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THE HER-STORY OF THE BRA Because we gotta support our girls...
- Shakiyah Mone
- Oct 2, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 24
The first thing most women do when they get home? Unclip that bra. After a long day of bossing up, the girls deserve some freedom. But have you ever wondered—who put the girls in lockdown to begin with? Let’s go back in time and trace the evolution of the bra: from ancient bandeaus to corsets to water bras and sports bras.
Ancient Support: The Original Bralettes
Before there were underwires and lace, women were innovating with linen wraps. In ancient Greece, women bound their breasts with cloth bands called apodesmos—basically the first bandeau. Roman women did the same under their tunics, mostly for sports or modesty. No wire, no problem.
Enter the Corset: Beauty Before Breath
Fast forward to the Middle Ages and the girls were back under wraps—this time with silk camisole-style bras that flattened the chest. Then came the corset. First worn ceremonially by the Minoans in 1000 BC, it exploded in popularity by the 16th century. Thanks to Catherine de Medici, corsets went from Italian courts to French fashion staples. Made with steel and whale bones, they shaped, lifted, and cinched until fainting became a fashion hazard.
Split It Up: The Birth of the Bra
By the early 1900s, women were craving freedom. French designer Herminie Cadolle answered the call in 1889 with her "split corset," aka le bien-etre (the wellbeing). Vogue dubbed it a "brassiere" in 1907, and Oxford added it to the dictionary by 1911.
Then came Mary Phelps Jacob (aka Careese Crosby), who literally sewed two handkerchiefs together with ribbon because her corset poked through her debutante dress. Women were obsessed. She patented it in 1914, sold the design to Warner Brothers Corset Co., and bras as we know them took off—just in time for WWI.
War & Wire-Free: The Rise of the Bra
During WWI, women joined the workforce and ditched metal corsets to support the war effort. Bras became the go-to, and in 1932 cup sizes were introduced. We’ve been A through DD (and beyond) ever since.
Bra Decades: A Timeline of Transformation
✨ 1940s: The Torpedo Bra
For women in factories, these offered padded protection and structure. Strapless styles also hit the scene.
✨1950s: Bullet Bras & Bombshells
Thanks to Marilyn Monroe, cone bras were iconic. Underwire also began trending.
✨1960s: Burn the Bra (Or Don't)
With feminism on the rise, women rebelled against restrictive bras—yet push-ups and minimizers both flourished.
✨1970s: The Sports Bra Is Born
Two jock straps sewn together created the first "jockbra"—later evolving into the jogbra and changing gym wear forever.
✨1980s: Underwear Goes Outerwear
Madonna rocked cone bras on stage. Even Diana wore lingerie-inspired evening wear. The bra became fashion.
✨1990s: The Water Bra Wave
For an ultra-full look, the water bra reigned... until it deflated. Still, the bra world only expanded from here.
To Bra or Not to Bra?
From nipple pasties to sticky bras to bralettes and shapewear—today, bras are about options. Whether you're rocking a plunge or going completely wireless, the power is in your hands (or your clasp).
