After seeing the “Undressed” Exhibition at Queensland Museum, I can understand the furore when women started wearing pants and trousers a century ago.
Up until then, they were underwear only!
And the white linen shirt so beloved of fashionistas today?
These also were worn as “underwear” rather than “outerwear” – so if a gentleman unbuttoned his cravat or waistcoast to reveal the shirt beneath – there was much swooning and heaving of maidenly bosoms!
Needless to say, I found the Exhibition a fascinating glimpse into the world of unmentionables from the last 350 years.
In years gone by, underwear was worn for warmth (obviously not much call for that in Australia) as much as for modesty, and to protect the skin from the the corsets, stays etc made of coarser materials.
Of course today underwear is also designed to provide support for delicate breast tissue.
Bra Titbits
- Breasts are getting bigger – the average bra size has gone from a 34C to a 36D in the past 15 years;
- Experts say a bra worn every day is only good for 3 months (oops!);
- Underwire was invented in the 1940’s; and
- When it comes to sports bras, stiff material with very little stretch provides the best support – rather than the popular compression/crop top style bras currently in vogue.
And so much for the prudishness of the Victorian era – did you know Queen Victoria wore crotchless knickers?!
Well okay, they were knee-length baggy drawers (rather than knickers), but there WAS an opening from front to back to allow for answering calls of nature when wearing a crinoline, numerous petticoats and the like.
Oh – and once you know what underwear is (or has been) made from, you’ll never want to wear it again 😉 – whale bone; steel; grub saliva (silk) and petro chemicals (spandex)!
The “Undressed” Exhibition features highlights from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (I hope to see it for myself when I am overseas later this year!); and is at the Queensland Museum until 1st February 2015.
Be honest now – how long do you keep wearing your bras for? I bet it’s longer than the recommended 3 months! 😉
*Apologies – I was unable to share photos of the actual displays in the exhibit as photography is not allowed.
What a fascinating look at the history of underwear. I would really like to get to Brisbane to see this exhibition. I must put it on my ‘to do list’! As for bras – the comfy ones I keep until they fall apart!
You’ll have to hurry Kathy, it only has a couple of weeks left!
Is it only three months? I thought it was six months! Love this article, it’s awesome. I’ll share it on my History of Parenting FB page and Twitter, they’ll love it:-) #TeamIBOT.
There are some great exhibitions on at the moment – I would love to see the one at Museum of Brisbane of Costumes from the Golden Age of Hollywood, that one goes til May, so maybe you’ve confused it with that?!
And thank you for the shoutouts – much appreciated!!! xxx
I meant three months for tossing your bras:) And you’re very welcome! Thanks for visiting:)
Oops silly me 😉 … I probably hang on to a good bra for a year or two myself before it starts to sag too much to be effective.
Oh way longer than three months! I hate bra shopping. I’m in need at the moment, but I keep putting it off.
Me too Jess. And even in the same brand, the sizes differ 🙁
I am so hoping the exhibition will come to WA x
Fingers crossed for you Rae!
So I really must get along there then?
Weeeellll – I don’t think it’s the sort of thing kids would enjoy, plus there is an entry fee of about $21 so maybe not for you. That said, there’s a free exhibition of costumes from the Golden Years of Hollywood at the Museum of Brisbane at City Hall, I’m hoping to get along to that one too!
Awesome post, Janet. So much good stuff in here. I laughed about the heaving and swooning over white shirts. And Queen Victoria in the crotchless knickers! Oh my! It seems I am well overdue for a new bra too 🙁 Enjoy the V&A. It was one of my highlights from London.
I’m glad I could make you smile – I love sharing random trivia that tickles my funny bone 🙂
Oh dear, I think I need to go bra shopping!!! Does it count if I don’t wear them to bed?? xx
Does anybody wear them to bed?!
Very interesting Janet. I’d like to know who it was that invented those underwires. Sadist! Some of my bras are so old I don’t remember when I bought them 🙂
Definite sadist Pinky.
Queen Victoria in crotchless knickers??!!! No Way!!!
Loved the lingerie of the 50’s and 60’s. So elegant but I do wonder how comfortable they were.
Miss 18 is a stunner! x
“Experts” say 3 months? Me thinks that should be “Sales Managers” say 3 months. At a minimum of $40 for a decent bra that doesn’t stretch after the first wash (even in a delicates bag) there is NO WAY I could afford to be replacing my bras every 3 months. What a joke!
On a happier note, that exhibition looks awesome! Do you know if it will be traveling to Sydney at all? Knowing my luck it’s already been here and I’ve missed out, lol!
LOL you are a cynic just like me Kylie … I thought much the same thing! Unfortunately the exhibition has now left Australia and will be in the V&A Museum in London from 16 April 2016 til 12 March 2017.