How to Be Confident without a Bra

A while back, we talked about ditching underwired bras because of how uncomfortable they are, but have you ever thought of ditching bras all together?

The bra-free life isn’t for everyone, obviously. Women with bigger breasts still rely on bras for the simple fact that they offer support, giving them balance and taking a load off their back. However, ladies with small or flat chests can easily go braless without any risks to their health, and being braless is much more common than you think. Take it from Julia Baretto.

Without shame or embarrassment, the young star explains that she finds bras simply useless since she’s got nothing for them to hold on to, so what’s the point in putting herself through the pain of wearing a bra?

But before you go burning all your bras, there’s something that needs to be said. There’s a time and place for the sans brassiere look, so as uncomfortable as those breast contraptions can be, they’re needed in certain settings. Unless you’re properly covered up, conservative environments like places of worship or the office, or even meetings like job interviews where the first impressions are so crucial, wearing no bra is risky and totally inappropriate. Going braless is not just about feeling liberated or comfortable; it’s also about the where and when.

This post isn’t meant to encourage you to stop wearing bras — that choice is still yours. These are more so guidelines should you choose to go braless, so that you avoid any unwanted outcomes, like people actually noticing that you’re literally naked underneath your blouse.

Here are a few things to help you feel a little more confident when you’re bra-free in public

Tips for Not Wearing a Bra

Consider wearing prints and textures

One way to distract everyone from your braless ensemble is by wearing prints and textures. Prints like this Retro floral print loose long sleeve blouse will distract the eyes from your chest, while textures are good for disguising any evidence of nipples.

Stay away from light colored, sheer, thin fabrics

The last thing you want to do is show everyone that you’re not wearing a bra, unless of course that’s the kind of vibe you’re going for. The type of fabrics you want to go for need to be thicker and opaque, like this Off shoulder long sleeve blouse. You also need to check that your top isn’t see-through in any lighting, as the sunlight might make it really noticeable that you aren’t wearing anything underneath your cropped tee.

Layer up

If you’re really conscious of other people noticing you’re wearing one less undergarment than most women, then layer up! Cardigans and jackets are the perfect cover-ups, as well as great ways to add more style into your outfit. Scarves also serve that purpose, so you could wear silk scarves when it’s warmer out and wool ones when it’s colder.

When you feel like it’s too hot for layers and scarves, and you just want something IN CASE of a nipple emergency, this Oversized plaid shirt can be wrapped around your waist for that 90’s grunge look.

Another option you have is by wearing a cami or tank top as sort of an undershirt or an alternative for a bra.

Invest in nipple stickers

If you want no evidence of you not wearing a bra, the solution to this answer is nipple stickers or covers. They come in fun shapes, like flowers and hearts, and they’re always in that Band Aid-like skin tone color so they look like the blend seamlessly under a slightly sheer top.

Stop looking at your chest!

Naturally, you’re going to feel very aware that you don’t have a bra on, especially if you’re going out braless for the first time. It’s fine to check every now and then in case of a nip slip, but try your best not to constantly look down to see if your nipples are piercing through or not because the more you look down, the more attention you are drawing to your chest, making others focus on the lack of a bra. Never leave the house braless if you have that sort of mental discomfort, since chances are that you’re going to reflect that in your behavior in public.

Got any other tips to add on to our list? Leave them in the comments down below!

Items mentioned in this post:

Sheena Dizon

Sheena is the lead fashion writer here at Pretty Me Philippines and has contributed articles for numerous lifestyle blogs and online publications. Other than keeping up with the latest trends, she loves baking and home DIY projects.

www.prettyme.ph