It never ceases to amaze me how the minds of men and women alike see to inflict pain and torture upon themselves in the name of fashion. Ouch, it hurts just thinking about it.
The corsets of the late 19th century purportedly cause cracked ribs, asthma, indigestion and variety of other ailments. But our waists were hourglass, nothing else was more important.
I take my hat off to Mary Phelps Jacobs who is credited with the first patent for a bra back in 1913. Here was a pragmatic socialite who had to come up with an alternative to the whale bone corset she would have been forced to wear under a shear new evening gown.
Whether the whale bones poking out around her plunging neckline convinced her to look in another direction or having cracked a rib or two in the past was the catalyst, Mary pitched the corset and selected two silk hankies and some pink ribbon to get her through the night without looking hog-tied. It worked and the first patented bra came into existence. Amazing what a little pain will do for you.
Now in 2007, we can satisfy the need for improvement of our "look" by browsing our favorite nice and naughty sites. They're out there in abundance.... Everything from fishnet tights and teddies to bustiers (no whale bone here... but you can reduce that waistline with one). My favorite now is a camisole and loose knickers... easy in, easy out and they look great.
I think the corsets now, while tight fitting, don't cause rib cage damage as they did way back when. Thank God for that. At least we've found a place in time when looking vampy and sexy isn't going to send you to the nearest emergency room. We've moved forward. I think there should be a major celebration in remembrance of Mary Phelps Jacobs and the first bra patent in 1913. I wonder if those hankies had wire under cups?
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Author Bio:
Veteran writer with several published short stories and articles. Joining the NiceAndNaughty.net team of writers for the love of lingerie and women empowerment.
