A History of Underwear and Lingerie • 06.20.08
The Teddy
A teddie or teddy is a form of undergarments similar to a bodysuit which is mostly worn in the boudoir. Dissimilar to a bodysuit however, it is usually more sheer and much looser and may be made to slip of the shoulders instead of open at the crotch. The teddy is generally worn for the tantalizing look, rather than for pragmatic reasons.
The Bra
In the late eighteen eighties the Frenchwoman Herminie Cadolle introduced the first modern brassiere. This was a two-piece undergarment known as le bien-etre (the well-being). The lower section was a corset for the waist while the top section supported the breasts by the use of straps over the shoulders. By 1905 the upper section half was being sold separately as a soutien-gorge (breast-supporter, using a euphemism for breast that conventionally means throat), the name by which bras are still called in France. Cadolle’s company is still making and selling lingerie today.
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