While society has gradually done away with restrictive dress codes the textile industry has made great progress leading to the manufacture of more comfortable, more attractive and more practical underwear for modern women.
But that wasn't always the case; the modern-day brassiere has been around for less than 150 years.
In ancient times
A few centuries before Christ, women sought to hide their breasts. In the time of the Romans and Greeks, they wore "strophium", broad strips of cloth - often linen - that they draped around their bodies to erase their breasts. Other names for these ancestors bra: mastodetons or fascias. At that time, women clearly have an androgynous look.
A few centuries before Christ, women sought to hide their breasts. In the time of the Romans and Greeks, they wore "strophium", broad strips of cloth - often linen - that they draped around their bodies to erase their breasts. Other names for these ancestors bra: mastodetons or fascias. At that time, women clearly have an androgynous look.
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| Mastodetons or fascias, ancestors of the bra. |
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org
The bra in the Middle Ages
No more time when you want to prevent the development of breasts and where they are hidden. It's the beginning of clothes that showcase them. The dresses enhance the bust, the effects of the laces in the middle of the chest attract the eye and more the breasts seem "overflowing" the better it is! No, in fact the top is to see a nipple leaking under the tissues.
No more time when you want to prevent the development of breasts and where they are hidden. It's the beginning of clothes that showcase them. The dresses enhance the bust, the effects of the laces in the middle of the chest attract the eye and more the breasts seem "overflowing" the better it is! No, in fact the top is to see a nipple leaking under the tissues.
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| The dresses enhance the bust. |
Source: http://www.madmoizelle.com
The long time of the corset
The corset lasted for about 400 years, from the 15th to the 20th century. Its purpose: to compress the waist to the maximum to bring out the hips and chest with laces, whales and stems. As a result, he sculpts, molds, supports and stifles the body. First, they are made with pieces of wood and then with pieces of metal. We can say that the 19th century is the peak of the corset, which now sports braces.
The corset lasted for about 400 years, from the 15th to the 20th century. Its purpose: to compress the waist to the maximum to bring out the hips and chest with laces, whales and stems. As a result, he sculpts, molds, supports and stifles the body. First, they are made with pieces of wood and then with pieces of metal. We can say that the 19th century is the peak of the corset, which now sports braces.
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| 19th century is the peak of the corset |
Although the corset is a pledge of femininity and sensuality, it remains that it receives a lot of criticism, because critics say that it causes various health problems and pain, such as abdominal and back muscle atrophy. Difficult to know if everything is true, but remains that physically the corset could look like real prisons, hindering women in their movements.
Vivienne Westwood was also one of the first designers to bring about the return of the corset. Vogue of September 1994 said that her 1985 uplift corset was her greatest design over a period of ten years. Designers loved lacing. And, of course, there is always Jean-Paul Gaultier who springs to mind because of his corset, this time in laced-up rose-coloured satin with cone-shaped cups, designed for Madonna.
Vivienne Westwood was also one of the first designers to bring about the return of the corset. Vogue of September 1994 said that her 1985 uplift corset was her greatest design over a period of ten years. Designers loved lacing. And, of course, there is always Jean-Paul Gaultier who springs to mind because of his corset, this time in laced-up rose-coloured satin with cone-shaped cups, designed for Madonna.
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| Vivienne Westwood Corset Top. |
Source: http://en.academic.ru
The first bra!
In 1889, at the World Fair in Paris, Hermine Cadolle presented a corset in two pieces, with a part ending under the chest. There you go! The ancestor of the bra made its appearance. However, the public was not conquered outright.
In 1889, at the World Fair in Paris, Hermine Cadolle presented a corset in two pieces, with a part ending under the chest. There you go! The ancestor of the bra made its appearance. However, the public was not conquered outright.
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| The first Modern bra! |
Source: http://www.angelitadice.com
In the dictionary
It is in 1904 that the words "gorget" and "brassiere" - terms to designate a bra - appear in the Larousse dictionary. Three years later, the famous Vogue magazine also popularized the word "brassiere".
Source: http://books.delcampe.fr
It is in 1904 that the words "gorget" and "brassiere" - terms to designate a bra - appear in the Larousse dictionary. Three years later, the famous Vogue magazine also popularized the word "brassiere".
Source: http://books.delcampe.fr
The invention of the hats
The first model bra made of two cups - triangles - connected together is created by an American named Mary Phelps Jacob in 1914. The First World War chases uncomfortable corsets.
The first model bra made of two cups - triangles - connected together is created by an American named Mary Phelps Jacob in 1914. The First World War chases uncomfortable corsets.
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| The first bra! |
During the 19th century in particular, elaborate and colourful underwear was associated with women of doubtful virtue. “Decent” women wore white underwear. During the Victorian era in England and the Second Empire in France, however (i.e. during the second half of the 19th century), colourful, decorative and seductive underwear began to be worn although it was considered the prerogative of married women. Women thus began to dress attractively for private moments and for their own pleasure.
Fashion pinups!
In the 50s, it's the era of push bras that make breasts a bit sharp, key elements of pin-up fifties!
In the 50s, it's the era of push bras that make breasts a bit sharp, key elements of pin-up fifties!
