Lingerie HistoryBra Fitting
HerRoom Lingerie We Buy For Ourselves Womens intimate apparel and
lingerie undergarment
styles from bras and bustiers to
nightgowns sleepwear
are one of the true barometers of a woman's identity...how she expresses and feels about herself.
Exotic lingerie and intimate apparel has been with us since the beginning of time in one form or another, and can be traced as far back as 3000 B.C., to a small Greek statue of a woman wearing a simple pair of underwear. Modern day womens thongs and g string panties were still a long way off! Lingerie history experts theorize that early panties and underwear were worn as a comfortable alternative to the earlier basic undergarment of the era, the loincloth.
Writings from circa 450 B.C. unveil the ancestor of today's corset and bustiers. Worn around the hips and waist, this precursor to today's brassiere, was originally made from bands of wool that encircled the breasts. This shapewear lingerie undergarment reduced the size of the breasts while maintaining the body core from changes in temperature. Soldiers from the Roman Empire wore loose-fitting clothing that evolved into a tunic...the precursor of the modern day dress shirt and chemise sleepwear. European women of the late 13th century finally began to embrace their natural curves. 
Abandoning the traditional loose fitting clothing of that era, they started wearing tight-fitting lace detailed garments or cinchers that enhanced the feminine shape. The lingerie corset emerged... By the 15th century an interesting social (and fashion) phenomenon developed. Women's waist and
bra sizes
became a direct barometer of her (and therefore her husband's) social status, beauty and wealth. Lush hand stitched corset and bustiers in silks, lace, and embroidered satins became heavier and very tight. Women were constrained, often becoming short of breath and nauseous. Fainting was a common.
Exotic lingerie
and everyday intimate apparel were so tight, ribs became deformed and were pierced...in extreme cases some women actually died!
The illusion of a smaller waist became the ultimate goal and the epitome of femininity ...by the 1800's the most envied waist was one which measured just two hands around. The word that we have come to know "lingerie" actually didn't emerge until fairly recently. Lingerie comes from the French word for linen - "lin", which roughly translates as loosely hanging clothing, or linen draper. Luckily, lingerie history continues to evolve. Whale boned corsets and fainting are out... Comfort and sensuality are in!
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