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After being invented in 1914 by Mary Phelps Jacob to replace the uncomfortable corset, the bra started out as a piece of clothing exclusively for women. Girls who started to develop with puberty, but who didn't have enough breasts to fill an “adult” bra, usually wore a slip or vest under their clothes.
A few years later, some models of bras for teenagers began to shyly develop. But this piece only became popular in the '50s, when the media started to highlight women's breasts - and this was reflected in society, including teenagers.
Doctors began to recommend that teenagers wear bras to avoid sagging and problems while breastfeeding, while teenagers themselves and even their mothers saw in the bra a way to improve posture and presentation. The companies also wanted to profit by selling bras for teenagers, with the of the media and even magazines for teenagers.
Once the breasts became symbols of femininity, the bra became a consumer dream for teenagers. Even girls who, at the beginning of puberty still did not have breasts wished to wear a bra just as they wished to wear high heels or lipstick.
For this audience, the “training bra” was created: a light, soft, wire-free bra without a bulge - sometimes with a light pad to protect and shape the breast bud (that lump that appears around the nipples at the beginning of the development of the breasts), preventing them from marking on clothing. In practice and contrary to the original idea of the bra, it offers little (perhaps none) support for breasts. It serves as a “transition” piece for the girl to get used to wearing a bra.
Even girls who had not yet developed a breast bud, but who were of pubertal age, wanted to have bras. The bra has become a symbol of a ritual of passage from childhood to adolescence. The “training bras” advertisements in magazine and catalog ads played on this.
In one of these ads, there is an image of a mother with her daughter wearing a branded bra and above a caption saying that “an understanding mother knows that her daughter's desire for her first bra is more for emotional and psychological reasons than physical ”. The advertisement also highlights that its product is developed for girls from 9 to 16 years old, they have cups that expand as the breasts develop and that help to develop confidence not only in themselves but in their "understanding."
Most “training bras” advertisements followed this script, mainly with images of mothers dressed in nightgowns hugging their daughters who wore bras. In fact, the target audience of the advertisement was not only the girls but also their mothers.
The message being propagated was that the “first bra” is a milestone in the girl's life and a moment that unites mother and daughter.
Of course, not all girls started wearing bras. Some found them uncomfortable, others were embarrassed (being the first or the last of their circle of friends to start wearing one), and others started using it without having breasts because their friends were. So much as it happens yet today.
There were also people who were against training bras. The arguments were that the “training bras,” because they are not pieces designed for support promoted the sexualization of adolescents.
Today, the concept of "training bras" has started to reach adult audiences too! There are the famous “bralettes.” They are lightweight bras, usually wire-free, bulge, and in some cases come without hooks and have won over the adult audience for their style and comfort. With the pandemic, they gained more usage as women who stayed at home decided to adopt more comfortable models of bras, (such as bralettes.) Of course, the bralettes developed for the adult audience have more daring styles (lace, cleavage, colors, etc.) than the training bras of the teenagers ...
- Would you wear a training bra as a teenager?
- Have you ever worn a training bra?
- Do you like bralettes?
Marie Claire
@marieclaire2 ----For some time now I've been Trying to find out if Bras really do any good-- From what I've seen they don't prevent sagging--- A couple of Older women I've talked to about suggested that wearing them made sagging much Worse--The one & only thing (Verified) bras are good for is to contain breasts while Physically active--
@janedon To me, it would seem that a well fitting (emphasis on this...) bra would give breasts definition and support. I'll let you know more when I finally have my own breasts......
@marieclaire2 I never wore a training bra per se, but own 4 small cup bras (A to AAA). My wife is mort comfortable seeing me with a minimal “ rack” compared to my Ds. I would have loved my training bra as a child. I do not currently own a bralette, but would certainly add the right one to the wardrobe.
@marieclaire2 the first bras I wore were my Mum's in my teenage years, (with itchy tennis balls for breasts!! LOL..).Until about three years ago, I'd never worn a bralette, cos I could not find any without the telltale adjusters and hooks and eyes. Wide straps were a must as well, so I did not have worry about continual "slippage"
Then I found the local distributor for a Canadian brand and with "none of the above" I now have three and on cooler days enjoy wearing them to give my AAAAAAAAAAAAAA moobs a bit of uplift... (Actually, they would possibly go a AA.... I jest...
They are lovely and comfy and I can colour match them to the same panty and lacy camis in the same brand but with a slightly different pattern.
PM me if you'd like to know the brand.
I rarely wear them with breast forms, a good underwire bra is best for these times.
Caty.
Hi Maria Thank you for your very informative article. There was one item that did me a little tingle I believe a woman's breast have ALWAYS been a symbol of femininity since the beginning of time I am sure the bra was a welcomed Item after having to deal with wearing a corset. The corset had its value by accentuating the female shape which we all love. The training bra!!! Training a young girl for a life of discomfort?. There is nothing more attractive to me than seeing a woman without a bra. Your are right a woman breast are a symbol of their femininity some thing that should be worn as a badge of honer not hidden by a man made piece of cloth.
Luv Stephanie
Marie,
Thank you for some fashion history lessons on the training bra, and yes, I do remember the "training bra," particularly during my pre teen and early teen years in the late 50s and early 60s.
Although I never actually wore a training bra, I do recall seeing them and seeing GGs wearing them. I recall how tiny they looked, when compared to a regular bra.
When I cross dressed as a pre teen & early teen in the late 50s & early 60s, I wore a regular bra, a playtex living girdle, and stockings, all of which was standard wear for girls and young women of that period.
Peggy Sue
Yea--corporations have made Billions of dollars by convincing us WE Needed their products-
Marie,
As a young teen, I never wore a training bra because by the time I realized I needed to begin wearing a bra, I was already a b-cup. A few girlfriends back then wore a training bra to hide/cover their developed nipples. Usually, the training bra usage was to get young girls used to wearing a bra daily. I've noticed that young girls begin wearing a bra at a certain age, whether they really need one (for coverage/modesty) or not.
Kathy
