The short version is: take off your bra
The short version is: take off your bra. But wait, that's the long version too.
A year ago, I posted a screenshot of a perfect Tumblr post (Tumblr is an equally cursed and blessed space, and I rejoice in it) on Twitter. It was a text post (the OP has since deleted their tumblr, sadly), written a couple years back in that lovely Tumblr dialect — minimal punctuation in almost a stream of consciousness — and it was about Rihanna, and her magnificent breasts.
"man rihanna titties must be so happy," the post muses, chin-strokingly. It ends with a promise: "nah this summer i’m treating my titties right riri style. sheer top no bra yup just me and my nipples my nipples and me." I'm here to tell you that while I cannot bring myself to go the 'sheer top' route just yet, I can enthusiastically recommending leaving your bra at home a few times this summer. Just try it. I've slowly been incorporating the habit into my 2018 life — I've done it in at least three states over the last couple of months — and listen, I am a changed person. They are after all, just breasts. And bras, even well constructed, expensive and supportive ones, are still pseudo-cages. I probably sound tiny-titted but let me be clear: I am not Shakira.
If I sound like a shill for Big Braless, I apologise. All I can say is If it will cause you no pain or discomfort; if the only barrier to freeboobing is that you might feel ~weird~ then please, let me take you by the hand and lead you down this path. Join me, and say under your breath as you stare too hard at your chest in the hallway mirror just before you leave your apartment: they're just breasts, man.
Some salient points:
1) remember that it's not like you're going trampolining (I don't know your life, are you? Wear a bra, then). You are just moving about your city, same as anyone else — perhaps boarding a train or a plane, seeing friends and eating a meal, hanging out on at a roof top bra —and doing so braless.
2) There might be a little more bounce, and that may feel odd or off to you. This is normal. Lean In. Take the bounce in stride, and try to match it to the swing of your hair, on the 2 and 4. Ask yourself what Rihanna might do.
3) Perhaps their unencumbered movement will catch a stranger-in-the-street's eye. I find it useful to remember that they will walk past me in about 2.7 seconds, the memory of me and my allegedly scattershot breasts will fade into the background blur of everyday life, and neither the observer nor I will be scarred by it. Consider, if you will, this timeless comment from one of our greatest R&B sages, Cassie: STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A TITTY BEFORE.
That's it. That's all. One day we'll all be dead and none of this will matter. It'll be fine, I promise.
Happy summer to ya!