Spoiler: Absolutely not — but breast support has quite the glow-up story.

If you’ve ever wondered whether women have always worn bras, the short answer is nope!
The long answer?
A fabulous, centuries-long evolution of fabric, fashion, feminism, and a whole lot of trial and error.

Let’s take a little walk through the history of holding the girls up… 👇

🏺 Ancient History — The Very First “Bras”

Ancient Greece

Women wore the apodesmos or strophion — basically a simple band of fabric wrapped around the chest for support. Functional, minimal, and surprisingly ahead of its time.

Ancient Rome

Roman women used the mamillare or fascia, another cloth band worn around the bust.
Think of it as the early ancestor of the sports bra — but far less stretchy.

👗 Middle Ages — Zero Support Era

Women wore long chemises or shifts under their clothing, but these offered no structured breast support at all.
It was less about lift and more about layers.

🎀 Renaissance to 19th Century — Corsets Take Over

Corsets

From the Renaissance right through the 1800s, corsets did ALL the heavy lifting (literally).
Often boned with whalebone or steel, corsets were designed to cinch the waist and push the bust upward.
Beauty standards: extreme. Comfort level: questionable.

Stays

In the 1700s, stays — stiffer, heavily boned versions of corsets — shaped the torso and provided a very structured, upright bustline.

✂️ Late 1800s – Early 1900s — The Bra Is Born

Women began to ditch restrictive corsetry in favour of something softer and more practical.

1914: The First Modern Bra Patent

Mary Phelps Jacob (aka Caresse Crosby) patented the modern bra prototype — made from two handkerchiefs and a ribbon.
Simple, lightweight, and revolutionary.

💕 1920s–1950s — Bras Take Shape

1920s

Flat, boyish silhouettes were the trend — bras were designed to minimise the bust.

1930s

Cup sizes were invented (thank you, S.H. Camp & Company!).
This was a game-changer for fit and support.

1940s–50s

Enter the bullet bra — pointy, structured, and iconic.
Think vintage pin-up energy.

🚺 1960s–1990s — Comfort, Feminism & Innovation

60s & 70s

The women’s liberation movement brought a push for comfort.
Soft-cup bras, bralettes and natural shapes became popular.

80s & 90s

Underwires, push-up bras, and the introduction of proper sports bras meant more choice, more lift, and more support.

🧵 2000s to Today — Comfort Meets Technology

Modern bras focus on:

• Comfort

• Inclusivity

• Better fabrics

• Wireless support

• Seamless designs

• Custom-fit technology

From padded to wireless, from plunge to bralette — today’s bras are all about supporting your shape, your comfort, and your confidence.

🌍 What Influenced This Evolution?

• Fashion trends changed breast shapes and silhouettes

• New materials like elastane and microfibre improved fit

• Awareness of health and comfort reshaped expectations

• Body positivity and inclusivity transformed modern design

💗 Final Thoughts

Have women always worn bras?
Not even close.
But breast support has been reinvented again and again — from ancient fabric bands to corsets to the comfy, supportive, beautiful bras we wear today.

And luckily, the modern bra is all about comfort, confidence, and celebrating your gorgeous shape — exactly what Tutti Rouge stands for. 💕