We generally think of bras as a thoroughly modern trend. Whether they’re being burned in the name of feminism or symbolizing female sexuality and liberation, they’re not exactly something we picture when we imagine an old-timey wardrobe (not that we do that a lot or anything). But we, like many scholars, were surprised to find that the world’s oldest bra predates not only Victoria’s Secret but Queen Victoria herself. Discovered in an Austrian castle, this linen number is estimated to be about 600 years old.
This might sound like a simple, funny tidbit, but it’s actually a pretty surprising discovery in the history of women’s fashion. Most experts thought the bra phenomenon was no more than 100 years old, having come into vogue as uncomfortable corsets slid out of style. Apparently, women of the Middle Ages were way ahead of their time when it came to undergarments. (Huffington Post)
via Refinery29
