But we, like many scholars, were surprised to find that the world's oldest bra predates not only Victoria's Secret but Queen Victoria herself. Discovered in an Austrian castle, this linen number is estimated to be about 600 years old.
That was the day the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to Mary Phelps Jacobs for the garment she called a "brassiere." The necessity that drove Jacobs's invention came down, in this case, to the fashion trends of early-20th-century America.
Although it can look different from one object to the other, antique brass is generally a heavy, deep golden brown. It's not a bright, shiny metal - in fact its beauty lies in its mellow antiquity.
Mary Phelps Jacob (also known as Caresse Crosby) patented the most frequently referenced modern brassiere in 1914, after making one from two handkerchiefs to wear under an evening dress. Although her design was not a huge commercial success, the “bra” was established as an essential underpinning by 1917.
According to Life magazine, in 1889 Herminie Cadolle of France invented the first modern bra. It appeared in a corset catalogue as a two-piece undergarment, which she originally called the corselet gorge, and later le bien-être (or "the well-being").
On 3 November 1914, the newly formed US patent category for "brassieres" was inaugurated with the first patent issued to Mary Phelps Jacob, later and better known as Caresse Crosby. In the 1930s, brassiere/brassière was gradually shortened to bra.
The first is that bras help maintain the shape and volume of breasts, so they don't sag or droop as much. Another reason women should wear a bra is that it provides support during exercise and physical activity, which can keep breast tissue from rubbing against your clothing too hard, reducing discomfort.
While some early cultures didn't wear bras at all, others took cloth in the shape of a bandeau and wore it around their breasts. Over time, women began to wear corsets and girdles designed more to shape their bodies (uncomfortably at that) than to support breasts, although they did provide lift.
The first-ever bra most likely dates back to ancient Greece, when women wrapped a band of wool or linen across their breasts, pinning or tying them in the back. Corsets didn't show up until around 1500 and quickly became mandatory for middle- and upper-class women in Western society.
brassiere. noun. bras·siere brə-ˈzi(ə)r. also ˌbras-ē-ˈe(ə)r. : a woman's close-fitting undergarment to cover and support the breasts.
It was during this decade that Hollywood starlets like Patti Page, Marilyn Monroe and Lana Turner popularized the cone-shaped, spiral-stitched bullet bra. The early 1960s came along and so did the Wonderbra!
The intention behind the invention of the bra was to provide support for the breasts, but nowadays, it is debated whether all women need to have their breasts supported at all times.
The dudou (literally 'belly cover') is a type of old-fashioned Chinese bra first worn in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and then in the Qing Dynasty. Unlike bras today, the dudou was worn to flatten the breasts as flat-chested women were thought to be graceful while busty women were considered a temptation.
On 3 November 1914, the bra was patented in the United States and officially became part of the world of dress, courtesy of Mary Phelps Jacob (aka Caresse Crosby).
New York City socialite Mary Phelps Jacob invented and patented the first modern bra using two silk handkerchiefs and a pink ribbon. Also called the “backless bra,” her invention was lightweight, soft, comfortable, and naturally separated the breasts.
While Dr. Ahmad sees some benefit to wearing a bra, he says you shouldn't wear one all day, every day. "Wearing a bra all the time is also not good for your health," he says. "It will cause increased sweating, which will clog the skin pores and cause irritation and itching."
Satin, crepe, batiste, and coutil were also popular in light pastel colors. Typically, women wore a bandeau brassiere to flatten the bust. In the early 1920s, some structure such as light boning was still utilized. As the decade progressed, however, these bras became less structured and considerably smaller.
There's nothing wrong with wearing a bra while you sleep if that's what you're comfortable with. Sleeping in a bra will not make a girl's breasts perkier or prevent them from getting saggy. And it will not stop breasts from growing or cause breast cancer.
As a woman gets older, the ligaments that make up the breast tissue stretch and lose elasticity. As a result, breast fullness is compromised as the underlying support system of tissue and fat diminishes. A change may be particularly evident during menopause.
You've heard the old wives' tales time and time again, that sleeping in a bra can stunt breast growth, cause breast cancer, or alternatively, prevent breasts from sagging. But contrary to popular belief, there's no medical evidence that says it's bad to sleep with a bra on.
The number of hooks on a bra is based on the actual width of the bra at the back closure. And, the width of the back of the bra is really proportionate to cup size. Small cup sizes only require 1 or 2 hooks. Bigger cup sizes can require 3, 4, or 5 hooks.
A brassiere is the same as a bra.
Even with gentle usage and care, all bras will lose their shape over time as the elastic fibres in the band and straps begins to deteriorate. It's generally recommended that a bra should last anywhere between 6-9 months, although we think that with good care your bras should last a lot longer.
In addition to loincloths, medieval men wore an entirely different type of underpants called braies. Women of the period might have worn a breast band called a strophium or mamillare made from linen or leather.