What’s your prude level?

As I sat thinking about what to write about, I was drawn by how tightly the sash in these photos is drawn around my waist.  The belt wasn’t uncomfortable itself, but it made me ponder on the idea of corsets, and how truly uncomfortable those were. Victorian women did not have it so great.

Not that we’re really above that; Spanx are the equivalent of the modern day corset. Personally, when I see a woman purchase body-shaping wear, I want to scream, “GIRL, GET YO LUMPS ON.” Hiding that shit is too much damn work. Expensive, uncomfortable, damn work.

And yet, I still wear a bra. Is that not also restricting? The answer is yes, it is. I ran without one the other day—I usually work out wearing a compression bra—and was amazed by a phenomenon other runners refer to as “breathing.” Game changer! I was able to run so fast!

The second thing I do when I get home is take off my bra (the first is take off my pants, because admittedly that is way more importante), and it often provides the highest—well, second highest—sense of relief I will feel that day. The campaign to “free the nipple” is so dumb to me, because it seems obvious that people should embrace what humanity is: a species with nipples. Why is it that men can walk around without fear of repercussion for a nipplegate-type incident? Is it because their breasts—yes, breasts—aren’t sexualized? Tell that to the women who are Chippendales and Thunder Down Under fans. Every human being has nipples, because they’re formed before gender is even determined.  Just because mine can potentially produce milk, and that other dude’s can’t, doesn’t mean I should feel ashamed for what they are. And let’s not forget the hypocrisy of a bra that absurdly enhances a woman’s chest; it’s okay to squeeze them up and out of a shirt, but the second that nipple pops out . . . disgrace!

For a society that boasts how progressive it’s become, we’ve remained astonishingly prudish. If the argument for all this is to maintain a sense of decorum, let me tell you: Victorians were some real freaks in the sheets.

So let’s learn from the best! 

J. Crew tank; Zara ruffle top and faux leather shoes; BDG shorts; Vintage sash and bracelets; Handmade pom-pom necklace.