Why Do Some Bras Have Wire in Them?

Many bras have a wire in them--a cause of both support and pain for many women.

The bra as an article of clothing has only been around for a little over 100 years. First designed in the early 1900s, it could be seen as the evolution of the corset, which was meant to support and shape the breasts. As fashion and technology have improved, though, modifications have been made to bras in order to help them give better support and comfort to the women who wear them. One of these advances is a wire placed inside the bra.

Support

One of the chief reasons that a bra has a wire in it is so that the bra can provide extra support to the woman's breasts. A metal wire can be run along the bra's seams so that the firmness of the metal helps reinforce the cradling nature of the bra itself.

Shaping

Another use of the wire in a bra is that it can help shape the breasts. Underwire, for instance, is a style of bra where wire is run along the bottom of the cups to press the breasts upward to make them appear more firm and perky. This can help sculpt the woman's figure, but it is also a more uncomfortable style of bra for many women to wear on any sort of regular basis.

Styles

There are a number of different styles of bra that use wire in them. Whether it's a traditional bra with shoulder straps, a strapless bra or even an athletic bra, wire may be used in the design. Many women (especially those with large breasts) like to have the extra support that a wire gives, even if they may not like the feeling of the wire itself.

Drawbacks

There are a number of drawbacks to using wire in a bra. For one, having the wire press against the same place on the breasts every day can lead to discomfort, and even bruising of the breasts. Wires may also break and damage the breasts before the woman can get her bra changed.

Women Who Shouldn't Wear Wire

There are some circumstances in which wire bras can be actively harmful to a woman. One of those circumstances is when a woman is pregnant. Her breasts will swell and develop so that she can properly nurse her child, but this swelling can cause pain and damage if it takes place in a bra laced with wire. Another circumstance is when a woman has recently undergone breast surgery, including breast augmentation. The wire may create a negative pull on any surgical wounds, and it could do more harm than good. Women who aren't sure about whether or not a wire bra is a good idea should discuss it with their doctor.

References

• The Breast Site: Underwire Bras
• Relfe: The Dangers of Underwire Bras