Women's Bras - Yesterday, Today and Beyond

Bras have been around for thousands of years, but were not widely known until the Edwardian period. These bras did not look like the bras we know today. They were very utilitarian in design and had many straps and cinches to improve ones form.

Bras began to become main stream when Mary Phelps-Jacob patented her design in 1914. The prototype was actually made of two silk handkerchiefs and some baby ribbon. As in many cases Mrs. Phelps -Jacob was not able to make a business out of her prototype and sold the patent rights for $1500. The company that bought that patent made millions of dollars selling bras.

Women's breasts were now sized by inches and the industry exploded. In today's world the bra takes many forms and styles. Some are utilitarian like the first bras, but still look and wear like clothing. Many contemporary bras are now lingerie and are meant to be seen without outerwear. Shapers, under wire, minimizer, enhancer and many more styles are available to help women get their desired look.

Sports bras are an entire industry now. From a young age women use sports bras to help them compete and look good while doing a wide variety of activities. These types of bras became hugely popular when Brandy Chastain of the women's US national soccer team, ripped her shirt off and showed her sports bra to a cheering world when they won the championship.

Seeing models and sports figures in bras on the covers of magazines and billboards is commonplace now. We have become a society that sees undergarments as a fashion statement.

Spice Up Your Love Life

When you first fall in love there is always a feeling of excitement and anticipation, but then it grows into something deeper and more meaningful. This is when you become completely comfortable with each other. But this is also when a couple will sometimes go through a funk in their love life. They end up at a crossroads where they are not sure which way to turn. Well one of the best ways to kick start the intimacy in your relationship is with a trip to the lingerie store. Don't let your love life become stranded, take the right road and spice it up.

What about if your wife or girlfriend has not purchased any? If you are a man that wants to get things going again then you too can go out and purchase a nice piece of lingerie for your girl. But the first thing you will want to do is think about the person you are buying it for. Too often men will make the mistake of buying lingerie that they find sexy. So when you are looking to buy lingerie online, remember to look for the type of underwear that she likes. Slip in a few off hand questions to her or even go through and see what kind of underwear she has in her drawers, this is often a good suggestion as to what colors and materials she likes.

The next important part about buying lingerie for a woman is to remember size does matter. When you are looking through those drawers for what she likes, remember to check her bra and panty sizes. And what's more, if your lady is full figured then you may want to look into some body shapewear. These awesome pieces of underwear and lingerie help hold in the area's that need to be held in and accentuate those positives that you love so well. Furthermore, they will become a guaranteed favorite for your lady as she will feel super sexy all day long.

So now you have an idea of the benefits of shape wear, the colors and materials that she likes, as well as her size, but even this can sometimes lead you nowhere. If you have gathered all your lists and still cannot come up with anything then the best rule of thumb is to buy her something totally feminine. For example, look for something lacy and dark. They even have some beautiful girdles that are loaded with feminine frills. But if you are still stuck on a color, a good idea would be to stick with black as it a color that is very sexy and thinning, and most women feel great wearing it.

The final step is in finding the right piece of lingerie that fits all that you have on your list. A good thing to remember here is that high prices do not always mean the best underwear. Look for some of the great discount lingerie as it may just be slightly out of style, or just almost out of stock.

When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Bra Size?

When was the last time you checked your bra size? Most women would say some time in their 20s! If only it were so easy! The truth is your body changes throughout your life, which means you need to reconsider your bra size.

Let's consider some basic anatomical things we all deal with as women. As you've matured, what has happened to your body? Are your thighs toned like when you were 22? Mine aren't and neither are most women's. [Sigh]. The same goes for the 'junk in the trunk" look, wrinkles and...well, why get depressed. The point is your body changes over time. Your upper body and breasts are no different.

As you age, your upper body will tend to grow thicker. You know - muffin tops and back fat. As we naturally thicken up a bit, we need to consider whether the bras we have still really fit. The band size may be too small. Indications of this would be getting poked in the inside or your arm when wearing underwire bras. This happens because the bra is too tight and the outer edge is being pulled. As it is pulled, the underwires tend to bend out which makes the points into little spears. If you are experiencing this, going up a band size can make a world of difference.

