Tanks, tubes and spaghetti strap tops are back and seem to be all the rage. However, for obvious reasons, some women and young girls cannot or should not wear them.

Forget the sixties’ ‘ban the bra’ and ‘burn the bra’ statements, women with ‘C’ cup sizes and above and those who have borne and nursed children should always wear a bra when venturing outside their homes.

Some women, who obviously subscribe to this, have been wearing bras with their sleeveless, tanks, tubes and spaghetti tops. The result? The sometimes unsightly pairing of mismatched bras and tops. Those who are aware that the combination is uninspiring can be found constantly adjusting the straps in the hope that they will somehow remain hidden. Occasionally, a dirty bra strap (ugh) has been sighted. Unfortunately, the fashion police seem to have all resigned.

A welcome relief came about with the advent of clear plastic bra straps and convertible bras which mean the straps can be moved from bra to bra and worn or not as desired.

These have since been updated to include coloured, patterned and even jewelled bra straps in thousands of varieties.

Nowadays, rather than wear a strapless bra, when necessary women are into making their bra straps just another accessory.

So for instance, you might see someone in a tube or spaghetti strap top with perfectly matched bra straps, earrings, necklace and hand band. Word has it that celebrities are into wearing bra straps made of pearls, crystals and others precious and semi-precious stones and that these are so exquisitely made that to the uninitiated they appear to be part of the dress or top.

Well some of us are still a bit strait laced and would rather not have part of our underwear on show regardless of how pretty it is, while for others the fad can’t get here fast enough. Local boutique owners, are you paying attention?

We at The Scene feel that if you are going to let your strap show anyhow or if there is even the off chance that might show, it would be better if it were pretty, clean and matched the top you are wearing. thestabroekscene@yahoo.com