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| Marilyn Monroe and her bullet bra. |
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| Girl wearing a Bullet Bra. |
Source: http://www.ladytornade-shop.com
To the top!
In the mid-1960s, the Canadian company Canadelle marketed "push-up" bras that went up women's breasts and put it in good value. Since then, push-up models have multiplied and can be found in all the companies.
In the mid-1960s, the Canadian company Canadelle marketed "push-up" bras that went up women's breasts and put it in good value. Since then, push-up models have multiplied and can be found in all the companies.
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| First push-up Bra. |
Source: http://www.shoppingactu.com
Revolution!
In the 70s, in full sexual revolution, women get rid of their bra. Many throw them away, preferring not to wear anything under their clothes.
In the 70s, in full sexual revolution, women get rid of their bra. Many throw them away, preferring not to wear anything under their clothes.
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| Women get rid of their bra. |
Source: http://blog.plafonddeverre.fr
- In 1875, manufacturers George Frost and George Phelps patented the "Union Under-Flannel," a no bones, no eyelets and no laces or pulleys under-outfit.
- In 1893, a woman named Marie Tucek patented the "breast supporter." The device included separate pockets for the breasts and straps that went over the shoulder, fastened by hook-and-eye closures.
- In 1889, corset-maker Herminie Cadolle invented the "Well-Being" or "Bien-être," a bra-like device sold as a health aid. The corset's support for the breasts squeezed up from below. Cadolle changed breast support to the shoulders down.
- World War I dealt the corset a fatal blow when the U.S. War Industries Board called on women to stop buying corsets in 1917. It freed up some 28,000 tons of metal!
- In 1928, a Russian immigrant named Ida Rosenthal founded Maidenform. Ida was responsible for grouping women into bust-sized categories (cup sizes).
In the same year that Victoria's Secret was founded, Lisa Lindahl and childhood friend Polly Smith dreamed up the first sports bra out of two jock straps. The two teamed up with Hinda Miller—a clothing designer and avid runner like Lisa—and created the final product, which they named the Jogbra. Lisa and Hinda went on to create a company which manufactured and sold the product. Talk about an awesome DIY project.
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| The Firs Sport Bra. |
The Dawn of Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is founded by Stanford MBA Roy Raymond in San Francisco, CA. Turns out Raymond felt uncomfortable shopping for lingerie for his wife in a department store, so he made his own undergarments-only store. He sold Victoria's Secret to The Limited, Inc.(now Limited Brands) in 1982.
The Cone Bra
Madonna rocks the cone bras and corsets designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for her Blond Ambition tour. Halloween costumes haven't been the same since.
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| Cone bra and corsets designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. |
The Bra Goes Red Hot
Although first crafted for the 1996 Victoria Secret catalog, the fantasy bra has been worn by Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks at the Victoria Secret fashion shows. But it was Gisele Bundchen who modeled the most expensive version in 2000—the Red Hot Fantasy Bra, valued at $15 million. Made from red satin and hand-cut Thai rubies and diamonds, it's listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most extravagant and expensive items of underwear ever created.
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| The Red Hot Fantasy Bra! |
The Centennial
The bra turns 100!
New Technology: A Memory Foam Bra
Lisca, a Slovenian company, creates the Smart Memory Bra. The cups of this bra are made from high-tech memory foam that reacts to body temperature and moves as you move. It sounds a lot like a Tempur-Pedic mattress, but in bra form.
2010: An Anti-Wrinkle Bra
La Decollette, a Dutch-designed bra, claims to smooth your existing cleavage wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming as you sleep. How does it work? It's cupless, with a middle piece of fabric (think of a sports bra, worn backwards) that separates the breasts, preventing the creases that inevitably form while you catch some Zs.
As the Average Bra Size Increases, We Welcome a New Cup Size
In 1996, the average bra size was a 34B. Since then, the average has gone up three cup sizes and one band size to a 36DD.
So how have bra manufacturers reacted to the increasing size of American breasts? Their products have grown too. Recently, UK-based lingerie company Bravissimo created the L cup bra size to accommodate the requests for something larger than the existing KK cup. Another company, Goddess, sells bras up to an N cup
Source: http://www.priceminister.com
Conclusions
Today, the choice of bras is huge! We want both comfort in an ultra
feminine look and femininity in a more sporty model. We find all the
colors, all the styles and all the needs like this one perfect to put on
a dress with plunging neckline.
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| Today, the choice of bras is huge! |
Each era develops its own aesthetic idea that replaces the previous one. Underwear plays a fundamental role in creating a fashionable silhouette. Changing shape is based on integral points in clothing: shoulders, waist, bust and hips.
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| Modern Corset. |
In a woman’s wardrobe there is no garment that is so symbolic of femininity as underwear. This is why underwear inspires so much desire and so many fantasies and dreams. It is the last step towards divesting a woman of her clothes before achieving total nudity. Western women were imprisoned in corsetry and hidden behind their lingerie for a long time, but today they have much more freedom of movement and freedom of choice in their underwear. Society is much less restrictive now than before.
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| New Soutien Gorge, La Perla Lingerie. |
Young girls are no longer obliged to wear white underwear to denote their virginity; red and black are no longer the reserve of prostitutes, and widows are no longer forced to follow colour codes imposed by their circumstances.
