Bras are so integral to our daily lives, women wear them day in and day out! That being said, they’re not always something we stop to think about. What’s their story? Do they even have a story? Well, yes actually! After some poking into the origin and history of bras, along with their development over the years, there are a lot of things you probably don’t know about bras. After all, they happen to have a pretty interesting history, and they’re also something we tend to have misconceptions about.

When you think about it, the bra as we know it today is actually quite a fairly modern invention; before bras, everyone was wearing corsets. Bras didn’t start becoming mainstream until the turn of the 20th century, and a lot has happened since then.

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From bras that were sewn out of handkerchiefs and ribbon, to sports bras that were nothing more than jockstraps stitched together, we have definitely come a long way, and in a better direction! We now have memory foam bras, and specially-engineered push-up bras that can inflate and deflate according to the size that you want them to be. Oh what a time to be alive! So, with all that in mind, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about bras:

1. You’re probably wearing the wrong size

80% of women the world over wear the wrong bra size and over 29% of them do so willingly! Trust me, the quality of your life drastically improves when you find the right size bra. If you’re unsure of what it could be, go get fitted! 

2. The first bra was painful

The first bra was designed and patented in 1893 by Marie Tucek. It was designed to be used along with a corset and it worked in such a way so as to use metal and cardboard to keep the breasts in place. If that doesn’t say ‘ouch,’ I don’t know what will. 

3. The first bralette was made by stitching handkerchiefs together

Necessity is the mother of all innovation, and this is no exception. It was designed by Mary Phelps Jacobs, in an effort to create an undergarment that would lie flat against her clothes and allow for cleaner lines than a corset. So with the help of some ribbon and a couple of handkerchiefs, she created the first bralette in 1914. 

4. The system of cup sizes only came about in the 30’s

Even though the bralette was extremely popular, it did not come with cup sizes. Nobody is clear on who invented it, but the system that we use today came into function only around the late 20’s and early 30’s. 

5. The first sports bra was created by sewing jockstraps together

This one sounds a little strange. Did you know that sports bras have only been around since the ’70s? They’re a relatively new invention, and the first prototype was made by sewing two disassembled jock straps together. 

6. Your size changes over time

Thanks to various physical and hormonal changes that take place in a woman’s body, it is said that a woman’s breast size may change as many as six times during her lifetime! So if you’re still trying to fit into the bra that you did six years ago, chances are that the size is not right for you. 

7. The first bras were created in Greece

As with so many other things in our life that give us purpose, the bra was a greek invention as well. There are depictions of bra-like garments in ancient greek paintings, and even though the modern avatar looks nothing like these, we can let them have it. 

8. Your breasts are (probably) not the same size

Most women have mismatched breasts. So if this is something that has been a concern, and it also isn’t something you feel comfortable discussing, rest assured that you’re not alone! 

9. The largest cup size is L while the smallest is a AAA

These are not sizes that you will find in every lingerie store, and the size was not introduced till 2011. You have to go to a more exclusive lingerie store in order to obtain the sizes that are not in regular circulation. 

10. Bras are expensive

In fact, the world’s costliest bra- the Victoria’s Secret Red Hot Fantasy Bra- is probably worth more than your house. Priced at $15 million, it definitely is a fantasy.