Celebrating 100 years of support

BRAS — they have supported, shaped, flattened, enhanced and perked us up, and this week we celebrate their 100th birthday.

Kate Powell helping to celebrate the bra’s 100-year anniversary. Picture: Darryn Smith

BRAS — they have supported, shaped, flattened, enhanced and perked us up, and this week we celebrate their 100th birthday.

From the corset to the cone bra to the wonderbra, women have always had a love-hate relationship with one of the most essential fashion pieces of our time.

Impressions Lingerie owner Jenny Golchert said that in her six years in the industry she had noticed plenty of changes.

“The push-ups have become very popular in the past few years,” she said.

“The cup sizes are getting bigger as well.”

Mrs Golchert said bras were no longer just functional; they were also fashionable.

“Even maternity bras are getting prettier,” she said.

“There are so many types, like push-up and padded and strapless and the convertible ones.”

The lingerie specialist said that for some women trying on bras was terrific while for others it was torture.

“Some women hate it and some allow a few hours to come and try on bras until they find what fits,” she said.

“Some ladies just find what they like and they stick to it. They buy the same bra every time.”

She said it was essential to find the right bra.

“The proper undergarment can make the outer garment look like a million dollars,” she said.

“A lot of the younger ones don't care now if they're wearing a purple bra with the straps showing under a yellow top.”

Mrs Golchert would like to see the bra evolve more over time.

“Ladies who have had breast surgery are advised to wear wire-free bras so it would be nice to see them in different colours than the skin tones and black.

“Corsetry has come back quite a bit now with the Spanx range.

“We thought we were free of those in the '80s; we were liberated. Most corsets sold now are for pleasure rather than control.”

Originally published as Celebrating 100 years of support