The first bra was created in 1914 by a New York debutante preparing for a dance. With the help of a maid, she strung two handkerchiefs together with pink ribbon and fitted herself with the first bra. Since then, the bra has evolved as women and their self-perceptions have changed. During the next decade, the thinner "waif" look became popular as illustrated in the ascent of the model Twiggy. As the feminist movement developed, women were proclaiming their freedom from traditional roles and constraints set by a male-dominated society. Many young women sought a more comfortable bra or choose not to wear a bra at all. Bra burning was seen as a way of demonstrating this new freedom. In response, manufacturers made bras as unobtrusive and discreet as possible, such as Warner's 1969 Invisible Bra. Women infiltrated the workforce in mass numbers during the late 1970's, and by the early 1980's, women were beginning to climb the corporate ladder. During these decades, male-influenced clothing (e.g., shoulder pads and pinstriped suits) were seen throughout the office, while femininity and sensuality kept a low profile in the fashion industry.

Towards the latter 1980's and into the 1990's, women were comfortable for the first time with not only their professional success, but their sexuality as well. This brought on changes in fashion. There was a return to sensual and feminine clothing, and awareness for lingerie became heightened. Cultural icons such as pop-star Madonna were largely credited with the popularity of structured lingerie. High-powered designers, such as Jean Paul-Gaultier, incorporated such themes into their newest designs. Full-figured models and images of cleavage began to dominate fashion magazines, newspaper advertisements, movies, and television. "There is definitely a breast fixation going on in fashion today," says David Wolfe, creative director of The Doneger Group. Spurred by the increasing fear over the dangers of silicon breast implants, push-up bras experienced a revival and grew to multi-million sales figures. The movement to sensuality was highlighted in 1994 with "one of the most heralded episodes in underwear history: the invasion of the Wonderbra." (Source)

"The design of the underwear separates and lifts. The fabric cup protrudes everything out in front instead of down towards the ground," said "Wonderjock" designer Sean Ashby.