The brassiere is a functional fashion statement for woman in modern times. But the brassiere was not always considered both as a functionally garment and as a fashion statement. In Victorian and Medieval times the brasserie functioned only as a garment for women that sole purpose was to restrain and restrict women’s movement. Brassieres in those two periods in history functioned in order to bring a certain discipline to their sexuality. During the Medieval and Victorian periods it was thought that nice women were disciplined because nice women knew how to catch a man without being overly sensual. People of those eras believed that being disciplined and restrained with beauty was sexy and alluring. In fact, the brassiere was designed and constructed very differently in the Victorian and Medieval eras than it is today.

Brassieres were designed and constructed to hold in a woman’s stomach and breast. Brassieres were not very comfortable back then and they were also very large and cumbersome. Plus, the bras of those times were not sexy at all. It seemed like demure, restrained, and restricted sexiness and beauty was the order of the day. I think mothers were afraid that their daughters would be considered sluts and hoes and not certainly not marriage material if they didn’t wear their brasserie correctly and securely. Bras were usually had several ties and cinches in order to hold in women tightly. Bras left much to the imagination back than. This seems a little bit prudish today but it was rather sensible back then because it was believed that only husbands should see their wives entire body in all its glory. The whale bone corset as well as other types of corsets was a part of the brassiere in those days. However, the sexual mores of society as well as the face of fashion changed in society. I am glad for that because I don’t think that I could wear a brassiere that had a whale bone corset or any type of corset for that matter. This is because a corseted and cinched bra is too tight, so tight in fact that it is impossible to breathe when wearing this type of brassiere. Also, it would seem that women would feel very uncomfortable in the corseted bra as well as the clothes that go on top of the bra. Women can’t feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful with this type of bra, therefore, I think that the corseted bra that was used back in those times might have ruined an outfit or two.

The brassiere is a garment that is created for women in order to support their breasts so they don’t hang or sag. Having your breast supported is very important for their health. It is even claimed that wearing a bra to support you breast could help prevent breast cancer because the breasts will not sag as quickly if the breast are supported by a bra generally. However, there are some dresses that have no need for brassiere but most likely women will need a bra with their clothing. But, today the brassiere is all about both functioning properly and being fashionable. Today, bras come in many different styles and colors and, of course bras come in different sizes. Women can buy bras in black, white pink, blue, purple, beige, and ivory. Smaller breasted women often wear size A and B bras while larger breasted women wear size C and D bras. The brasserie seems to be a wonderful invention for today’s modern women.