Celebrating 100 Years of Support
Elastic_bra_from_1907 The bra turns 100 years old this year. Women for centuries have been wrapping and uplifting their assets by varying means, but it wasn't until 1907 when Vogue first coined the term 'brassiere' establishing it into the modern day lexicon and everything went bust from there.
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Converging into public and private mystic, bras have established power and followed the culture mores of its time. In the 1930's bras provided lift with a pointed structure; the bikini débuted on the Paris catwalk in 1946, designed by fashion designer Jacques Heim and engineerFrenchbikinis_4 Louis Réard. During the late 1960's, feminists burned their bras in an act of shedding its perceived oppression; in the nineties the Wonder Bra blew the bust back up with sexy uplifting bras that sparked a cultural phenomenon; and Victoria's Secret brought sexy back to middle America and million-dollar diamond encrusted bras down the runway as show pieces.
Madonna_2 The formidable bra tipped the scales of fashion moving from behind the scene as an undergarment to a stylish outer garment. Jean Paul Gaultier's infamous conical-shaped bra worn by Madonna during her Blonde Ambition tour was a particular high-note for the bra on public display. Designers have followed suit with chic bra tops from Chanel to Proenza Schouler.
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Bras encase a woman's most visible sex characteristics. Filling the sculpted cups commands a heavy task- including their cultural significance, to the adoration and dissatisfaction we have with our breasts. Happy birthday to the most powerful, uplifting accessory of all time.
There is a book called "Uplift: The Bra in America" by Jane Farrell-Beck & Colleen Gau which talks about the birth of the brassiere. It states that the "breast supporter" made its debut in 1863 when Luman Chapman patented his corset substitute. I was just surprised that this invention was the brainchild of a man and not a woman.
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