Helpful Score: 1
This is a fun book, even if it (or maybe especially because) sometimes feels a bit like going through the author's lingerie drawer. It starts with a short history of breast support and display from ancient history to the 1900's, including a devilishly uncomfortable-looking corset of metal, hinged, riveted, with beautiful scrollwork and two holes for the breasts to stick through. It looks as though it was made by an armor maker.
Since the corset was popular for centuries up into the 1900's, the bulk of the book starts here, with the claim of the invention of the bra in 1913 by a debutante. From there, she covers the history of the industry, the effect of world events on the bra, and the ups, downs, ins and outs of its design. There is no other part of the anatomy so available to designers to change its shape, so they take advantage of the malleability of the breast.
There are short excursions into the history of lycra, girdles and related apparel and to children's underwear, but the author comes quickly back to the book's main subject.
If you have ever felt like designing a bra, this would be a very good resource, but you don't have to be serious to read this book.
Since the corset was popular for centuries up into the 1900's, the bulk of the book starts here, with the claim of the invention of the bra in 1913 by a debutante. From there, she covers the history of the industry, the effect of world events on the bra, and the ups, downs, ins and outs of its design. There is no other part of the anatomy so available to designers to change its shape, so they take advantage of the malleability of the breast.
There are short excursions into the history of lycra, girdles and related apparel and to children's underwear, but the author comes quickly back to the book's main subject.
If you have ever felt like designing a bra, this would be a very good resource, but you don't have to be serious to read this book.
