2008 Woodie Awards
Rah rah sis boom bra!
The word "bra" hits the century mark
Chelsea Holland
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Ladies take a look down at your chest and notice the contraption holding those breasts up. Gentlemen, borrow a glance at the lady sitting next to you because the 100th anniversary for the term "brassiere" is upon us.
The term "brassiere" comes from the French word for "upper arm" and was coined by Vogue in 1907. Before Vogue created the word they were known by another French term, "soutien-gorge," which literally means "throat support" or "breast support." In 1911 the term appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary. In the 1930s "brassiere" shortened to "bra."
Kate Hickey, 20, a junior classics major, described a funny experience with a guy trying to unhook her bra.
"The hook was in the front and I didn't tell him for like five minutes," she said.
"Yeah, (guys) just don't get it," said Larissa Rhodes, 19, a sophomore open-option major.
Jason Phipps, 32, and Ryan Smith, 28, a senior international affairs major, reflected on their first times seeing a bra.
"I don't remember the first time I took a girl's bra off," Phipps said.
"I don't remember either," Smith said.
Smith is sure that when he unhooks a bra he is "definitely one-handed."
Vogue coined the term a hundred years ago but the history of the bra dates back to 2000 B.C.
In the 13th century, the goal of women's undergarments was to draw the focus away from the breasts. In a corsetry shop window, one could read about products that "contain the larger one, supports the weak, and gathers the floppy."
In the 15th century bodices would flatten the lower chest while pushing up the top, resulting in a magnificent bust line.
In 1889, a garment resembling the bra we know today was invented by corset-maker Herminie Cadolle. The garment was called "Bien-être." It supported the breasts by the shoulders rather than from below and was initially for health purposes.
The person credited for inventing the undergarment is controversial.
Some claim the bra was invented by Otto Titzling, and his assistant, Hans Delving in 1912 for a Swedish athlete named Lois Lung. Titzling failed to patent his creation and lost his chance for recognition as inventor of the bra.
The first patented bra was developed by Mary Phelps Jacobs in 1914. Jacobs fashioned her backless brassiere after an improvised bra she constructed to wear under her dress at a party. Jacobs developed a business but soon grew tired of it and sold it for $1,500 to Warner Brothers Corset Company. Warner's ended up making over 15 million dollars over the next 30 years from the patent.
A bra revolution came with Maidenform in 1922 when seamstress Ida Rosenthal realized women's breasts don't necessarily fit the same in the same bra. This triggered cup sizes called A, B, C and D to be developed by Warner's in 1935.
"I can't not wear a bra," Hickey said "I own like three. I just rotate them."
"I'm one of those girls that owns like 30 bras. They have to match," Rhodes said.
Today we see such a wide variety of bras. The Wonder Bra became prominent in the 1990s. There are a sports bras, sexy bras, bras with padding, silicone inserts, water filling and the new 100-way strapless convertible bra from Victoria Secret.
"They seem functional. I appreciate function," Smith said.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Chelsea Holland at chelsea.holland@Colorado.edu
The term "brassiere" comes from the French word for "upper arm" and was coined by Vogue in 1907. Before Vogue created the word they were known by another French term, "soutien-gorge," which literally means "throat support" or "breast support." In 1911 the term appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary. In the 1930s "brassiere" shortened to "bra."
Kate Hickey, 20, a junior classics major, described a funny experience with a guy trying to unhook her bra.
"The hook was in the front and I didn't tell him for like five minutes," she said.
"Yeah, (guys) just don't get it," said Larissa Rhodes, 19, a sophomore open-option major.
Jason Phipps, 32, and Ryan Smith, 28, a senior international affairs major, reflected on their first times seeing a bra.
"I don't remember the first time I took a girl's bra off," Phipps said.
"I don't remember either," Smith said.
Smith is sure that when he unhooks a bra he is "definitely one-handed."
Vogue coined the term a hundred years ago but the history of the bra dates back to 2000 B.C.
In the 13th century, the goal of women's undergarments was to draw the focus away from the breasts. In a corsetry shop window, one could read about products that "contain the larger one, supports the weak, and gathers the floppy."
In the 15th century bodices would flatten the lower chest while pushing up the top, resulting in a magnificent bust line.
In 1889, a garment resembling the bra we know today was invented by corset-maker Herminie Cadolle. The garment was called "Bien-être." It supported the breasts by the shoulders rather than from below and was initially for health purposes.
The person credited for inventing the undergarment is controversial.
Some claim the bra was invented by Otto Titzling, and his assistant, Hans Delving in 1912 for a Swedish athlete named Lois Lung. Titzling failed to patent his creation and lost his chance for recognition as inventor of the bra.
The first patented bra was developed by Mary Phelps Jacobs in 1914. Jacobs fashioned her backless brassiere after an improvised bra she constructed to wear under her dress at a party. Jacobs developed a business but soon grew tired of it and sold it for $1,500 to Warner Brothers Corset Company. Warner's ended up making over 15 million dollars over the next 30 years from the patent.
A bra revolution came with Maidenform in 1922 when seamstress Ida Rosenthal realized women's breasts don't necessarily fit the same in the same bra. This triggered cup sizes called A, B, C and D to be developed by Warner's in 1935.
"I can't not wear a bra," Hickey said "I own like three. I just rotate them."
"I'm one of those girls that owns like 30 bras. They have to match," Rhodes said.
Today we see such a wide variety of bras. The Wonder Bra became prominent in the 1990s. There are a sports bras, sexy bras, bras with padding, silicone inserts, water filling and the new 100-way strapless convertible bra from Victoria Secret.
"They seem functional. I appreciate function," Smith said.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Chelsea Holland at chelsea.holland@Colorado.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mike R.
posted 9/13/07 @ 10:20 AM MST
I like the levity of the article. Way to take some steam off the usual grim aspects of the news. I learned a little bit too, which is always good for a news article. (Continued…)
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