I am just not sure if it is decent to wear a tank or spaghetti strap shirt without a bra. I have never done so because I worry I will look trashy. Does anyone else ever go without wearing one with their tops? I have one top that I think is absolutely adorable, but there is no way I can wear a bra with it so I have never worn it. I was raised very conservative and am just not gutsy enough to do so without knowing it is ok. Please give me your opinion and tell me what you do. Thanks! 
grief I can’t even use proper english in my post title 
It isn’t trashy as a general rule to wear a tank top without a bra. But you should definitely take into account how large or perky your breasts are. If your breasts will be flopping all over the place then, IMO, you’ll look trashy without a bra. If you are in good shape (not necessarily skinny) you could probably wear a tighter fitting shirt that would hold the girls fairly well. Or you could get a tank top with a built in bra-shelf.
If the idea still makes you uncomfortable, you could look into the bras with clear straps or those things that stick under the breast and provide support.
I have breasts that are med-small and in the summer I often go without a bra if the shirt I’m wearing is snug enough to stop the breasts from moving around too much.
My sugestion is put it on, stand in front of a mirror, move around (jump, twist, lean over, just a quick thing) and see if you would be grossed out by seeing it on someone else. If not, wear it!
I’ve seen girls who should never go without a bra walk out in a a tank top without one, but I’ve seen girls who wear a sports bra with a tank top and that looks even trashier. Clear straps would work a lot better if they weren’t shiny.
I am in pretty good shape and definitely don’t have enough to go flopping anywhere. Maybe I’ll try it at the beach rather than here at home first. Thanks
IMO,
it depends on you, your body, and the shirt in question. Get a mirror, try it on, and see. If you’re not sure, invite over a friend whom you trust and can swear to silence to tell you.
But it’s not by definition indecent - but a specific combination of shirt and person very well may be.
(from a guy)
‘Trashy’ may not be your only concern. Be prepared for guys to look a little longer at your chest, especially if your “high beams” are on, regardless of their size or whether they’re moving around. I’m not saying this is a bad thing (I ordinarily look, but stop short of oggling), I’m just saying expect it.
Another guy’s perspective: I only think it looks trashy when it’s obvious I’m intended to notice the bra (or lack of it) underneath, such as when a virginal white tank top has a red Victoria’s Secret lace number underneath, straps unaligned; or some translucent or semi-transparent loose-knit fabric that doesn’t fit well and which the wearer constantly adjusts in some kind of eye-catching false modesty. To me, when a woman goes out of her way to catch my eye with her breasts, I get almost offended and think man, how shallow do you think I am?
I don’t tend to notice otherwise or try to speculate, or—well, or get catty and say what was that girl thinking? if she doesn’t wear one. If she looks presentable, I’m okay with figuring she knows her wardrobe choices better than I do.
Another guy: I don’t think it’s trashy at all if it’s done right. I think it’s better to not wear one than it is to wear one knowing your bra will be constantly flashed.
Just don’t wear anything too low cut or with really cut in sleeves (which will obviously draw attention to your lack of support) and you should do fine.
Thanks women and men alike. I will do the mirror exercises after my SO leaves so he doesn’t laugh at me. I think it looks awful when your bra straps show also and strapless bras are just not comfortable so I only wear them to things like weddings. I will not be wearing this with a color showing through underneath or with anything else skimpy or skanky so I think I’ll be ok.
In my college days in the 1960’s, we had a test to see if we could get away with not wearing a bra:
Take a pencil. Tuck it under your bare breast. Turn loose. If the pencil falls, you can go without the bra.
I’m of the personal opinion that bras should be a matter of choice anyway, but sense you are a modest young woman, the girl that I used to be can identify with you.
The Pencil Test.
I don’t think it would be trashy, especially if you’ve, i.e. the OP has, got the perky-boob thing going on. But you have to be confident: if you’re always trying to cover up your chest everytime you bend a little, you just give off a bad “I’m a superficial prude” vibe. For example, I knew this bar-tender once who was wearing a tank top the first time I saw her. She took an order before me and as she bent over into the cooler to get the beers she looked at me and took my order. With great effort I didn’t look down her shirt, but it was an amazingly sexy thing that she could be comfortable doing that in that shirt.** That sort of confidence is really attractive. More importantly, trying to cover herself up shows a lack of character/confidence that is incredibly unattractive. Miss Manners types may tell you it’s proper; but, the fact is that it is just plain ugly.
I’m a big fan of the clear bra straps, whether they shine or not. But I don’t have a problem with bra straps generally, so I’m probably a bad judge. Either way, go for it and be confident. You’ll be sexy & your SO will love it.
**Don’t say that she’s just trolling for tips. She may have been, but this is one example to illustrate a point, not to prove it. So attacking her motives is just stupid because it shows that the attacker simply isn’t listening to the point being made.
My rules- if you have small, perky breasts, go braless under the tank top.
If you’re larger breasted, I really don’t have a problem with seeing bra staps with spaghetti straps or a tank top, provided, and this is important, the color of the bra matches the color of the tank top.
White bra straps sticking out of a black, red, or other not white tank top is just plain tacky.
I have decently perky breasts (I pass the pencil test) but I feel uncomfortable without a bra. My solution with spaghetti strap tank tops is to get one of those stretchy Lycra, pull-over type bras with thin straps. The bra has enough support that I feel secure but the skinny straps (no buckles or bra type staps) and cut of the pull-over bra make it look like you’re just layering tank tops.
its a shame that women can’t wear something comfortable without being considered trashy.
Its just breasts!
I used to wear a strapless but it always slid becasue my left one is a size bigger than the right.
I get spaghetti strap tops with bras built in.
I absolutely detest the look of bra straps hanging out. It’s underwear, you wear it UNDER, you know? I also don’t like the braless look, but maybe I’m just a prude. I am a very big fan of tanks with built-in “shelf bras” and I wear these all the time. Nice smooth look, a little support, no tacky foundation garment lines.
I too can pass the pencil test, not because of an abundance of perk, sadly, but rather a lack of any va-voom. Last year I found tanks with not only built-in bras, but BUILT-IN BOOBS! Really, they’re push-up cups and underwires in the tank top, but for the first time in my life I have cleavage!!
I second the “bra straps showing is tacky” thingie.
I rarely wear a bra (only to work, or with family). Some people think THAT’S tacky - Ces’t la vie!
I think the general rule is that the bra strap is supposed to be narrower than the straps on the top you’re wearing. This means, strapless bras or built-in bras for tops with spagetti straps - or none at all.
I also hate women who wear bras with halter/backless tops. Nothing looks dumber than a dingy strap across a bare back - unless all you’re wearing is a bra.
They make them now with the bras built in. (“Shelf” bras.) They’re not a specialty item either, they were all over the place last season and fairly inexpensive. ($5-$10.) Of course I think wearing a tank top AT ALL looks trashy. Why would you unless you work at HOOTERS or are going to a monster truck rally?
Uhhummum… neither…
I have to go now.
The reason I wear them is because it gets darn hot in the summer in Ohio and we don’t have air conditioning. And when I am working outside when it is 95 and humid, I want as little clothing on me as possible.
And I am a bit to large to wear those shelf tanks and be comfortable. After a while, they just hurt, if I am moving around. But my straps are always covered, thank you