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Trends in Modern Bra Wear
Antigone Arthur
Learn Where the Brassier Got It's Start and Why It's So Popular
Even Today
History of the Bra
The history of the bra is extensive. Almost since the dawn of
time women have worn bra's either to enhance or minimize their
figure. Bust-lines have been increased and decreased, rounded and
stretched and even spread out throughout time following society's
trends and fashions.
Bra's have been worn by women the world over since 2000 BC, when
the first corset, created of leather was worn to support and
outline the breasts. The ancient Greeks wore a type of bra that
pushed the breasts upwards but left the breast itself naked.
During the 13th century, the practice of minimizing the breasts
became very popular. Women often wore short bodices that
flattened rather than enhanced a woman's bodice. This changed
however during the 15th century when a women's chest became the
focal point of her garments... it was popular for the upper
portion of the breast to be pushed above the garments worn by a
woman in order to give the appearance of full cleavage and a
rounded bodice.
Trends in Modern Bra Wear
Bras are in. Today bras can be fashioned to meet any persons
unique style and comfort preferences. In recent years plus and
full size bras have become the norm, as more and more women turn
to plastic surgery to enhance their bust line. In some cities it
isn't uncommon to see women who might be categorized as DD's,
EE's and even FF's thanks to modern technology.
Fortunately, there is a bra available to fit almost any woman
anywhere. There are even bras that are fashioned as "outer wear".
Celebrities are among the more common members of society to tout
such bold and daring styles.
For the bold but slightly less daring, sheer and see through bras
are a great option. Bras, whether made with or without under
wires, are made from silk, cotton, Lycra, spandex and even
flannel.
Style has as much to do with what's available and "hot" as what a
woman finds comfortable and supportive.
The first formal "bras" were patented in the US in the mid 1800s,
as tortuous corsets began to fall out of style with more comfort
seeking women.
Different Bra Types
Many different bra types have been created since the early days
of it's existence. No longer do women have to struggle to fit
their upper body and chest into contraptions made of whalebone
and steel (the common materials used to fashion early corsets).
Rather, today's traditional bras are made of a variety of
luxurious fabrics, meant to support, uplift, enhance and show off
a woman's breasts (though you can still find some that minimize,
which for many women is a bonus).
See through and sheer bras, specialty bras, nursing and maternity
bras, sports bras and even strapless and backless bras are all
the rage in modern times. There is a bra available to fit any
bust size and any individual style preference available. You can
even have a bra custom made if you like. Though the corset is not
completely banned from existence, new designs make wearing the
contraption or similar ones much more feasible, and women no
longer have to suffer pain and discomfort from wearing them.
Interestingly, the bra did not gain popularity until about the
1920s during the time of the flappers when a flat chest was
suddenly in, and women looked to minimize their bust line rather
than enhance it.
Among the first companies to jump on the bra making bandwagon
during this time was the Maidenform Company, who created bra
sizes in different bust size categories. As the breast minimizing
trend of the early 20s faded and society entered the 30s, the
idea of shape as acceptable became popular again, and Maidenform
made an effort to make bras that would meet every woman's needs,
including plus and full size bras.
Warner's was among the first to create a cup sizing system that
ranged from size A to size D, which are still standard sizes.
At no time does a bra prove more useful than during exercise or
during pregnancy/maternity. You can rest assured that sports
bra's which provide support during intense physical activity are
most appreciated by women with large chests. Can you imagine what
it is like to run without one?
Pregnant women now have nursing and maternity bras available to
them, which make breastfeeding in public a much more easily
accomplished task. New designs enable discreet feeding and offer
comfortable support at a time when a woman's breast size may
change or fluctuate in a time span of weeks or months. Some of
the more popular varieties are fashioned after the sports bra
style, that allow for fluctuations in size.
Finding the Right Fit
Fit is EVERYTHING when it comes to wearing a bra. More than 90%
of the female population at one time or another buys a bra that
doesn't fit properly. Fortunately you can easily measure yourself
to ensure that you get a proper fit.
Finding the right bra size depends on two things: band size and
cup size. Band size is usually measured in numbers, and generally
ranges from 32 to 40+ (even numbers only). Cup size is
alphabetical, and as discussed can range from an A to an EE or
more.
To measure your chest you'll need a tape measure. Wrap the tap
lightly around your rib cage just below your bust line. You
should then add five inches to this measurement, and that is your
band size.
To measure your cup size, loosely wrap the measuring tape around
the fullest part of the bust. For most women this is about where
the nipple falls, or about mid-breast. You should then subtract
the measurement you get from your band size. The difference
measured equates to your cup size and runs as follows:
1 inch – A cup
2 inches – B cup
3 inches – C cup
4 inches – D cup
There are many thoughts on which bras are best. Some women prefer
under wire bras because they believe they offer the best support.
For some women, including nursing women however, under wire
versions can be uncomfortable. Fortunately there is an incredibly
broad selection of no wire bras that are flattering and just as
supportive as their wire counterparts.
If you are not sure which you prefer, I recommend trying one of
each. It won't take long before you decide which works best for
you.
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of
professional experience providing consumers with informative
articles on such topics as
plus size and full figure bras, see
see
through and sheer bras, and
sports bras.
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