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Modern bra is 100 years old!

posted by Pretty Tough | Girls Who Are Fun Fierce & Feminine
Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 7:46pm CDT

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Happy birthday to the bra! The modern day brassiere turns 100 this year and the bra business is booming.

A century has passed since Mary Phelps Jacob fabricated the modern brassiere, and with the anniversary of such an important invention just passed, we couldn’t help but look around to see what’s new.

Customized: Let’s face it: One size never fits all, and the same is true for the average brassiere. With its new Perfect Pair bra, Fruit of the Loom has invented a clever and affordable solution to the uneven dilemma many women face. Each bra cup is purchased separately, with cups coming in “Exactly” and “Just About” sizes and in-between cup sizes as well. The bras have both front and back closures so that the cups, patterns and width of the bands can be mixed and matched for the best fit possible. Most custom designed intimates cost upwards of $100, but the Perfect Pair retails for only 10 bucks at a limited selection of stores and through Amazon.

Vintage: If you want to channel your inner Bettie Page or Dita Von Teese in all of their pin-up glamour, retro underclothes now are popping up more frequently in retail shops. Recently opened in Miami, vintage shop La Boudoir is receiving acclaim for its expansive selection of old world lacy slips, cone-shaped bras circa early ’90s Madonna, and various silky-and-slinky pieces that, while once intended to be worn under your clothes, now look too pretty to be hidden.

Sports Bras: They don’t make ‘em like they used to. No matter what your cup size or favorite activity, there’s probably a bra engineered to work for you. If you need help choosing the right sports bra read up on bounce control, shape and style, measuring tips and more.

Also check out this “Today Show” video which celebrates the bra’s birthday with a magnificent montage of well-known bras, vintage ads, wardrobe malfunctions and industry factoids.

Thanks for your support.