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.
According to Life magazine, in 1889, Herminie Cadolle of France invented the first modern bra. It appeared in a corset catalog as a two-piece undergarment, which she originally called the corselet gorge and later le bien-être (or "the well-being").
1869: The Split Corset
The top consisted of two straps to hold up the breasts, in what became the first iteration of the modern day bra. During this time, the split corset was sold in two parts; it wasn't until 1905 when the bra was sold separately.
The design trend for bras in the early 1920's was the boyish silhouette look, made to give the illusion of flattened breasts and gave women a more androgynous look. These bras were called "bandeau." Bandeaus had a thin shoulder strap and no cups.
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.
1950s Girdles
Most women and girls still wore girdles or opted for one of the newer lighter garments called a roll-on or some chose the opposite, a sturdy all in one corset. Twilfit were one of the household names for roll-ons and bras in the 1950s.
A 15th century bra was recently unearthed during reconstruction work at a medieval castle. The remarkably modern looking bra is arguably now the world's oldest known brassiere. Fiber samples taken from the linen bra date to the medieval era, so this item appears to be legit.
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.
These were called a bandeau instead of a brassiere. Bras in the '40s became much more full-coverage and “heavy duty”. An underbust band wrapped all the way around the bra and stretched several inches below the bust for support and to create separation between bust and waist and to smooth out any contours.
It was often the structures beneath Victorian clothing that gave women's fashion its form. Corsets (also known as stays) moulded the waist, while cage crinolines supported voluminous skirts, and bustles projected a dress out from behind.
Medieval underwear: bras, pants and lingerie in the Middle Ages. Men wore shirts and braies (medieval underpants resembling modern-day shorts), and women a smock or chemise and no pants.
Here, Hall forgoes a bra in a button-up white shirt. Soon enough, the no-bra look became ubiquitous on both on the streets and runways. During the 1970s, disco was at full force, free love still lingered, and going bra-free was more about fashion than making a political statement.
Women's breasts are made of fats and glands. Even though the ligaments provide the necessary support, breasts eventually sag in almost every woman. And to avoid this, girls should wear a bra. Wearing a bra lifts the breasts and helps prevent sagging up to some extent.
Not because of the dual nature of the breasts themselves, but because the garment came in two parts and was laced together. That's probably why the modern woman doesn't put on “a pair of bras” in the morning. Now that the garment is in one piece, the pluralness isn't there anymore.
Bras in the 1960s are still pointy as they were in the 1950's. Not as exaggerated, but the shaping is still important. Slips are still worn and girdle like pettipants are popular replacing the lace-up type corset or merry-widows. Options.
1950s Lingerie and Shapewear – Bra
Strapless, longline, and bullet bras were all popular. The 1950s silhouette demanded a larger bust to balance curvier hips. Instead of the 1940s bra that separated breasts towards the side, 1950s bras pushed the breasts in towards each other and up and out to new extremes.
The simple tube bra of the '20s gave way to the “separate, lift, and support” bras of the '30s. The fabric was quite light and thin shaped in a variety of triangles, cones, and cups to accommodate different breast sizes and shapes. Some were lined for extra support. Breast sizes were becoming standardized as well.
A brassiere is the same as a bra.
“Un soutien-gorge” is a bra.
Note that “un soutien-gorge” becomes “des soutiens-gorge” in the plural, with an S at soutien, but no change for gorge. More about to hold in French.
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.
The anti-bra movement began as a retaliation against feminine norms, coinciding with the second wave of feminism during the 1960s. The Miss America Pageant in 1968 drew protestors, who criticized the competition for valuing women's bodies over their brains.
During World War 2 Bullet or Torpedo bras were invented to protect the women in working factories.
Some women want to wear a bra to bed because it feels more comfortable for them. Your best bet is to choose a lightweight bra without underwire. Some camisole-style pajama tops even come with a bra built in. The bra you choose to sleep in shouldn't be too tight or have parts that dig in.