By Maria Famakinwa

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Some years back, no African woman dared step out of her home without a complete dressing, which includes having all the sensitive body parts covered. Women then, were conscious of dressing without revealing sensitive parts of their bodies. Underwears were a must for a woman of pride.

However, the narrative is no longer the same today, as ladies now put on seductive outfits that accentuate or show their bodies beneath their outfits, especially at social gatherings. They back this up with different excuses such as vogue, fashion, freedom and choice.

Many who condemn the so called fashionable gowns described them as becoming flagrantly obscene, provocative and morally senseless.

Though, the society sees nothing wrong in being fashionable, but it frowns at making loud and daring fashion statements.

Weekend Hope sighted some braless ladies and spoke with them to know why they chose to go braless. A 23-year old Feyikemi Ademipo, who professed to be a model, explained that she stopped wearing brassiere three years ago because of the nature of her profession.

Her words: “Opting for a bra as a model affects my job. To be successful as a model, the issue of wearing a bra must be forgotten, because breasts are part of what you showcase as a model. Aside this, going braless helps the breasts to adapt and navigate to a natural lift.

“Contrary to the general belief, not wearing a bra does not make the breasts to sag. When the breast is allowed to access its natural environment without bra, it becomes bigger and naturally attract interests. Wearing a bra will bring a bad market for me. I am fine without it.”

Sharing a similar view, a make-up artist, Gloria Amadi, who condemned the society for tagging braless ladies as promiscuous maintained that there was nothing wrong going for an adhesive strip of fabric, specially designed for keeping breasts in a fixed position and nipples covered.

She asked: “What is wrong in wearing revealing clothes since your nipples are not showing? People need to be educated on the fact that cleavages are part of human flesh like face and leg. If my face, legs and other parts of my body can be seen, what makes that of the breasts different? After all, my nipples are covered.”

When told that women’s breasts are one of the sensitive body parts to be covered, she said, “the only part of the breasts to be covered is the nipples’ region and not cleavages. Breasts are women’s first point of attraction and I cannot allow any brassiere to rob my breasts of its succulence. Most of today’s brassieres press down the breasts from retaining its erection, attractive shapes and firmness which men attach so much importance to. Wearing seductive fashionable outfits to showcase one’s natural endowments is the trend and should not be condemned,” she said.

In the words of a graduate, Bunmi, wearing a bra makes her look archaic and primitive among her friends. The lady, who revealed that she could not live her life according to societal dictates, stressed that she was old enough to make the right decision for her future.

Her words: “I go braless to look attractive. I have it and I want to flaunt it. Breasts are women’s first point of attraction. Fashion is changing and I cannot be left behind. That is why some celebrities now attend social events with revealing clothes that bring out the inner beauty. I don’t see brassieres supporting women’s breasts as many think. Rather, it hides the beauty. Breasts are meant to be free in order to express its function of beautifying the special creature called woman which cannot be achieved while putting on bra.

“Even in villages, ladies no longer wear brassieres. Bra reduces the breasts size, conceal cleavages and deny women their appreciable beauty. I was even told that to enjoy good health, wearing a bra is not advisable. Going braless enhances women’s beauty and makes them appealing to the opposite sex.

“I am comfortable without bra. In fact, you cannot go to most cocktail parties with bra. Otherwise, the person will feel odd and lose out in most of the fun, because the reason for such party is to express one’s beauty without restrictions.

“Going braless is a deep message to boost and promote feminism. Divas now slay in no bra outfits. No bra outfits dish out highlights of our endowments. Beautiful and glamorous glittering outfits are the preference for social gatherings and ladies of the moment understand and seize such opportunity to make statements about their inner endowments.”

Another lady, Omolola, explained that she refused to wear bra because she was not gifted with big breasts. She said: “As you can see that I don’t have big breasts, so I need no bra. Besides, I think that it is better to remain braless provided a degree of decorum is maintained. Most ladies with small breasts don’t bother wasting money on brassieres. They rather learn how to make their small breasts size complement their beauty. Probably, if my breasts are big, I would have considered wearing bra.”

Also an accountant, who simply gave her name as Ifeolu, disclosed that she did not like wearing bra because it made her felt uncomfortable. She added that she always felt disturbed at the sides of her breasts wearing a bra, so she quitted.

Her words: “If you want to embrace your natural breasts size, shape and feel comfortable, going braless can be a way to celebrate your body. Not having to put on the bra facilitates better relaxation and that is one of the reasons why women who chose to go braless call it liberating.”

Asked if her braless attitude was not noticed by people, she said, “people stare at my breasts, but I am not bothered. That is their headache. All I want is my comfort. I cannot hurt myself because of what people will say. It is normal for people to say something about anything. I am not free wearing bra, and I cannot satisfy others at my own disadvantage. It is not a crime to go braless.”