The History of Lingerie

Women have worn undergarments to support, suppress or accentuate their breasts as far back as 3000 BC. The garments were not exactly like they are today, but in one form or another, they did the job and women used them.  The modern day bra was developed from Cretan women who wore a hip corset beneath their ceremonial dresses.  Over the years and depending on the fashion of the day, the corset has helped to shape and define a women's figure. In the 1920's the boyish shape was in fad and the corset worked to make the figure more boyish.

By the 1500's the corset was used to make the body appear longer and flatter. It would raise the bust up and would hide the stomach and the hips.  A scary thing from this time was the IRON CORSET which was used to define and form her waist size. A smaller waist would regulate a women's position in the Catherine D'Medici's court!  Some say that the iron corset was used to correct bone deformities.

The corset was commonly known as a STAY. It was made of linen with boning and stiffened with paste.. Women were actually laced into these STAY'S.  In medieval times the stay's were more fashionable and some women wore them on the outside of her clothes.  In the 18th century it was popular to wear  more simple empire line dresses. This look did not need the heavy corset and some women didn't wear them at all.  Some of the corsets (or stay's) were lengthened to shape the hips and thighs.

By 1825 the style was more of a natural level and corsets were used to show off the hourglass figures. It was a more natural look but the desired waist size was 18 inches! (or less, if you can imagine)  The Victorian era was the heyday of the corset. They required tight lacing to achieve this hourglass shape.  The sewing machine was also invented in this time and they could be made more quickly with less effort and hand stitching.  There was a great variety of corsets and even were made for special events such as maternity, sports, golfing and riding.  Corsets that were once made of whalebones were then being made iwth buffalo bone, cane, steel and steam moulding.

By the beginning of the 20th century things began to change and a bust bodice could be worn as an alternative to the corset. The Bust Bodice supported the entire bosom.  In 1914 an American MARY PHELPS-JACOB patented a design in the name of Caresse-Crosby. It was two silk handkerchiefs tied together with a ribbon to make straps and a seam in the front.  There wasn't much interest in her design and she sold her idea to WARNER'S for $1500.  Warner's, still known for their popular bras and lingerie, introduced the first cup sizing in 1935. The sizes were just A, B or C.  The Word BRA was finally added to the English dictionary in 1939.  

The bra has come a long was in the 20th century. It is now made of man made fabrics such as nylon, lycra, polyester, and elastane.  The new fabrics have made the bra lightweight, supportive, flexible and seamless. They can also be made of many colors and are easy to wash and maintain as compared to the early bras. Since 2000, the bra has even made more changes. There are many innovative designs and colors. 

Women often find it difficult to find the correct bra size and many stores will have certified bra-fitting specialist who will help them find the right size.  Bras are most commonly found in cup sizes A-DD but you might have to go to specialty lingerie stores to find larger cup size bras. Some manufacturers use multiple letters such as AAA or FF , so sizing can be confusing.

Types of Bras

Built in Bras: Sometimes known as shelf bras are a supportive brassiere like structure on the inside of another garment such as a swimsuit or a tank top.

Bullet Bras:  are a type of full support bra with a round tip in the end of each cup of the bra,. Bullet bras were invented in the 1950's.

Demi Bras: have lower cut cups and cover about half the breasts. These offer less support but enable low cut garments to be worn without the bra being seen.  They are also known as balconette. Demi bras may be designed to provide lift as a push up bra doesn.

Full Support Bras: are a type of bra designed to offer good support for the whole of the breasts. They are a practical bra for everyday wear.

Mastectomy Bras: are designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for women who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer.

Maternity Bras: are slightly different from nursing bras but sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. Maternity bras were designed to expand and adjust to the bust size during pregnancy.

Minimizer Bras: are designed to de-emphasize the bust, especially for large breasted women. They help to create the illusion of being a cup size or two smaller.

Nursing Bras: are designed to help make breastfeeding easier by allowing access to the bust.

Padded Bras: are bras with padding added to the inside of the lining. They provide a fuller shape for small breasts and are an alternative to bra stuffing.

Push Up Bras: are built so that the breasts are lifted and the cleavage emphasized.

Sports Bras: are for women to wear during exercise. They are very sturdy and offer support to the chest during exercise. Some sports bras are meant to be worn as outerwear.

Strapless Bras: are bras with no shoulder straps and are used when wearing strapless clothing.

T-Shirt Bras: are designed without raised seams so that a t-shirt can be worn without the bra showing through the shirt.

Training Bras: are for young girls that are developing  but do not fit in a standard bra size.  They are simple and offer little support.