By Erin, Grace, Jaclyn, Katherine and Kendra
Characteristics of the Girdle First used by the Egyptians Focused on hips and buttocks Paul Poiret Zona: The Girdle Zone. Jan. 2003. 6 Oct. 2008 http://www.girdlezone.org/contents.htm.
Characteristics of the Bra Mary Phelps Jacob Paul Poiret Support a woman’s bust Ikenson, Ben. “Bra.” Ingenious Inventions: How They Work and How They Came to Be. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, 2004. 120-121.
Mary Phelps Jacob Credited with the bra’s creation. It was called the “backless brassiere” Lived a very strange life… http://www.women-inventors.com/Mary-Phelps-Jacob.asp PICTURE http://z.about.com/d/inventors/1/0/0/-/1/brapatent2.jpg SKETCH
Herminie Cadolle Improved the girdle Worked to develop the bra Family business still run today Stores in Argentina and France http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:History_of_brassieres
Before WWI Hourglass shape Conspicuous consumption Gibson Girls http://www.gibson-girls.com/gibson-3.html
During WWI Clothes were more practical Silk replaced cotton and wool http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/images/pp_uk_21.jpg
After WWI Flapper style Ready to wear was introduced http://webpages.charter.net/srydgig/1930s%20Fannie%20the%20Flapper%202.jpg
Contrasting the Bra and the Girdle Accentuate breasts Comfort Light weight Popular during and after WWI Could wear revealing clothes The Girdle: Waist, hips, (whole torso) Restricting Heavy (at first) Unpopular during and after WWI Could only wear modest clothing
Similarities Both made of light fabric Both fastened (for the most part) in the back