“Bold, rad, badass,” were the comments on my outfit, a 60s crochet bra on bare skin under an unbuttoned oversized coat. My booties said “Do Ya Thing.”

So what, you might say. Celebs started in 2017 to show their bras on naked skin, under jackets and even instead of a top. Now it’s a trend, big deal… You’re right. Badassery is easy when you’re famous, young and with a physique chiseled to society’s perfection.

In midlife our bodies are often not what perfect describes. Worse, ageism awaits us with jail jackets of suffocating judgments. Older women claiming their sass are answered by casting calls for the crazy old chick. The media presents wild grandmas, who are “so cute” making the best of their saggy features. Some of us chime in and self deprecate. I swing weights lying on my blue exercise ball and tell my boobs to keep it up.

Experiments with out-of-the-box fashion like showing our lingerie are playful and more; we are training our fierce like in a boxing ring where we exercise who we are and what we want. Do we throw the towel adhering to old-fashioned values or swing the bralette of liberation?

“Take your lingerie out of the closet” is the challenge of today.

The first time I exposed a bra under a coat was at an art opening where bold fashion is applauded and we leave age at the door. Empowered, I stepped into a late-open supermarket to buy dog food after. A couple criticizing smirks hit my warrior’s shield. A head was shaken. I smiled back. I did my thing. No eggs were thrown.

Not every rebellious fashion act has made me happy. This outfit did. Old chicks aren’t sexy? Give me a break.

As woke women we dislike bras because of the negative sexist connotations. Badassery in midlife puts a new spin to it; showing off bras is rebellious. It says old chicks are a sensual force to reckon with, sexy in an evolved, aware, self-loving way. I don’t reveal lingerie as a lure on a cougar path but style myself as art, which explores meaning and ruffles mindsets. My curious inner child enjoys dismantling her toys to get to their secret, and my adult smiles about our sometimes-silly daring.

Sexy at 60 stands up to ageism and takes a punch at sexism. We reframe how we want to be seen; the path to our truth might guide us to the wisdom of Rebel Barbie, the power of Barbarella’s innocence or the victorious secrets of our past stories. Bras on stage provoke us to explore what they mean to us and that counts for all ages; are we following the herd or styling from the insight out?

I’m often bra-less under my outfits as less restriction lets me breathe easier.  And, even if I never was a hippie, the passionate calls for liberation of the 60s and 70s left an undeniable imprint. Bare boobs entered German magazines as a cultural revolution reminding us of ancient paintings, where the naked bosom was revered.

The history of women’s breasts is a fascinating account of repression and liberation. Women have used a variety of garments and devices to cover, restrain, hide, reveal, flatten or enhance the appearance of their breasts. The style responded to society’s demands disrupted by a few attempts to reclaim ownership of our bodies.

Before they became push-up and plunge bras, used to enhance cleavage or padded to pretend voluptuous fullness, bras began as an anti-repression and physical freedom support. Only about 120 years ago the separation into bra and girdle ended the health threatening, suffocating, immobile dolls producing use of corsets. Feminists claimed that greater participation of women in society required emancipation from corsetry, a need for greater mobility outside and in. In 1874 Elizabeth Stuart Phelps urged to “Burn the corsets.” “Burn the bras,” was a feminist slogan in more recent decades.

After I put my dislike of glorifying body parts aside, I appreciate my breasts. My social conditioning tells me they’re cute. My rebel tells me that in a society putting so much importance on their styling I shall continue to treat bras, bralettes, bustiers and even corselets as sidekicks for women power.

You might discover a new fierce allowing your bras to come out of the closet.

How to style your liberated lingerie

• Bralette over a T-shirt for an easygoing and edgy outfit.
• Bustiers over blouses
• Bras over or under a transparent shirt or dress
• Show a bralette under a blazer or coat in lieu of a top
• Pair it with an unbuttoned vest or kimono
• Show it under a loose crochet sweater
• Sport it under or over fishnet tops
• Let stylish bralettes peep out from beneath tank tops
• Wear a lingerie top under a cape

Tricks for the self conscious midlife woman

Combine the bralette with high waist pants

Use mesh tops with long sleeves

Button your jacket on the lower end if you’re nervous to reveal too much belly

Empowerment tips

• Try the style at home or in a clothing store’s dressing cabin, note the feelings coming up looking at your mirror image.
• Take a selfie.
• Post it on your favorite social platform. Is it scary, fun, empowering, rebellious?
• Use your followers’ comments to dig deeper, what’s your personal story with breasts, bras and sensuality?
• Test your daring and wear your outfit on the street.
• Observe your feelings, post a selfie of your real world experience.

I’m in a black vinyl bustier over a mesh top today; allowing the courtesan who is part of my genetic code to step into 2020.

I wear my story on my skin. I’d love to see yours.

See more photos on Youtube https://bit.ly/3359mkk

We also celebrate #womenshistorymonth at Instagram@agelessrebelmagic