Unfortunately, the band size isn't the only issue we face. As we all know, the girls don't remain so perky as time passes. They naturally change shape each month as go through menstruation, but the passage of time ultimately introduced gravity to the body. This puts wear and tear on the Cooper's ligaments which hold the girls up. As the ligaments stretch, our breasts will hang lower and will actually change shape a bit. When this happens, the bra you wore in your twenties simply isn't going to cut it.

As the girls change, you need to consider the cup size and design of bras. You may want to switch to a balcony bra or some other bra that provides more support around the bottom of the cup. As to the cup size, consider how the girls fit in the cup. If there is extra space, the cup size is too big. If you are spilling over, the cup size is too small. Getting the right cup size will eliminate discomfort.

I'll admit it. I'll get into a routine and not really pay attention to the elements of that routine. Millions of women are wearing the wrong bra size because they do the same thing in their routines. This can lead to breast discomfort, shoulder pain, headaches, neck pain and poking. Take 10 minutes out of your day, put the bra you wear the most on and check to see if it really fits or not.

Evolution of Trends The Salong De Lingerie Paris 2009

The Salon de Lingerie in Paris is the first exhibition showing the collections for autumn/winter 2009. Taking place in the massive Porte des Versaille conference centre it attracts exhibitors and buyers from across the globe. This January saw a more subdued event with fewer exhibitors and buyers making the trip. Despite the lower turn out the mood was optimistic and the collections more focussed than in previous years. Jos Berry from Concepts Paris identified the 6 key trends for the season:

1. Real Corsetry


2. Funky Couture


3. Flowers with a difference



4. Romantic Naturals


5. La Belle Epoque


6. Geometric

o Real corsetry Structured and seamed pieces were prevalent for the autumn/winter 09. Satin and retro constructions were seen in the Der Kommisar and Sonia Rykel collections. There is more and more coverage over the torso with an increase in teddies and bodies. Jolidon combines the all in one style with seductive fabrics and the traditional colours of black and red. Suspender belts have followed this trend by becoming wider and more cinch-like in design.

The trend of real corsetry reflects the importance of tradition and heritage in lingerie while the new technology has made the designs more practical to wear in busy modern day life.

o Funky Couture Lace is major trend with guipure embroidery in combination with satin, targeted at younger women. Made by Niki is a perfect example of the use of traditional look and fit with modern colour combination. Marjolaine also reflects this in their silk nightwear combining lime green and cerise pink.

This funky new design has also spread to maternity wear, companies such as Hot Milk! and Agnes et Ses Princes use trimmings and bold printed fabrics to ensure femininity in these function pieces.

o Flowers with a difference Flowers are an enduring staple in lingerie design. English roses were used beautifully by Odille and Karen Millen, printed on satin with contrasting ribbons, bows or ruffles. Printed lingerie used organic floral development with soft colour contrasts, grey being used heavily in lavender and smoky tones.

o Romantic naturals Companies such as Calida and Hanro have moved back to their roots using natural cotton in their collections. The subdued colours available in cottons give a soft romantic palette with soft greys and beiges. Designers have taken classic designs and used handkerchief weaves and chunky lace detailing to give a contemporary edge.

Streetwear has been a notable influence using layering and adding knitted sweaters and garments have been re-proportioned to be more risqué while utilising old fashioned pointelle knits.

There has been an increased use of organic and biodegrable cottons but not at the expense of femininity. An extension of the use of cotton has been the spread of the preppy American college look epitomised by Venus et Jules.

o La Belle Epoque La Belle Epoque celebrates the eccentricity at this seasons show. The rich opulent colours combined with the seductive silky textures evoke an Art Nouveau drawing room. There has also been a strong influence of Liberty prints further adding to the richness of the collections. Improvements in technology allow designers to break the rules and move away from the traditional structure of pieces. Valery produced a beautiful collection incorporating a 2 way stretch taffeta in opulent colours.

o Geometric Geometric prints and design have made a steady impact over the past few year but they finally appear to be coming into their own. The innovative designs from Marlies Dekkers are clearly influencing the mainstream lingerie. Straps that cross at the back and additional straps across the décolletage and around the neck add sexiness through strong definite lines.

The improvement in the quality of printing geometric patterns has helped increase the popularity. The deep inky colours of the season benefit from the clear lines in the graphic designs.

Each year the Salon de Lingerie provides the focus of the next seasons lingerie trends and with the continuing innovation in fabrics and designs it will remain the most important event for the industry year after year.