The History Of The Bra (& A Shopping List To Match)

We're approaching the 100th anniversary of the bra, ladies. Though the garment's existed, in some form, since the dawn of breasts, most people consider its "official" debut to be around the time the corset took a turn toward oblivion. As Rowan Pelling writes in a pretty fascinating piece for The Telegraph, that moment was when Mary Phelps Jacob created a makeshift "monobosom" bra out of two silk handkerchiefs and a bit of ribbon. Pelling goes on to chronicle the history of the brassiere through the ages, from WWI and Jane Russell to Madonna and Eva Herzigová. If you love your lingerie as much as we do, it's a must-read.

And, truth be told, reading about the evolution of our favorite undergarment got us in the mood to shop. So, as an accompaniment to your Sunday reading, why not do a little Sunday browsing? We've put together eight bras that illustrate Pelling's history lesson — all available for your impulse-buying pleasure. (The Telegraph)