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Lingerie and fragrance. Not since Cleopatra and her asp, has any combination proved to be as deadly. Over the ages Empires have tumbled, wars been waged, fortunes lost, and souls sold in testimony to the power of women and their frilly bits. In this spirit, Kaleidoscope doffs a cap to the evolution (and revolution) of lingerie and highlights a few of the more ‘stirring’ moments in its history.
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More implement of torture than fashion item, the oft too tightly laced whaleboned corset had women swooning the world over. But as long as it had the same effect on the menfolk, frankly, no one seemed to give a damn.
With metal replacing whalebone, the corset was dealt its deathblow in 1917 when the US government called on women to stop buying corsets in order to aid the war effort. Some 28 000 tons of metal was freed up and women were able to breathe once more. So much for ‘make love, not war’.
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Two handkerchiefs, a piece of ribbon, a length or cord and Viola! – one Mary Phelps Jacobs had created the item of lingerie that would have grown men fumbling for generations to come. “I can’t say the brassiere will ever take
as great a place in history as the steamboat, but I did invent it, ”stated Mary in 1914. Perhaps it won’t Mary... but your invention sure has sunk a lot more men. Hail Mary.
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When airplane designer turned movie director Howard Hughes cast little known actress Jane Russell in the lead role of ‘The Outlaw’, movie bosses thought he’d lost his mind. Which of course history reveals he had. Nonetheless, Miss Russell’s acting secret? A special bra designed by Mr. Hughes incorporating two pieces of wire to lift and enhance the bust. And to the sound of a million schoolboy sighs, so was born the push-up bra.
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What created a stir in the 60’s was not so much a revolution in underwear as much as an evolution in attitude. Tired of being, pushed, shoved, manipulated and bound by fashion trends often created by men, women finally put up a united front and the braless look had its moment in the sun. Not many men complained. A win-win situation if ever there was one.
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Historians are in three minds regarding the origin of the G-String. Some credit 1934 New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia for its origin by ordering the City strippers to cover up. Others suggest that fashion designer Rudi Gemreich commercialized the G-String when he introduced the thong bikini in 1974. Then there’s the faction that claim that the Rio Carnival deserves ownership rights. But the question most on men’s lips when it comes to the origin of this delectable piece of body floss is... does it really, really matter?
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Not satisfied with taking sides in the ‘is the cup half-full or half-empty’ debate, bra manufacturer Wonderbra created a stir when it introduced its push-up bra in the early 90’s. Contrary to the natural laws of science and defying both physics and logic, the lesser-breasted female now looked more full, more voluptuous, more pert. Men? Well, they just looked. And looked. And looked some more.
