History Focus
November 13

Before this time they were stiff, confining corsets. 

In the 60's They Burned Them!

On November 13, 1914 the brassiere was first patented. Mrs. Mary Phelps Jacob, know as Caresse Crosby was the inventor of this item of clothing. During the Edwardian and Victorian eras, women's undergarments were all embracing. The brassiere was a contrast to this because it covered and supported only the breasts. While she was changing for a dance in 1913 she felt that the corset would be too constricting. Mrs. Jacob asked her French maid to join two pocket handkerchiefs with some pink ribbon. Thus the prototype for the 'bra' was constructed.


Mary Jacob had been making brassieres for her friends for several years. She was finally persuaded to patent her invention. A stranger wrote to her enclosing a dollar for one. It was then that she engaged a designer to produce working drawings of her invention. With these drawings she patented her brassiere on November 13, 1914.

She found it difficult to merchandise the "novelty" item herself. She sold the patent to the Warner corset company of Bridgeport, Conn. for only $1,500.00.

Sources:
| On This Day Crescent books
| The shell Book of Firsts |