The Early Bras The 2500 BC favored an open-cup device that lifted bare breasts up and out of their clothing. While active women of ancient Greece wore a binding called a mastodeton or apodesmos while exercising. Through the Middle Ages, women relied on long strips of fabric, which they would sling under a breast and around the shoulder. Divorce corsets were worn in the late 18th century to lift and separate breasts, and as early as 1859 there were metallic bra-like constructions to hold matters rigidly in place. However, bras as we know them today didn’t appear until the late 19th century as new healthier feminine ideal was forming, one that included both athletic activity and employment outside the home. Despite the shift in mores, however, it wasn’t until the invention of elastic in the early 20th century that bra manufacture and use became widespread. Pre-1900 This period did not have any "brassieres" as such, there were breast bindings and bandeaux (some of which were similar to sports bras of today). But it was the corset popularised in the mid-16th century, which reigned until the early 20th century. In the late 19th century, french corset-maker Herminie Cadolle invented the Bra-like Bien-Etre ('well-being') bust supporter. Unlike traditional corsets, these supported the bust using shoulder straps. 1900-1939 Fashion by now took a recognizable silhouette. Women still wore corsets but the dresses were going shorter and more casual. This marked the beginning of the "bra era", the corset was on its way out, slowly but surely. It seemed only obvious because the bra was as sexy as the corset but a whole lot easier to wear. For women and their bras, the 1920's was the most liberating period of all. Flapper girls created vogue for minimizing bras but by the 1930's voluptuous breasts bounced back. The Bra as we now know it, had arrived! 1940-1979 This era saw major developments. Not only did the women see the first proper padded bra, there were landmark developments like the first bikini, and improved versions of the strapless bra. The cone shaped bra achieved fame after being championed by big film stars. In the 1950's the introduction of underwire bras and new synthetic fabrics was noticed. The mid 60's till the late 70's saw everything from an obsession to natural fabrics to the day-glow colors. The succession of browns and suede was prominent. Fashion with comfort was largely the key. 1980-1999 Also known as the wonder years this was the most exciting time for the bra! Fashion moved from glamour and sport to chic and then to the glorious re-emergence of the cleavage. Breast enhancing techniques gained serious popularity, power dressing on the outside with confident, sexy lingerie underneath were the trend. Sports bras were the rage by 1980. Leotards were the thing of the past and fitness bras proved that this era was all about enhancing what you had. Up to Date By the millennium, the fashion pendulum had swung back to big. Large and globe-like are the breasts du jour and push-up bras, such as Wonderbra and Miracle Bra, created options for women wanting to pump up their natural attributes. T-shirt and seamless bras are also widely available, suggesting we are now in the happy situation of anything goes!