Bra: A Thousand Years of Style, Support and Seduction [Hardcover]

Stephanie Pedersen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

from the suffragettes to the Supremes, from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna, the bra has had more impact than any other item of clothing on shaping generations of women. The evolution of the bra, from the constricting corset to the liberating Wonderbra, is laid bare in nine uplifting chapters, spilling over with juicy facts, fashion highlights and archive photos of the Hollywood divas that brought the bra to the big screen and into the hearts of men worldwide This sexy, sophisticated and, above all, fun book celebrates the bra and everything it stands for - giving girls the information, inspiration and support they need to make the most of their assets!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although not everyone will agree with the author’s assertion that "in shaping breasts, the bra has also shaped fashion and modern sex appeal," one thing that this lighthearted, sartorial tribute makes clear is that a more conscious appreciation of the underwire garment is in order. Pedersen (K.I.S.S. Guide to Beauty) traces the evolution of the bra, from ancient times when Minoan women flaunted their breasts in uplifting cutaway jackets, to the more modest (read imprisoning) years of the rib-snapping corset, to the "anything goes" attitude of contemporary fashion. The bra in its modern incarnation didn’t debut until the early 20th century—when Mary Phelps Jacob created one out of two silk handkerchiefs, some pink ribbon and thread, and subsequently nabbed the first U.S. patent in 1914—but Pedersen maintains that fashion and feminism owe much to the brassiere. She points out that as women began entering the workforce during WWI, the modern bra became indispensable because it granted female workers mobility and signified their independence. From then on, it was adapted to suit different fashions. In the ’20s, women used the bra to flatten themselves and achieve the androgynous figures of flappers and suffragettes, and a decade later, Lana Turner and her clingy cashmere and prominent breasts sparked a demand for "falsies." A plethora of pictures complement the text, including a photo of an old pin up and some tantalizing shots of models wearing sexy fantasy bras made of diamonds and other precious gems. In the end, it’s hard to say which crowd this mildly intriguing history will appeal to more—the women who wear the lingerie or the men who enjoy seeing them in it.
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About the Author

Stephanie Pedersen is an author and journalist who specialises in beauty and health issues. Her articles have appeared in Sassy, Teen, Girl, Woman's World, Cosmopolitan, American Woman and Weight Watchers. She is the author of nearly 20 books and teaches creative writing

Product Details

• Hardcover: 127 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles Publishers (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 071532067X
• ISBN-13: 978-0715320679
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pedersen is excellent researcher, December 4, 2005

By 

L. Secrist (San Francisco area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bra: A Thousand Years of Style, Support and Seduction (Hardcover)

Although the cover insinuates tittilation, the information packed into this book is historically accurate and detailed, with photographs backing up information. The book is logically laid out and would be a perfect part of any woman's studies course or project for such a class. The presentation is such that this would also make a conversational coffee table book - espcially when combined with other Pedersen books like "Shoes". Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History made fashionable, April 5, 2005

By 

Girl on the go! "Hello" (Northeast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bra: A Thousand Years of Style, Support and Seduction (Hardcover)

Though this is a history of breast treatments (it includes binding and corsets which pre-date the bra), Bra: A Thousand Years of Style, Support & Seduction is also a social commentary, explaining what it must've been like to live in the various eras before our own. The art is amazing--and fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cute and Fun But Shallow, December 8, 2007

By 

fatal_degree (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bra: A Thousand Years Of Style, Support & Seduction (Hardcover)

The layout is well done. The image choices and arrangement demonstrate the ever changing womans form. There's not much hope of a book this small being deeply informative on such a broad span of history. But it is always disappointing when another book perpetuates the myth that steel corsets were common practice, and ribs being removed was equally plausible. The text history is anecdotal and amusing, much in the same way that a magazine would cover an entire century of fashion on one page, and make it interesting. This is a cute little coffee table book for parties. Would be fun at a sex toy party, or lingerie party, where the theme would get people in the mood to buy.