clothing rave

[cellio]

nsingman asked for a rant or rave (he didn't specify) about bras. Ok, I can do that. :-)

I don't know when bras -- as opposed to corsets -- were invented, but boy, I'd sure like to thank the person responsible! Corsets might be ok at doing the job (this is based on observation, not direct experience), but they look pretty uncomfortable, and just letting 'em hang loose would be horrible for someone my size. I tried that at Pennsic once (that being an environment where it wouldn't raise eyebrows), and I didn't get through one day. Swing swing swing whap whap whap bounce bounce bounce -- how does one manage to get through the day like that?! So I am delighted that a straightforward solution exists for under $10 per.

Which isn't to say that there aren't bad bras out there -- there sure are. Ones that pinch, or don't fasten tightly, or have straps that are too long for short people like me, or that itch, or whatever. The worst ones are the ones that try to be sexy but end up just being decorative. That might be fine for the AA-cups out there, but not for everyone. I believe it is possible to make something that is both functional and attractive, but forced to choose I'll go with function almost every time.

I have no problem with people who find bras restrictive and would rather go without. If that's what makes you happy -- or if you're small enough to be free of this particular burden -- then go for it! I, meanwhile, will revel in the joy of bodily protrusions that stay approximately where I put them until I'm ready to do something else with them. I didn't say bouncing is universally bad, after all -- I just want to control when it happens. :-)

Comments

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

I've seen both the joy and pain of extremely large (my wife was a KK cup before reduction surgery many years ago, now she's DD). I think she would second your sentiments.

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

Under $10 per? You're very lucky. (What brand, out of curiosity?)

Bras give me trouble. I need them, but I hate shopping for them.

So far I have found only one brand with shoulder clasps that actually stay in place. (With other brands, I run into problems with them slipping, which makes for awkward moments even with the most comfortable bras.) I end up paying ~$28 per unit, or ~$17 if I get lucky and run into a sale.

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

"I don't know when bras -- as opposed to corsets -- were invented,"

As a student of information science, I pride myself on the ability to find nearly anything on the Internet. This wasn't hard. Google produces 789,000 hits for "history bra" The History of the Bra. Did they include any reference scene in The Aviator, I wonder? :D

I was waterbearing at Pennsic, when a female fighter yelled "Arrggghh!!" for no apparent reason. I asked her if she was okay. She replied, "I hate it when I just get into armor and my bra strap breaks!"

By the by, my personal rant about bras (literally speaking as an outsider! :D), glasses are referred to as "a pair of glasses", because there's 'two' in every one. Pants are referred to as "a pair of pants", because there's 'two' in every one. Why don't we refer to bras as "a pair of bras"? Aren't there 'two' in every one???

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

My beauteous and oft-praised jungle_goddess, who isn't very busty, still complains about the discomfort from bouncing if she's out and about braless. I can understand that, though I happen to prefer the braless look on women. Go figure. :-)

My understanding is that there are a fair number of attractive, functional and comfortable bras, but two main problems stand in the way of most women enjoying them. One is that so many women apparently wear the wrong size, and the other is that those bras can be quite costly.

Those Things

[anniemal.livejournal.com]

I loathe, hate, and despise bras except under some heavy dresses that chafe my nipples when I dance in them, or under something with opacity problems. I'm so grateful not to need them. Even cotton ones itch after a few hours. I have 4, 2 are over 20, and the other 2 are close.

So a couple of years ago I went to buy a new one. I went to a big mall, (always an occaision of tension) because I figured there'd be one there, if anywhere. It was awful. There was nothing that even might fit.

My patient friend and I eventually went to a fancy lingerie store, where I was expertly measured and pronounced an unfittable 38AA. I asked about "training" bras, but no. So I quick bought a stretchy camisole and fled. And I'm not tossing out my nigh-dead bras. At least they don't keep peeking out of my neckline unbidden. Maybe someday I'll try again.

Rant done.

[eclectic-1.livejournal.com]

I have never in my adult life found a comfortable bra. I took suggestions from all my friends that swore by certain brands, but nothing worked.

Then I became pregnant and bought the nursing bra sold at the local Walmart. It was comfy! I still wear them, almost 4 years later. (no, not the same one)

Underwires are evil incarnate!