By: Heather Bien
As a young woman, shopping for your first bra can be an exciting right of passage, marking your journey into womanhood. After years of passing that mysterious and intriguing section of the department store, you’re finally welcomed into the world of soft fabrics and cute designs.
In fact, regular bra shopping can often be about looks—how the bra itself looks, as well as how it looks on you. But there’s more to it than just appearance. Wondering why women wear bras? From aesthetics to comfort and support, the reasons are myriad, far-ranging, and personal.
In this article, we’ll explore the four main reasons why women wear bras and dive into the different benefits of wearing a bra.
#1 For Support
One of the reasons why women wear bras is to provide their breasts with support. To understand why your breasts may need support, let’s consider them for a moment. Your breasts are composed of fat, tissues, nerves, veins, and arteries.1 When they’re young and relatively small, all those components stay upright. Over time or with increased size, breast skin and breast tissue lose their elasticity and succumb to the inevitable drag of gravity. Medically, this is called breast ptosis.2
Other reasons breasts might sag or droop are:
- Smoking
- Weight loss
- Breastfeeding
- Being overweight
This breast sagging can cause discomfort around large or small breasts alike, as well as in your shoulders, neck, and back. While there’s no medical evidence that wearing a bra prevents sag, wearing a high-quality comfortable bra is a helpful way to lift and support both large or small breasts and keep your body feeling balanced and healthy. The key to finding a good bra is to make sure it has a comfortable fit. Bra fitting problems, such as uncomfortable underwire, may affect breast support.
#2 For Protection and Constriction During Sports
Did you know that the earliest recorded bras were bandeaus worn by female Minoan athletes in the 14th century?3 And it’s no wonder why. Engaged as the Minoans were in sports like bull-jumping and boxing, keeping their breasts in place and out of the way was likely a priority for female athletes.
Sporty ladies need just as much protection and security today as they did six hundred years ago. A well-fitting sports bra is essential for popular sports, such as:
- Running, jogging, or walking
- Tennis, soccer, field hockey, rugby, and anything dynamic
- Yoga, pilates, and barre
- Martial arts
- Dance
- Parkour
- Cycling
By keeping your breasts in place, a good sports bra can ensure you stay comfortable during any of these activities. Plus, this bra style is often made of breathable and high-tech fabrics that is gentle on your skin. Learn more about the types of bras to wear with tank tops.
#3 For Looks
Madonna brought the bra outside the shirt in 1990 with her pink cone top, and we’ve never been the same since. Whether you’re wearing a corset bra as a top like the original Material Girl or wearing one invisibly beneath your clothing like pretty much everybody else, it can serve as a fashion element that can impact your entire ensemble.
What are some effects wearing a comfortable bra can have on your look?
Smoothing
The best bras can make your breasts look round, smooth, and natural. Sounds straightforward, right? But finding the perfect bra takes a little luck and a lot of knowledge. Here are a few tips to getting a well-fitted smoothing bra for yourself:
- Overall, the right bra should feel snug but not tight
- The band should be parallel to the ground without riding up on the sides or back
- The cups should be flush with your skin, neither gapping nor cutting into your breast
- The straps should not leave marks on your shoulders
#4 For Necessity
Not all bras are made for athletic performance or looks. Some bras are specifically designed for assisting with certain medical events or conditions. These bras can include:
- Breastfeeding bras – A nursing bra usually includes a flap or panel to make feeding a baby a snap.
- Post-surgical compression bras – This bra style is usually soft, tight, and breathable, allowing recovery for patients.
- Prosthetic bras – Also called Mastectomy Pocket Bras, these contain a form that replaces the shape of all or part of a breast that has been affected by mastectomy.
- Binders – Though not technically a bra, binders allow compression of the breast shape much like a very tight sports bra or bralette would.
Whatever Your Reason, Boody Eco Wear Has You Covered
From getting ample chest support to achieving a steamy boudoir look, women wear bras for all sorts of reasons. But regardless of your personal purpose, you should always choose bras that are well-fitting, high-quality, and sustainably made.
At Boody, that’s what we’re all about. Our wide range of luxuriously comfortable and sustainable bras are not only supportive, but also made from sustainable bamboo viscose. They’re breathable, odor-resistant, super soft, and, best of all, better for our planet. So no matter why you wear your bra, you can wear it proudly, with Boody Eco Wear.
About the Author:
Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
Sources:
- "Breast Anatomy." Susan G. Komen. https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/facts-statistics/what-is-breast-cancer/the-breast-anatomy/
- "Are sagging breasts inevitable after breast-feeding?" Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/expert-answers/sagging-breasts/faq-20058322
- Hawkins, Amanda. "The Evolution of the Bra." Good Housekeeping. 29 January, 2015. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/fashion/g1291/bra-history/?slide=1
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By: Heather Bien We’re all trying to be better stewards of Mother Earth. From recycling to upcycling and eating conscientiously to dressing mindfully, our choices affect the planet. So choosing organic cotton clothing seems like an easy decision, right? Not so fast! As with all sustainable choices, it’s important to take a moment to learn a bit more about why organic cotton might win over conventional cotton—and what makes these two materials different in the first place. Read on if you’re interested in learning about organic cotton and whether it’s the best choice for you and the environment. Conventional cotton Before we get into debating modern cotton farming techniques, let’s get familiar with the plant we’re talking about: cotton. It’s soft, durable, and probably on your body right now. But what else do you really know about cotton? 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In order to combat these common pests, conventional cotton is routinely sprayed with a veritable salad-dressing of pesticides, many of which can remain in the soil and water supply for years afterward. Cotton harvesting requires defoliation – In order to quickly and efficiently harvest cotton, many commercial growers use chemical defoliants to strip the leaves from the cotton plant prior to harvesting the bolls. Like pesticides, these chemicals remain in the environment and on the cotton itself. Is organic cotton better? All of those cotton factoids point pretty compellingly to buying and wearing organic cotton fabric. But first, it’s important to understand what sets this organic alternative apart. Why exactly is “organic” cotton anyway? You might associate the word organic with your healthy fruits and veggies, but it’s not always clear what this term means when it comes to cotton. 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Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices, including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List may be used. Operations must use organic seeds and other planting stock when available. The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited. What is organic cotton? In short, it’s cotton that is farmed according to these practices and certified organic by the USDA. Why should you choose organic cotton? With fewer pesticides, fewer synthetic chemicals, and more thoughtful cultivation practices, organic cotton can certainly offer a more environmentally friendly choice when compared to regular cotton. Is organic cotton sustainable? 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But when it comes to plant-derived textiles, the ones which help us create a healthier world are always a better alternative. Explore the benefits of bamboo with Boody Whether you choose to purchase conventional or organic cotton clothing, the fact that you are shopping mindfully for yourself is a win for the environment. At Boody, we believe in bringing you quality, comfy, sustainable clothing basics that keep you feeling good about yourself and your personal impact on Mother Earth. From our sleepwear to our loungewear, women’s bamboo shirts to our underwear, sustainable and ethical are our touchstones. Our clothing is made of bamboo viscose, requiring less water than cotton while putting precious oxygen back into the environment. That just feels good, doesn’t it? Explore the bamboo benefits today, with Boody. Sources: Britannica. Cotton. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant Cotton. The Story of Cotton - Where Cotton Grows. https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm World Wildlife Federation. Cotton. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton Textile Exchange. Quick Guide to Organic Cotton. https://textileexchange.org/quick-guide-to-organic-cotton Soil Association. What is organic cotton? https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/fashion-textiles/organic-cotton/ USDA. Conservation and Biological Diversity in Organic Production. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/02/29/conservation-and-biological-diversity-organic-production About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
