The Corset Era
Structured undergarments in Western fashion begin with 16th-century stays — boned bodices that shaped the torso to the fashionable silhouette. The Victorian corset became the most recognisable and contested expression: simultaneously providing structural support, shaping the hourglass, and becoming a contested symbol of constraint versus empowerment.
The Early Bra
The modern bra emerged in the early 20th century as corsets declined. Mary Phelps Jacob's 1914 design — two handkerchiefs joined by ribbon — represents the radical simplification. Underwire was patented in 1938; cup sizing arrived in 1932.
Contemporary Engineering
Contemporary luxury lingerie for full busts represents the most sophisticated expression of this tradition — garments both structurally engineered for larger sizes and aesthetically designed to be genuinely beautiful. The separation of these requirements that characterised most of the 20th century has been the central achievement of contemporary full-bust lingerie design.
