What Is an Underwire Bra?
The underwire bra dominates the bra market. In 2005. the underwire bra was the fastest growing bra type in the industry. In 2001, there were some half a billion bras sold in the United states. Of these, approximately 70 percent were of the underwire type. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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One of the most famous underwire bras was invented for Jane Russell by Howard Hughes during the filming of "The Outlaw." While the underwire did not become popular until after World War II, it can be traced back as far as 1893 when Marie Tucek received a patent for a "breast supporter" which was a modification of the corset.
Design
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An underwire bra is exactly what its name implies. It uses curved pieces of metal wire to help support underneath the breast. The wire is sewn into the bra fabric beneath the breast and helps with support and can be designed to enhance a woman's bust-line as well.
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Comfort Versus Function
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While the underwire bra offers better support and an improved look for most women, it can also be uncomfortable. The underwire can be especially helpful to women with larger breasts, but the heavier breast can also cause additional discomfort.
Getting The Right Fit
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The same wire size may be used in a variety of bra sizes. For instance a 36A will use the same wire size as a bra size of 30C. This is because each bra band size has a pre-determined underwire size assigned to it. If your underwire bra is uncomfortable, you may want to try changing your band size, which will result in a different wire size.
Inconvenience
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There are many urban legends about underwire bras being a hazard during electrical storms and dangerous should an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) be used on the woman. While most of these are false, underwire bras can be an inconvenience when going through security check points such as airport metal detectors.
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