel or latex allergies.
Gentle on skin – All their bras are made with soft material, many are cotton and all will be kind to sensitive skin. The one I most recently received is 100% silk – Check out the Peony bra.

Visit Julie May Lingerie today to find your next comfy bra! They have lots of reductions at the moment and you could get 10% off your first order! I honestly can’t thank them enough because I was almost in tears at one point, wailing ‘It fits on one breast but not the other’… help! Julie May helped me find a bra that was more forgiving of this issue and I love them.