Saturday, October 22, 2011

Heaving Bosoms

Most historical writers could probably write a Thesis Paper on the corset. They look pretty sexy, but in reality they were seriously constricting to the point of creating health problems. The reason women fainted so often or swooned was because the corset restricted their breathing. With only the top part of your lungs able to fill with air, the constricted lower parts of the lungs filled with phlegm. It also created other catastrophic health problems due to the pressure exerted on the internal organs.

These days we are lucky girls, our corsets are made with plastic boning, instead of things like steel and Baleen from the throats of Whales. Most of us don’t have to wear a corset day in and day out either, however many of us wear Bras. The Brassiere is one of the sleek and beautiful Granddaughters of the corset, the girdle another.

We have a plethora in the types of Bras available; the rocket bra, the push up bra, the water bra, the padded bra, the seamless bra, the U plunge bra, the sports bra and so on. They come in fabulous colors, materials and beautiful designs. Even underwire bras have little spring loads at the ends of the wire for easier movement in the design. I think that people that design bras must be structural engineers.

There are a lot of us running around in the wrong sized bra. Your breast shape changes not just over the years, but over the monthly cycle as well. Also weight gain and weight loss can render a bra that once fit – not so fitting. I hear pregnancy can totally change the landscape. An ill fitted bra can give you bad posture and or dig into your skin. Not to mention sometimes it just doesn’t look right. Many department stores have ladies in lingerie that can measure you and give you a pretty good assessment of what bra size is best. If you haven’t done this before, I say give it a whirl, make a day of it with your girls.
If you can, only wear your bra for 12 hours a day. I even hold this rule for tight clothing like jeans or socks. If something is pressing into your flesh hard enough to leave an imprint don’t wear it all day. Your body has to have the space to pump all the precious fluids you are filled with. If it is uncomfortable for you to let the girls be free, try wearing a spandex/cotton tee shirt a size smaller.
Another thing I also encourage readers to do is a breast exam. You can Google Breast exam and find great information, even Youtube instructional videos, there is a good one by a gorgeous, beauty name Olivia. I know the ideal is once a month, I have not been so diligent, I am going to have to pencil it in my calendar -like a date with my girls from now on. Someone might discourage it later but I like to use my favorite lotion. Make the exam a beauty treatment too. Concubines for Chinese Emperors used rollers made of Jade to massage their breasts for optimum beauty. I imagine this was also really good for moving fluids in the lymph tissues well.

One more thing while we’re on the subject - don’t forget to get your mammogram if you are of that age or certain risk factor. I know, I know, I just had one last week and it wasn’t comfortable. But I gotta say it can’t be as bad for me, as it is for the men who have to have that done on their testicles. I give it up to them, big applause for the strength to get through that. I look forward to the day, when some blessed genius designs a comfortable, highly accurate mammogram screening.
So while some of you are donning your saucy pirate wench corset this Halloween, be glad it’s not made of steel and choking your innards. I’m sure you’ll look very sexy!
October is Breast cancer awareness month. Be aware and share with your friends- Love your girls and take good care of them. Aye Mateys, have a rousin’ All Hallows Eve!


Carmen Williams

11 comments:

Vee Worthy said...

Interesting blog on boobies and the things used to cover and lift them! I have never liked wearing bras, but it seemed the decent thing to do if I was out in public. Nowadays, girls wear bras so the straps contrast with their outfits. That used to be considered so trashy back when I was a girl and it's hard for me to see my nearly-16 year old wear her blue bra with her red scoop-neck blouse with the straps showing. I have been known to walk past her with my hand over my eyes.

Vee Worthy said...

Interesting blog on boobies and the things used to cover and lift them! I have never liked wearing bras, but it seemed the decent thing to do if I was out in public. Nowadays, girls wear bras so the straps contrast with their outfits. That used to be considered so trashy back when I was a girl and it's hard for me to see my nearly-16 year old wear her blue bra with her red scoop-neck blouse with the straps showing. I have been known to walk past her with my hand over my eyes.

LizbethSelvig said...

Carmen!
What an important blog topic. I have often thought about how horrid it would have been to have to dress like laddies of the past. I think it's why period clothing has never, ever interested me -- it's just not all that much fun to imagine wearing. But the whole ill-fitting bra/don't wear your bra more than 12 hours thing is wonderful. I'd go braless far more often if I didn't wear a size 38-long (and there are some thing people just don't want to see)!

Thanks for a wonderful history lesson that is soooo important today!

Pauline Trent said...

A good reminder for all of us! All PSAs should be so fun and well written. :)

Tiffinie Helmer said...

Great post, Carmen! I need to go get my girls squeezed. Thanks for the reminder and how lucky we are to live in this day and age.

Lynn Lovegreen said...

Great blog, Carmen. I hate wearing a bra, so thanks for saying I shouldn't do it over 12 hours a day. And I agree it is worth doing that uncomfortable exam to keep our girls healthy. Everybody go get a mammogram! :-)

Anonymous said...

Carmen, Thanks. We are lucky girls.
Great post.

Jae Awkins said...

Hey Carmen - great topic for this month's blog...thanks for posting!!

Karen McCullough said...

Interesting topic and some important reminders for all of us. And another reason I'm glad I live today and not 100 to 200 years ago.

Jane Toombs said...

I'm glad my days of girdle-weaing are over. I hated girdles. My gradmother wore an old-fashioned corset until the day she died at 95She had permanent sores from where the garters attached but wouldn't give up the corset. I do not know how she stood it. Enjoyed the blog. Jane

Jane Toombs said...

I wore girdles as a young matron and hated them. I can't imagine wearing a corset. But my grandmother wore one until the day she died at 95. She had a nasty sore on one thigh from where the garter attached to the corset, but wore it anyway. Girdle-free, braleas Jane, who now wears undershirts and is entirely comfortable. I even look decent. But then I'm old bat now. Enjoyed this blog.