About Bras
For the last 100 years, most females age 13 and above have worn bras. They are required to maintain modesty in most societal situations. While some women see them as restrictive physically and socially, most view them as necessary for fashion, and even comfort.
Invented
Marie Tucek, who patented a "Breast Supporter" with separate pockets for breasts and straps that went over the shoulders, invented the first version of the bra in 1893.
The patent for the modern bra went to Mary Phelps Jacob in 1913. After buying a sheer evening gown for a social event she found that the whalebones of her corset showed through the sheer dress, so she designed her own bra alternative by tying two silk handkerchiefs together. She later added ribbons and redesigned the bra before earning the patent. Mary Phelps Jacob, whose business name was Caresse Crosby, sold her brassiere patent to Warner Brothers Corset Company for $1,500. The company made over $15 million from the purchase over the next 30 years.
History of
Before the first bra was invented, women wore corsets, whose main purpose was to give the waist a smaller appearance. This restricted the torso, often painfully, and also created a space in which the breasts could rest at the top of the corset. After the invention of the bra, the transfer of women from corsets to bras was almost instantaneous when, in 1917, the U.S. War Industries Board called for women to stop buying corsets in order to free up metal for the war effort.
Bra sizes were created in 1928 when a Russian immigrant, Ida Rosenthal, founded Maidenform.
Evolution
The purpose of early bras was to retain the breasts. Earlier bras were also longer in length and covered the torso as well. Over time, bras were changed to enhance the appearance of the breasts. Bra sized changed from small, medium and large until a standard based on measurements in inches was developed.
Bra styles have also changed in accordance with clothing styles. In the 1920s, when boyish figures were popular in the flapper styles, bras were laced on the side to flatten breasts. In the 1930s, clothing styles emphasized breasts, and bullet-type bras became popular as cup sizes A through D were created. For a short while, in the 1960s women shunned and even burned bras as a feminist gesture. But the bra quickly returned, probably as women saw that they were more comfortable with them on.
Current bras are made for many different needs. Some bras minimize the size of breasts. Others make breasts look larger. Others are made solely for support. There is a bra to suit or fit almost everyone.
Size
Bras come in many different sizes designed to give the wearer an optimal fit. There are two basic elements to bra sizes. They are cup sizes from AA to a DDD or F. These sizes are based on the size of the breast. There is also the band size which is measured in inches.
Benefits
The purpose of the bra is to lift the breast up from where they lie against the chest wall and to support the weight across the back and shoulders. A proper fitting bra will improve posture and give a woman's clothing a better silhouette. It can also prevent breast pain that can occur from excess movement during physical exercise or strenuous activity.
Risk Factors
Improper fitting bras can cause a great deal of neck and back strain and pain. The straps of the bra can transfer the weight of the breast to the shoulder, sometimes causing a deep groove on the shoulder. This can cause pain, numbness, and headaches.
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