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History of the Bra

The bra has had quite an extensive history. This history is closely intertwined with the social history of the status of women. This of course includes the evolution of women’s fashion and the ever changing views of the body. Woman have always used a variety of garments to cover, control, restrain, or elevate their breasts. As far back as the seventh century BC, women athletes are depicted wearing bra-like devices. This is consistent with ancient Greece and Rome, where women are shown wearing tunic-like outfits that covered their breasts loosely.
Generally, in the middle ages, the breasts were minimized in dresses with straight bodices, full skirts, and high collars. However, in the 15th century the ideal form for a woman was to be large breasted and full figured. During the time of the renaissance, cleavage became fashionable. There was status to having firmer breasts in the upper class. Most of the time these women chose not to breast-feed their infants, and utilized the aid of wet nurses, in order to maintain their own ideal form.
The most well known era for women’s undergarments is likely the 16th century. Wealthier women dominated the use of the corset which was used to push the breasts upward. The corset actually first became popular when King Henry II’s wife was said to have prohibited wide waists. Over time, the design of the corset evolved. The emphasis was now on a narrow waist, but voluptuous breasts.
In the latter part of the 19th century many alternatives were experimented with. The corset was split into a girdle-like restraining device for the lower torso, and upper part that was suspended from the shoulders.
By the early 20th century, undergarments began to more closely resemble the contemporary bras of today. These bras were enhanced and altered to accommodate different styles in dresses. However, large-scale commercial production did not occur until the 1930’s. World War I put women into the workforce and required a more functional bra. Mass-production of this type of bra was also required. Since then bras have become a multi-million-dollar industry. Though the 20th century has seen a need for workable bras; has seen bras as a sexual image; has seen the feminists’ bra-burning, to free women of these stereotypical garments; and has seen bras to simply enhance women’s breasts and make them feel comfortable in their own skin; the overall image of the bra has seen a long road to find a balance between functionality and higher fashion.

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