Are bras, panties going out of fashion?

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By Nkiruka Ezedinugwu

OVER the weekend, I went to a bank in Awka metropolis, in company of a friend to use the ATM. We met some people who were also waiting to use the ATM, mostly young women. As we stood by the side, waiting for our turn, I took time to look at all the ladies there, more than 20 of them, and I noticed that not one of them was wearing a bra. And it was not just those with small boobs in backless dresses either. Boobs of all shapes and sizes were clearly hanging loose under all manner of tops from silk slip dresses to puff-sleeve blouses to thin white T-shirts. Later, I also noticed that most of the ladies were not wearing panties, considering the way their buttocks were moving as they were leaving the bank premises. So I asked my friend, "are bras and panties officially out? Why is no one wearing them anymore?"

On how new generation ladies have suddenly turned the once revered tradition of wearing bras and panties upside down, feeling it is no longer an important part of fashion, Mrs Oganiru Agatha, a retired teacher said, "I think it was my grandmother who took me to buy my first bra, somewhere around the age of 15. It was just a case of doing the right thing, ‘you are at that’. Since then, barely a day has gone by without me wearing one. Just as I cannot leave the house without brushing my teeth, I cannot step out of my house without a bra.

Apart from the fact that I would feel naked and exposed, it would also be extremely uncomfortable. As you can see, I have large, unruly appendages that really cannot be relied on to behave themselves during the course of the day.

We grew up to believe that a good bra is a staple of every woman's wardrobe, makes clothes fit better, and also makes a person look slimmer and younger. It helps lift the cleavage, supports the weight (which can be very uncomfortable), keeps them from turning into an unsightly second stomach.

But really, regardless of size, the fundamental function of a bra is to enhance and support the breasts. That is why majority of us wear them, day in, day out. It is just what we do and what we have always done.

But not anymore. A revolution is now on, and it seems to be gaining momentum. It is being led by the young girls and women of today. Far from viewing the bra as an essential garment, a life-enhancing addition to any woman's wardrobe, they view it as unnecessary and ‘alas’ they are just not wearing them much anymore.

This is just an act of rebellion, a rejection of the conventions that have always been imposed on the female body, an unapologetic desire to rewrite the rules of what is and isn't deemed acceptable in a female.

As today's young women see it, breasts are not something that should be hidden; they do not care if their nipples are showing any more than they care whether their birth-control pills fall out of their bag in the public. They are simply not into apologising for their bodies in the same way we were. They do not fear disapproval, not from the society or anyone for that matter. They are what they are, and if you do not like it, that becomes your problem.

Perhaps women like me, who will always seek solace in bras, will come to be seen as old-fashioned. But until my last breath, I will always believe that there will always be a practical side to wearing a bra, and once gravity and age start to take their toll on the defiant lovelies of today, I suspect they too will welcome a bit of support. Until then, though, I can't help but admire their spirits".

On her own part, Stephanie Williams, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said, "I do not know if wearing bra is morally good or not. I just do not wear bras for two reasons. One is that it makes me uncomfortable. Secondly, I wear size 34 DDDD cup, and most times, it is impossible to find a bra of that size that does not look like bras a grandmother would wear. So, if I am to be wearing bras, they must look sexy, but I hardly see those sexy ones that are my size. Right now, I don't even own a bra. I am always comfortable not wearing any.

If there is any place I want to go that will require me wearing a bra, I use sports bras in place of the regular bras. Sports bras are freer and more comfortable. I think many women probably feel the same way. Of course, there are some types of outfits one will wear and it would look weird with a bra. I do sometimes wear sports bras to look more "professional". So, I don't see anything wrong with women who choose to do away with bras. I think it is cool. After all, it is their bodies plus the fact that boobs behave the best when not caged".

Jessie Okoro said, "women don't wear bras anymore because it is healthier and more comfortable not to wear one. Some research has shown that wearing tight bras and the ones that have underwire for a very long time can cause breast cancer. The only time it is okay to wear a bra is when a lady is doing vigorous activity, to prevent permanent sagging. In such instances, a sports bra would be ideal. Women should not feel the need to give up their comfort and health just to prevent men from getting hard from seeing their unsupported breasts jiggling through their tops. Men will get used to it with time and it will no longer be as distracting".

Glory Metu on her own part said: "I have never left my house without a bra, but I have never owned a set of panties in my adult years. I do not wear pants because not wearing them lowers my risk of getting yeast and other forms of infections down there. I also do not like the pant lines and I know that no woman does. Except one opts for thongs, any pant that will cover the whole of a lady's buttocks must show that line and it does not look good especially on a tight clothing. So it is better not to wear one at all".

But Fredrick Ikechukwu, a gynecologist said "we do not advice women not to wear pants because that too has its disadvantages, but we advise them on the best type of pants to use. Medically, cotton underwear is the best. Some of the problems a lady might be exposing herself to by ditching panties are chafing or infections: Sometimes, going without underwear might actually leave a lady more open to chafing or infections. She can expect a range of skin irritations and even some skin damage when opting to go without panties. Without that protective layer between her and her pants, there are some things she would be putting at risk that she might want to think wisely about before opting for no panties, and skin chafing is one of them. It is the annoying and unfortunately painful result of skin rubbing against your clothing causing rashes and discomfort. Who wants that? This can leave your skin vulnerable to infection, and that is not a pleasant side effect of the no panties lifestyle.

Vaginal fissures: When there is a constant, irritating motion of clothing on your skin, painful micro-cuts can develop in the labia or vaginal areas, called Vaginal Fissures. If you are one of the many women going pantless while working out, walking to work or anything in between, you could be causing some serious damage to a very sensitive and sacred part of your body.

These micro-abrasions are painful splits, cracks and breaks in the delicate skin that you should be protecting. As a result, bacterial infections could surface, leading to some uncomfortable symptoms such as burning, itching, pain and discomfort that you would not wish upon your worst enemy.

For the most part, Vaginal Fissures can heal pretty quickly, but they’re as painful as a paper cut and super annoying to deal with. Especially since they can become infected without one even knowing they are there.

Period protection: Whether your menstrual maintenance methods involve tampons or pads, I think all women can agree that anything can happen at any time. Who have not had their period begin a few days before planned?

It is good to have that extra layer of protection, even if your trusted period tracker has proven to (mostly) be on point. You can avoid the risk of staining your underwear during a heavy flow, or even when your timing is off for changing your tampon.

Increased risk of infection: UTIs, Yeast Infections, and Vaginitis are just a few of the infections that can surface after not wearing a natural, breathable pair of underwear. Many people think that going pantles is the best solution to these common problems that are part of being a female.

Nylon, lycra and polyester fabrics found in everyday clothing such as yoga pants and leggings, are petroleum or coal based synthetics. They do not have breathable qualities and each of these fabrics is a nasty breeding ground for moisture collection that leads to bacterial growth.

Outdated fashion that remains in trend

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