Have you ever seen a French woman wearing a padded push-up bra?
Well I haven’t. The simplicity of chic may carry more than just sex appeal, it could also be the key to a healthy bosom. While so many of us are prowling the underwear department for sexy bras, celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway dumped the idea a long time ago. Olivia Wilde, Lindsay Lohan and Rihanna have also made the obvious point that going braless is certainly sexy.
Are French Breasts Firmer?
Sports science researcher Jean-Denis Rouillon, a professor at the University of Franche-Comté in Besancon, France, led a 15-year study that suggests wearing bras may not prevent women’s breasts from sagging, and in fact, may increase it. (1)
Prof Rouillon examined the breasts of 330 women aged between 18 and 35 with varying breast sizes. Over time Rouillon found that the women who did not use bras developed more muscle tissue and tone to provide natural support. Plus, his team noticed the position of the nipples on the bra-free 
breasts were on average seven millimeters higher in relation to the shoulders, than breasts from bra users.
The findings suggested that wearing a bra from an early age did nothing to help support the chest, reduce back pain or prevent breast sagging. The team claimed that bras could in fact hamper circulation, prevent muscle tissue from developing and reduce breast tone over time.
“Our first results confirm the hypothesis that the bra is a false need.” Rouillon told France Info that, “Medically, physiologically, anatomically breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. (2) On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.” At the same time, the team is clear this is a preliminary study that does not represent the general population, and further research on the subject is needed.
Dr Stafford Broumand, a plastic surgeon at Mount Sinai Medical Center commented to Refinery29 on the studies findings, “On the surface, this claim seems plausible. For younger women, not wearing a bra will lead to increased collagen production and elasticity, which improves lift in a developing breast. Also, tension on the connective tissue and ligaments supporting the breast can be beneficial to prevent sagging.” (3)
But, according to Dr Broumand, the same is not true of older or pregnant women. For many women there are times, such as vigorous exercise, when some form of comfortable support is appreciated.
Going Braless
Going braless might not just be good for your breasts. There were reports from women who have ditched their bras that experienced improved self esteem and who felt more liberated overall as women. Plus their breasts also lifted and got toned within a few months of being bra-free.
Personally, I feel the moral to this tale is only wear bras when really necessary. Make sure they aren’t too tight. Avoid poky parts such as an underwire. Try and find extremely comfortable yet pretty bras in natural fabrics for those odd occasions, and of course shop for tops and dresses that make your breasts look spectacular without the need for a fancy brassiere.