Why are all women expected to wear a bra? I can see older women wearing bras because of the whole "Sagging to your knees" thing but, why do you young girls feel as if they have to wear a bra? We were speaking about this in medical today and our teacher hushed the subject. So, I thought I'd do a little research and write my thoughts on bras, yes as odd as that may be.
Personally, I always wear a bra, I sleep in a bra, I never leave my room without a bra, and it's always been because since I was young everyone else my age wore one and also my grandma said that if you didn't your boobs would sag to your knees by 30. But, after doing some research I discovered
Bra fashion history began as far back as Cretan times, but 1907, was the year when the word brassiere was first reported in an American copy of Vogue. The original French meaning was support, but the word was out of use and the French chose to call a bra soutien-gorge. Cretan women wore bras thousands of years ago. In England bust improvers were available in the Edwardian period. By 1905 BBs as they were known were usual wear.
Early Brassières Pre 1915
Most of the major designers of the era have tried to lay claim to designing the first bra. Poiret probably had the strongest claim. What is certain, is that all the designers promoted a simple breast retaining garment as better for the newer simple straight dress styles.
Mary Phelps-Jacobs's Patented Bra 1914
Bra fashion history truly began with the first bra to be patented. The first bra was patented in 1914 by Mary Phelps-Jacobs an American. It is not thought to be the first bra ever, but it is the first patented record and that gives her the credit.
Mary Phelps-Jacobs patented her bra design under the patent name of Caresse Crosby. Some suggest it was her French maid who provided the idea or the stitching help. Two silk handkerchiefs were tied together, baby ribbon sewn on to make straps and a seam set in the centre front.
http://www.fashion-era.com/images/AdornCorsetry/phelps.jpg
Although rubber had been around some time it needed to be transformed into a textile fabric for use in clothing. By the thirties bra history was to change forever when Dunlop chemists were able to transform latex into reliable elastic thread in all sorts of dimensions. The yarn was knitted or woven and eventually made into washable Lastex fabric.
http://www.fashion-era.com/images/ALLSMALLPICS/kesmarb_small.jpg
After 1930 all the names we know well in lingerie and corsetry today began manufacturing bras with quite separate cups. They used quality cotton lace and net.One famous bra designed in the 1930s was the Kestos bra and later the Kestos Utility Bra. Its simple seaming looks classy and could be effective today.
Bra history took on a new dimension when in 1935, Warners introduced four cup sizes called A, B, C and D, but it was well into the 1950s before Britain followed this American standard. The British corset manufacturers were still using coy descriptions like junior and medium to describe breast fullness.
(Source: http://www.fashion-era.com/bras_and_girdles.htm)
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Caity's Corner:
So the basic idea of the bra is support. It was not a torture device made by a man to cause utter and complete discomfort and ultimate sexuality, it was a torture devide invented for women by a woman. ha. I'm guessing over 75% of women wear a bra and have never asked why? Some woman are so used to wearing bras, they feel no discomfort, than say a new bra wearer would experience. Also, when asked I bet atleast 50% would say that a bra is very comfortable whether or not it is or not.
Go here to read a study about how Breast Cancer and Bras are linked!
http://www.007b.com/why_wear_bras.php
By the way, I doubt that because you don't wear a bra for a few years that your breasts are really gonna sag that much. Sure you need support, but don't just wear one and never ask why!?!?
Thanks for Listening =) This has been blogging with Caity =) Have a Great Night =)
LOL - this is a great break from the rest of the argumentative blogs that we've been getting for a while! And I learned something - cool!
Not that I enjoy talking about undergarments all that much - but I feel more comfortable with my bra on than without. Not because I'm afraid of sagging, but well - to be honest when it gets a little cold - I hate that every one would know that I'm cold. And, well, when you're a runner (or just about any other type of athlete) they just swing in weird ways unless you have that bra on.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
Fanaile Essence,
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Ha! Fanaile you are so funny! =) I understand those reasons, I support them =) Yeah, I thought I would put up an un usual one and give everyone a break, there's so much arguing and debate.
Caity =)
I really liked this blog :)
I wear one because of the cold too, because honestly they're not that big :) I live in Minnesota so it is almost ALWAYS cold lol
`lacey
There are no beautiful surfaces without terrible depth...
Thank you very much, Fanaile has a point, my friends mom once announced to an entire store that her headlights were beaming on bright, so when it's cold it does save us women a lot of embarassment. =)
Caity =)
are absolutely awesome! lol.
Caity =)
oh man, i actually really love wearing bras sometimes. it doesn't matter if no one sees it, if i'm having a weird day wearing a pretty bra really boosts my mood.
also, i'm decently well-endowed so frankly not wearing one is really uncomfortable--there's way too much unnecessary motion and jiggling and discomfort.
still, sometimes i'd like to go braless (especially in the summer when it's a billion degrees out and you want to wear as little clothing as possible) and then i'm jealous of my smaller-chested friends. =P
--stacie
I can totally relate to that. I am generously endowed also, and sometime it's just like they need to make something better to support them. When it's hott, sometimes it is just better to lay around the house braless, lol. Bras can be great, I have some very pretty ones, and they do sometimes make you feel great.
