Purpose of a training bra.
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Purpose of a training bra.
| Thu, 07-21-2005 - 6:30pm |
A recent post on one of the iVillage boards mentioned that a woman got her first bra at 12, a training one, though there wasn't much to train. I've wondered about this for years. I have to imagine that most girls getting their first bra don't exactly need to be concerned with "lift and seperate". What's the purpose of training bras?

A training bra protects the breast buds from irritation. It also "trains" a girl in how to put a bra on & take it off (not so complicated now with front closure bras).
It also provides an additional opaque layer over the nipples (which are very dark at this age) so that they are hidden from view thru lighter coloured clothing such as blouses, golf shirts or T-shirts.
Big
the EDIT removed a line that another poster, on another board, found offensive. I apologize for upsetting that poster. While I don't intend to provoke readers, I tend to type first and think afterwards. I'm sorry for the remark (I did not foresee the context in which the poster would read it) and shall be more cautious in future.
Edited 7/22/2005 7:56 am ET ET by bigwhang
Big, you edited your post - I thought that line was the funniest thing I'd read in ages. And I did not consider it at all offensive. Quite frankly, it took me back to my own teen years and remembering the lads who 'trained' on my training bras. The only dumb thing about it is that the training bras I had clipped up at the front - where as men need to learn to undo the backs on a real bra LOL.
I had meant to comment at the time of reading, but iVillage died while I was writing. It was only upon seeing all the kerfuffle on another post that I rembered to come and post my reply.
To mancreature: another reason for 'training bras' is that they give the girl some modesty in the changeroom and also means that her friends don't have to see boobs. I remember one time when I hadn't worn mine to school. I was chatting to my friends while changing (and braless)in the gym changeroom and they ended up saying "Oh, Aisha - cover up - we don't want to see your boobs!"
Edited 7/24/2005 1:53 am ET ET by iv_aisha2004
LOL I was still wearing a training bra at age 14! Hence the memories. I was well into in my mid teens before I graduated into a real bra. Oh those bras were horrible. Mum didn't teach me about getting properly fitted - I just wore horrible ugly things that were baggy in places - I even remember hand altering one so that it would fit me better. Young girls these days have much prettier options than what I wore. And I'll teach DD that as soon as she needs a proper bra, she should get professionally fitted every time she changes style.
Guys never had cooties for me. There was always someone who I was madly in love with (not that the passion was ever returned). Come to think of it, I can remember various crushes that I've had since age 5. Mum and dad have a tape recording (pre-video) of me at age 4 saying that I had 4 boyfriends at preschool. LOL
Oh the wounded pride! And so much more acute at that age.
I wouldn't have gone back either.