Polly Vernon
How feminist is your bra? I ask because Hayat Rachi thinks it’s probably not adequately feminist, which is why she’s launched a range of bras that (she says) defifinitely is, called Neon Moon. The feminism comes from the bras being advertised with images of non-standard, non-digitally altered, racially diverse models which is of course fab, only I can’t help but notice all the models are pretty standard-looking in terms of all being really young. I guess there’s ‘diverse images of womanhood’ and then there’s old, right? Anyway. Rachi also says her bras are feminist in that they don’t ‘sexualise women… purely for the male gaze’, which is fine, except I’m not sure sexiness stands in opposition to feminism, and also: last time I looked, I found the world to be already filled with not especially sexy bras; the world… and my bras and pants drawer, in which, the ol’ T- shirt bra reigns supreme! Perhaps I’m just too old to get it (I’m certainly too old to feature in Neon Moon’s diverse ad campaigns), but I’ve never felt especially sexually objectifified by a T-shirt bra. Also, mine cost, like, £60, while Neon Moon’s are £99 a go; but maybe that’s just what you have to pay to not be oppressed by your own underwear.
Or maybe not. Lena Dunham and Jemima Kirke do not seem to share Rachi’s ideas re: the intrinsically disempowering impact of sexy lacy nipple-displaying bras, which is why they’re modelling some for lingerie brand Lonely Girl. These images haven’t been digitally altered either, plus they make luscious reference to Dunham and Kirke’s stomachs, thighs and tatts and the complications and intimacy of their real-life friendship; into all of which is intermingled messages about the potency, legit sexiness and absolute relevance of the female-on-female-body gaze. So there I was, thinking Dunham and Kirke were winning the feminist bra wars (™), when, last week, Serena Williams appeared on a red carpet wearing only a sports bra with her skirt suit, looking so hot, so strong, so ‘Screw you all, I’m Serena Williams,’ that all I wanted to do was see if I could pass off a sports bra as a top in a formal situation, too. I’m doing it right now, actually.