Caity =)
Sometimes its just more comfortable to wear a bra when you have a larger chest! Although as soon as I get home, I usually take it off just to get a break. But when Im walking around, I cross my arms over my chest a lot to keep em from jiggling so much haha. Ladies, do your chest exercises!
bras help you reach the state of mind of being a woman and growing into maturity
In some situations that is very true =)
Caity =)
Nice blog. Informative and educational. I learned something new, and although I'm not a huge fan of European history, I still am a History major (and lover), so I respect the historical lesson embedded in this blog.
Thank You very much, it was some pretty fun research, =)
I have to say I very much enjoyed this entry, although I have a piece of advice. Now, I'm not a doctor nor do I want to preach, but bras cut off one's circulation, and so it's actually unhealthy to wear one at night. I think girls should know this because bras, particularly underwire ones, cut off circulation to ones lymph glands which can possibly increase ones risk of breast cancer (at any rate, it's not good). However, I do not suggest going about your day without a bra because bras help ones posture and decrease neck and back pain (if properly fitted) due to the weight of breasts. (my source--I'm not sure of it's reputability, but it's information I've heard from doctors in any case: http://www.thehealthybracompany.com/ )
b-money
"A cactus is the opposite of a chair. In my house you can sit anywhere but there."
Thank you for the advice =)
Caity =)
i get what ur saying about young girls wearing them today...and honestly i dont get why society puts such a pressure on them..i no myself that i started wearing a sports bra in the 4th grade...and i really didnt have boobs then but i wore one and i was so damn proud! lol but today its like whats the big deal? mine dont sag and they arent that big so at nite i dont sleep with one on (plus i heard from friends if u dont ur boobs grow more lol idk if its tru) and i dont like wearing them all the time. but i wear one everywhere i go! loved the blog! keep writing!
<3
Thank you for your support, great comment =)
Caity =)
actually... for chinese people, at least in my family... my mom always told me NOT to wear a bra at home because it constricts the boobs... maybe she was just hoping my tiny ones would get bigger like hers. but anyways, i read some studies that say that wearing a bra actually promotes sagging because your breasts get 'lazy' or out of shape because it always has the bra to support it so it doesn't have much real muscle so it sags more. lol... anyways, my tiny ones are still perky :) i have doubts that they will sag much.
lol. That's funny, about your boobs. Moms seems to tell you anything to get you to do something they want, even if it is true, I'm not too extensive into chinese culture.
Caity =)
your mother always knows best until someone found out that bras really are sucking the life right out of women, without them even realizing it. Bras are a link to the cause of breast cancer, I know besides having written a book about it, I have spoken personally to cancer research surgeons and specialists who agree. One such has a website about it:
http://www.brafree.org
my book can be found here:
http://www.lulu.com/content/539421
It is extremely uncomfortable to do any sort of moving without wearing a bra.
Your name is Chuck, so I'm assuming you're a man. Imagine that your penis gained two pounds. Then imagine that heavy thing bouncing and swinging back and forth. It would hurt.
I don't understand how anyone feels "constricted" by bras. If you don't want to wear one, don't. It's not like it's a law or anything.
Next you'll be saying no one should wear underwear because it only constricts your sexuality; God gave us sex for a reason so we shouldn't cover it with underwear.
Cell phones are linked with brain cancer. Are you going to stop using them?
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
I said all I wanted to say! : )
http://www.lulu.com/content/539421
Then you are obviously not very passionate about what you have to say, if you are not willing to defend it. Oh well. I think I'm going to go buy another bra.
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
Oh I am passionate allright, but I have done my share of squabbling with women about it, and I don't do it anymore. I have plenty of women doctors who can back what I discovered when I read a book called "Dressed to Kill" by Sydney Ross Singer.
That book can be found at Amazon.com
http://www.lulu.com/content/539421
First, please use the reply button if you are going to reply.
Now to the point:
I read a book by an MD about how your heart literally communicates with other hearts with unmeasureable "L-energy." The book had doctors in it who backed up this theory. Does that make it true?
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
lmao
You are on a roll.
Bras are good. So is reality.
Well, you know how it is.
I try to be nice but... Come on. I mean is it too much for to ask that someone who has a strong opinion that they want people to believe actually defends it? Is it too much to ask for someone who supposedly writes books to have a bit of knowledge of the English language? I know LuLu is a pretty reputable publisher. (wait... maybe I'm being sarcastic...)
Sorry. It's so hard to be nice anymore.
Good thing there's people like you, lol! Even though I definitely don't agree with you on some things, you are able to logically debate and prove that your words are worth something.
Just as an example. :X
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
*laughs*
I'm a DD. I would die without bras. Well, maybe not die, but I'd be pretty miserable.
Thanks for the compliment, I feel the same about you.
why don't you two get a room?
http://www.lulu.com/content/539421
I thought you were done.
If you're going to keep following up, at least make it worth your while and try to say something meaningful.
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
Good point.
Maybe we should.
A chat room. Where we can have pornographic internet conversations about lewd behaviors, and use bad grammar.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.