I'm wondering how many people are thinking about the history of the Bra. The different purposes are absolutely amazing!

2000BC it started with a corset, open in the front to the waist and leaving the breast uncovered. 500 years later, the Greeks began wearing bra-resembling garments, shoving the breasts upward and exposed the naked breasts from their clothing.

450BC-285 AD the Greeks wore a bodice but the breasts still exposed. Wearing corsets was prohibited at the time so they used "the Apodesme" which was a small band of material wrapped around the breast, for one functional reason - to prevent the breasts from moving when walking. The roman adopted the Apodesme, but called it different. They named it either "Fascia" which prevented the growth of the breast, or "Mamillare" which was used to conceal a large breast.

From the 13th century short bodices were worn to flatten the breasts. Full Skirts were attached to raise the waistline to emphasize the stomach. Long full sleeves, for a slender torso. The purpose for all of that was to draw the eye away from the bust.

In the 14th century the breasts were even further de-emphasized by straight tubular bodices that completely flattened the breasts. High ruffled collars and full wide skirts drew away attention from the bust. Belts were worn to support the bust but was not widely worn, it was even outlawed in some parts of France. It wasn't allowed to support the bust by wearing a blouse or tight dress. The bust had to be dressed in a triangular drape and tight gauze.

Women tortured themselves with wearing tight corsets, made of whalebone and steel rod. It slimmed the waist up to less than 10 inches, permanently altering the waist size. For the next 350 years the corset was the dominant undergarment of support and restraint.

In the 15th century, the breasts became a focal point. Bodices and stiffened stays covered and flattened the lower part of the bust and nipples, whiles pushing up the upper part of the breast. This gave cleavage and appearance of a high and round breast.

In 1820 a corset was invented which allowed women to squeeze into their corsets with the help of pulleys. Corsets at the time were still made of whalebone, steel or buckram. 1850 US patents registered for the first known bra-style device. The Corset was out of style for 10 years, but after this time, the corset came back, reduced waists to such unhealthy levels that ribs and organs become deformed. It had a spring latch and snaps at the front as well as hooks. In the late 19th century improvements were finally made and corsets were made of wool fabrics, without bones, eyelets or laces.

It was Marie Tucek who patented the "Breast Supporter" in 1893. This garment had two separate pockets for each side, shoulder straps, and fastened with a hook and eye closure. Very similar to the modern-day design.

In 1907 Vogue magazine first used the term 'brassiere", which comes from the French "upper arm". Before it was known by another French word "soutien-gorge". This literally means "throat support".

Mary Phelps Jacob of New York and her maid Marie, devised a backless Bra, made from handkerchiefs and ribbon. The night she wore it, she started getting orders. She applied for a patent under the business name Caresse Crosby. The "brassiere" was very lightweight, soft and gave a natural look. After Jacob tired from business she sold the patent to Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut for $1,500. Warner's made over 15 million over the next 30 years.

Due to World War I women were forced to wear uniforms which made wearing corsets a big problem. The U.S. War Industries Board requested women to stop buying corsets to reduce the consumption of metal. Sources said that 28,000 tons of metal was conserved through this effort. Enough to built two battleships.

In 1920 the Bra gained popularity. This was the time when the flat-chested boyish look became in. Warner introduced a tight, chest-flattening bra.

Only 8 years later, Ida Rosenthal, a Russian immigrant, and her husband William, went into business as the Maidenform Company, and created a Bra with cup sizes for daily use and every stage of life.

In 1930 the brassiere became the short word Bra, and changed the purpose from flatten the breasts to support them. In the same year Warner produced the first all-elastic bra, which shows off the woman's curves. It was greatly improved by Paul Poiret two years later. Pointing rigid bras were designed, where pads could be worn inside to enhance the fullness of the bust. These evolved into the push-up bra, stiffened cups supported by under-wiring.

1935 the cup sizes from A to D were created by Warner, which was used by all manufacturers in the world. Because of the short supply of cotton, rubber, silk and steel, through 1941-1945, synthetic fabrics were used. In 1950 strapless Bras became popular because of the fashion for off-the-shoulder outfits.

1960 the Hippie and free-love movement resulted in the bra-less look. But a return to the need for support saw the Bra re-emerge after this era. From these days on, different bras were developed. Differences in fabrics, shapes, stability and elasticity. Just think about how many hurdles the Bra had to take. At the beginning of the history, the Bra had no function and the breast was exposed. Later the bust had to be flattened not to show. It took many centuries for one to be comfortable wearing a Bra.

The huge variety does not make it easy to choose. Aren't we women lucky to live in the 20th century? We hope this brief history of the Bra was fun to read.