Medieval bras discovered at Austrian castle - 600-year-old garments surprise fashion experts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/18/medieval-bras-discovered-austrian-castle



A bra dating back to the middle ages discovered in Austria. Photograph: AP


Fashion experts have been surprised by the discovery of four bras around 600 years old in an Austrian castle.

The underwear style was thought to be a little over 100 years old as women abandoned tight corsets, but the linen versions unearthed by archaeologists date back to the middle ages, the University of Innsbruck said on Wednesday.

Hilary Davidson, fashion curator at the Museum of London, said one specimen in particular "looks exactly like a [modern] brassiere". The garments were unearthed in 2008, but the discovery was only publicised by a recent BBC history programme.