Accession numberPRHM-2206MakerLibertyMeasurementsH280 x W300mmHistoryThe shaped cups of modern bras appeared in the 1930s. Alphabetical cup sizes were introduced in 1932, and the shortened name ‘bra’ was introduced. Women stopped wearing a slip or chemise under their bra and the garment was worn against the skin. Technical advances in fabrics and new stitching techniques led to the highly structured ‘bullet’ bras of the 1950s, which were typically still worn with a girdle.