Recently having come from this thread I happened to notice several people mention stuff about bra straps showing, generally that they don’t like it. My question is… why?
What is wrong with wearing spaghetti tanks and a normal bra together? I do so all the time myself (though I do sometimes try and colour co-ordinate the bra and top) and it doesn’t bother me. The only thing that really bothers me is people running around in such low cut jeans that their underwear shows. Why even bother with undies then? (And if someone suggests that I do that with my bras… well I bounce quite a bit and I don’t really like it which is why I rarely go braless in public)
So tell me. What is so wrong about showing my bra straps?
Probably a result of conditioning as kids. Did Mom always fuss about such things? Or – depends on the state of mind of the fashion police. Personally, if you feel comfortable, it’s OK with me.
Nothing at all is wrong with showing bra straps. As a single guy, it is MORE than OK with me. I think it’s slightly suggestive of Madonna in the “Like a Virgin” phase, when I was first starting to notice such things. (You should probably skip the high heels with lacy ankle socks, though.)
It just looks sloppy to me, I mean bra straps are UNDERwear. When I explain the issue to my students I say it’s a bit of a slap in the face to some; like swearing in public. Sure, you may not be offended by the cursing, but others might be, so you refrain. Showing a bra strap means you don’t care about your own appearance and by god, everybody else can go to hell if they happen to care for you. Being a polite member of society, I keep mine covered (never mind that look is going out of style).
I used to obsess about not showing my bra straps. Then I got tired of constantly having to adjust my strapless bra, and having it dig into my skin. I keep the straps coordinated, and try to keep them in the same place as the tank-top straps, but other than that I just don’t notice it anymore.
The only person who’s complained to me is my mom. She insists it looks “tacky” – which is a word I’ve heard others use to describe visible bra straps. Was there some manual I missed?
[hijack arr matey] One day I met my mother for lunch after she’d just had an interview for a higher-level job. “Your bra straps are showing,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “That’s nice,” I replied, “did you know your tattoo shows through your shirt?” Hopefully the interviewers weren’t as sharp-sighted as I was … [/hijack]
We had a candidate come in dressed like that for a job interview.
She was a new grad and apparently didn’t know better. Never worked before.
Needless to say, she was sent home after about 3 minutes of everyone snickering at her.
Personally, I just think it looks sloppy, like the person wasn’t paying attention getting dressed, or just didn’t care enough to look tidy. MHO, but there it is.
I’m a big busted woman - if I want my breasts to stay where they’re supposed to be, I need a bra with healthy-sized straps. I try to keep them color-coordinated & under wraps (not too difficult, as I don’t wear spaghetti-strap tanks), but sometimes they just sneak out.
Were I going for a job interview/family event/a meeting with a SO’s family, I’d make sure to wear something appropriate so as to avoid bra crises, but when I’m just running to the store or the mall, I don’t care.
I’m not even that big busted, and I still feel uncomfortable not wearing a bra. I do like the built-in ones in the spagetti straps, though. But otherwise, I don’t mind showing straps.
This is the same for me. I used to make sure I wore strapless bras, but they are uncomfortable, and they slip and slide (I am small chested) and depending on the top, they tend to show. Plus they make my chest look cut in half. My obsession with not showing my bra straps is due to my grandmother’s raising. Granted, she always looks classy and beautiful when she dresses, but I am tired of stapless bras! Now I just try to color coordinate the bras, or hide them. I still wear strapless bras, but i’m not as crazy about it.
-Jenny*
For me, it’s really beyond tacky, it’s about modesty.
That’s a concept that’s lost on the majority of people today, but some of us still believe in it. You know, basic ideas like occasionally not exposing every possible inch of skin, keeping your underwear under your clothes, wearing appropriate underwear, and otherwise dressing with a little decorum.
The whole dress in something skimpy because it’s hot idea is utterly backwards anyway. The more skin exposed to the sun, the hotter you’re going to be. Take a look at what people who live in the middle of the desert have traditionally worn, and compare that with skimpy tank tops and short shorts.
Largely generational, I think. I’m in my late forties. Underwear is not supposed to show, whether it’s the top of your panties, the bottom of your slip or your bra strap. In part, it’s due to the “sloppy” stereotype of the bra-strap-sliding-down-the-shoulder of the careless slattern. This has recently been upgraded to “sexy”, by rock stars and the fashion industry, I guess, and it probably works on the younger generation. I am not offended by it, but I think it looks unclassy and I don’t choose to indulge in it for myself.
I should maybe mention I make an exception for sport bras, which I don’t care about one way or the other, with or without any other top at all.
It never bothers me that my bra straps show - I even wear the lacy/decorative bra I have with tank tops, if thats what happens to be clean. I never bother to coordinate my colours, either, because I don’t have that many bras (I need to go shopping, I suppose). And, I get an extra little bit of a fun day if my SO happens to notice that the bra straps are black, and not just dark blue. He likes the black bra I have
I went to a birthday party for a 16yo girl yesterday (friend of the family). One of her favorite gifts was a tank top with built-in, fake, rhinestone-studded bra straps. So when she wears it, both her actual bra straps and her pretty fake bra straps show.
Bra straps are a fashion statement. Get used to them.
BTW, she also got pants that barely came up over her hips (and I mean barely), and a chrome bicycle chain belt.
As a 24 year old–and therefore not a member of the “older generation” who has a problem with it–I still think visible bra straps are kind of tacky. Not as tacky as visible thongs, a la Britney Spears, but still pretty tacky.
It’s a matter of attention to detail. If you want to wear a tank top, find one with a built-in bra, or find a cotton bra whose straps are similar to the top you’re wearing. (I have a lot of tank tops, and I have a bra just for them–simple white ribbed cotton that looks like I’m wearing another tank top underneath, instead of those wide satin “normal bra” straps.)
Having said that, I don’t really stay awake at night worrying about it. Visible bra straps, like toilet paper that gets stuck to your foot, happen to everyone.
Minor hijack–
What’s with the women who wear bras that don’t fit? What’s with that bulge of flesh that’s hanging out on either side of the bra, on their backs and sides? Do they not know it’s there, or do they just not care? It can’t be comfortable. Makes me wonder how many women leave the house without looking at their backside.
Personally it’s rare when I run around in just a tank top as my shirt. Generally when I wear them I have several long sleeve shirts to throw over them, along with a peasant top and it’s not like I’d ever go to a job interview with a tank top on. I always dress up slightly.
As to modesty… I am quite modest and compared to quite a few of the people my age (in my experience) am slightly outdated in my manners and ideas of manners etc…
[/hijack]