Let's be honest—wearing a bra can be a pain in the, err, bust, what with underwires, straps and hooks making their way into the picture. So it's no wonder going braless can feel as freeing as slipping out of a pair of stilettos after a long day.

But the trend of going sans bra off the runway raises its own set of issues. Letting the girls loose may be easier for women with smaller breasts than for those who are larger chested, and going braless for a night out requires a different support system than doing so at family brunch.

And lest we forget: the deed has been contested socially (think bra burners versus their conservative counterparts) as it has been medically; while the benefits of bras are mostly anecdotal, some studies show that going bra free reduces shoulder pain, and that wearing bras can actually increase sagging.

So to make things a little easier on the days you'd rather let your breasts go unfettered, we've put together a guide for bra alternatives. From making sure you don't pull a nipplegate a la Janet Jackson to picking out complementary clothing, we've got you covered.

Nipple Coverage for Small-Chested Women

One of the biggest concerns when going braless is nipple exposure, says Elisabeth Dale, author of bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls and founder of TheBreastLife.com

Ultimately, just how much coverage you need depends on the size of your breast.

"Smaller breasted women who are perkier can get away with almost any products," says Dale. This includes barely there coverage. But any woman, no matter her size, can have sensitivity issues, so make sure to choose one that works for you.

Try: Commando's Low Beams nipple concealer adhesives (5 pairs for $12, wearcommando.com). The covers have a smooth center and are thin, like band-aids, but offer greater protection with latex-free adhesives. "They're small, and they just stick on you," says Dale.

Nipple Coverage for the Well-Endowed

For women with larger breasts, or for those who want extra protection, silicone nipple covers are the way to go, says Jennifer Manuel Carroll, co-author of Underneath It All: A Girl's Guide to Buying, Wearing and Loving Lingerie.

This type of pasty adjusts to the body's curves, offers smooth coverage and is versatile enough to wear under garments for family-friendly occasions.

"You can buy them with or without adhesives," says Carroll. "The ones without adhesives work perfectly fine, so if you're scared of glue, they still do the job." Just be sure to wear the non-adhesive pasties under tight-fitting clothes that will hold them up.

Try: Nippies Skin ($24 for one pair, bristols6.com). These silicone pasties come with thin edges that blend into the skin and have a matte finish so they won't reflect through clothes in photos. They come in adhesive and non-adhesive styles, and light and dark color options. They are also washable, so you can reuse them!

And to prevent the look of sagging, Dale recommends a special lifting product for larger breasted or older women.



Try: Bring It Up Breast Shapers ($34 for one pair, bringitup.com). The shaping cups lift the breast from the top using their patented Bring It Up method and stretch to adjust to size. They can be reused up to 25 times and come in four colors: clear, espresso, nude, and coffee.



Adhesives

Whether you choose to go braless with protection like pasties or completely bare, there's always the chance that wardrobe malfunctions will occur, exposing your underside. In this case, some extra stick will do the trick.

Try: Fashion tape like Hollywood Fashion Secrets Special Occasion Tape ($9.99, hollywoodfashionsecrets.com). It's something bra-ditching women should keep handy all the time, says Dale. "It's small enough to use with just about any garment and will double stick to the skin so clothes won't be falling open." We like. Plus, it works for all sorts of other things, like keeping straps in place and hemming pants. Bonus!

Comes with 30 pieces of tape in five sizes like trapezoid, wide and skinny.

Also try: Roll-On Body Adhesive ($25, ). It will help garments stay in place by providing adhesion between skin and clothing. Jobst "It Stays!"



Built-In Bras

One way to enjoy the comfort of bralessness is by wearing a top with a shelf bra, says Shirley Archer, author of Busting Out: Putting Your Best Breasts Forward. "Too much compression may interfere with the lymphatic flow, but camisole or tank tops are not overly restrictive."

To make sure you're still getting adequate support though, it's a good idea to wear a top made for light exercise, recommends Carroll. "Anything designed for yoga or Pilates is acceptable for daily wear."

Try: i am BEYOND's Original Cami ($62, beyondyoga.com). This classic cami comes with adjustable straps and flatlock seams to prevent irritation. It's made from soft Supplex and Lycra.

Bandeau Bra

Despite the word 'bra' in the title, these tube-top bands come without the discomfort of wires while offering great protection. Plus, many brands now come with built in loops and optional adjustable straps. "If a woman wants to wear something low cut, this serves as a bra for them because it's tight enough for support," says Dale. Ideal for women with smaller cup sizes, bandeau bras can be worn alone under clothing and most come in different colors and styles so that if they peak through, it just might look intentional.

Try: Braza Wild Card Bandeau Bra ($18, brazabra.com). This tube comes with molded, wire-free cups and removable contour pads for extra shape and enhancement.

Fun Pasties

Decorative, sometimes outlandish, pasties have gained popularity, and Carroll, who owns her own lingerie shop, Bellefleur Lingerie, in Seattle, is a witness to the trend. "Women will come in for sequined sparkly nipple covers and buy ten packs of them because they're fun and have personality," she says. Typically, these are women who are dressing for a night on the town, or making trips to hotspots like Las Vegas. "They are wearing low-cut racy dresses and if something slips, they want something cute showing—not just a patch."

Others, she says, will wear them underneath sheer shirts to show them off at festivals like Burning Man.

For those daring enough to rock this trend, Try: Nippies Patch of Freedom ($15 for two pairs, bristols6.com). This pasty line comes in all different colors and shapes, like these pink sequined butterfly covers.

Gel Bras

Even Susan Nethero—known as the Bra Whisperer who founded Intimacy boutiques nationwide—can tell you the benefits of wearing gel bras as opposed to traditional ones.

When wearing certain clothes, like sundresses, this pseudo bra, offers "a nice contour shape that you wouldn't get with an under wire, and the pad is light enough that you don't have to worry it's there." Still, says Nethero, "it's got a clasp in the center that gives a little more volume and adds to the bust line without wearing a full blown bra."

In other words, this style still offers bra-like support without the, well, bra part.

Try: NuBra Feather Lite ($30, nubra.com). This light-weight self-adhesive bra is free of any shoulder and side straps. $30

Dos and Don't for Going Braless

DON'TS:

Don't wear silk or the really light-weight fabrics. Though it feels soft against the skin, it will easily show nipples or the bumps caused by pasties.

Don't rely on cotton, either. It tends to wick moisture, but the fiber holds the dampness and doesn't evaporate it like a technical material; instead, look for clothing made out of microfibers or bamboo.

Don't wear clothes with boat-neck or flowy, loose-fitting tops— you are more likely to have a wardrobe malfunction when bending or reaching down.

Don't go braless in a tube top or strapless dress if you are busty (full C or D cup and above). Your breasts will get compressed and have a sinking look to them. "It's not the most attractive scenario."

Don't go braless in inappropriate scenarios, especially in a professional or work setting. Always use the rules of common sense.

DOS:

Do wear halter tops and dresses that you can tie yourself, especially if you are bigger breasted. This way, you can decide on the level of support you're getting.

Do go for clothes with under-bust support like empire dresses; they are the most friendly for going braless.

Do wear sunscreen because the skin on the décolletage is angled up to the sun and the skin there is very thin and more sensitive.

Do take good care of adhesives; wash them with lingerie soap. When washing and drying bras, always hook clasps together. It helps prevent the hooks from getting caught on other items in the machine and also helps keep it from stretching so it maintains it original shape.

Do know that all women's breasts are different. Breasts aren't just flat or round, and nipples aren't just innies or outies. Going braless will be a different experience for everyone, and all women should be accepting of that.

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