The word brassiere (which is often abbreviated to bra) comes from the French language and the old French word “braciere” which means, “arm protector.” In French a bra is an “arm” of a military uniform. As time went by the word came to be associated with a military breastplate and much later on, a corset designed for, and worn by, women. In the modern world of European French the word “soutien-gorge” means breast support and that is what a bra is referred to as. The specific use of the word “brassiere” by the French makes reference to a vest worn by infants while at times it is used in talking about a “bra-top” that does not contain any formed cups. In Quebec, Canada the words brassiere and soutien-gorge mean the exact same thing.
Women need to wear bras, as the breasts, being made of mostly adipose tissue, need support so they won’t sag over time. It is the Cooper’s ligaments in the breasts that hold up the tissues and support their shape as well as the skin that protects them from outside injuries. The breasts therefore need as much outside support as possible and bras provide this and not only this, but bras prevent the breasts from bouncing or moving all over the place at inopportune times. Bras also provide a certain level of comfort to the wearer and they can improve or call attention to a woman’s attractive figure.
There is no conclusive proof that wearing a bra allows the breasts to retain their girlish shape however the opinions in the community of medical professionals are mixed. Some believe bras make a big difference as one ages and others do not. Some researchers looking into this subject believe that the movement of the breasts is healthy as it encourages the lymphatic system to do its job of eliminating toxins from the body at a faster pace but this claim has not been substantiated yet.
The concept of bras dates back to early Greece, around 6,500 years ago. On the island of Crete over 4,500 years ago Minoan women wore an early version of the bra. In the United States in 1913 it was a woman by the name of Mary Phelps Jacob who received the first patent for what is considered to be the modern bra. She eventually sold her patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company.
The size of a bra is broken down into the “band size” and the “cup size.” The band size is identified by a specific number that describes the circumference around the body but does not include the breasts, while the cup size is assigned a letter which is connected to the volume of the breasts. Bras usually come in cup sizes A-DD with different manufacturers using slightly different sizing charts for cup sizes.
The size of bra cups can vary with the band size of the bra. For example, a 34B cup is smaller than the cup of a 38B. The band size of a bra is calculated by measuring a woman’s circumference underneath her breasts keeping in mind that a certain amount has to be added because the ribcage in most women usually is wider at the height of the breasts than at their actual body height. Another way of deciding upon band size is to take a measurement under a woman’s arms and across the top of the fullest part of her breasts. According to a number of bra manufacturers, in determining a woman’s cup size, generally a difference of one inch (or 25 mm) needs an A cup; two inches (or 50mm) a B cup, etc.
Bras offer a plethora of styles and come in a variety of materials and colors. Some bras are very practical in nature whereas others are more geared towards making one’s chest more appealing. There are full support bras which offer the most support for the breasts; shelf bras which are meant to be sexually enticing; training bras for young girls who are just starting to develop, and maternity (or nursing) bras which are designed for new mothers who are breastfeeding. There is the pushup bra which lifts the breasts and makes cleavage very obvious; minimizer bras for large chested women; strapless bras which are designed for strapless fashions and convertible bras which have straps that can be removed and/or changed for a new look (such as crisscrossed in the back). T-shirt bras have no raised seams; sports bras are meant to wear during exercise and mastectomy bras are intended for women who have lost either one or both of their breasts to breast cancer. Finally, underwire bras have a wire for support that runs from the side of the bra and under each breast.
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