The term "brassiere," from a French word used to denote a soldier's arm guard or shield, is used to describe the undergarmet in Vogue magazine.

The first brassiere patent is awarded to New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob. She quickly loses interest and sells the patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Conn., for $1,500. In the years that follow, Warner will pull in around $15 million.

1907

Maidenform, founded by Russian immigrant Ida Rosenthal and dressmaker pal Enid Bisset, opens its first plant in Bayonne, N.J. Rosenthal is often credited with having invented cup sizes.

1925

1914

Hello, boys! Though the WonderBra was trademarked in 1935, it takes a relaunch — and an eye-popping ad campaign, starring Eva

According to the company, they sold one every 15 seconds.

1994

Breasts get a real boost in the late 1940s when

of Hollywood, creates the first padded push-up bra.

1940

Tycoon and movie director Howard Hughes uses aeronautical engineering to develop the bullet bra: an underwire marvel with cartoonishly pointy cups. He intends for actress Jane Russell to wear it in “The Outlaw”; Russell later reveals it was so uncomfortable that she refused.

1941

Victoria's Secret is founded in San Francisco after Stanford MBA Roy Raymond realizes that men might be more comfortable shopping for their girlfriends via catalogue.

1977

Jean Paul Gaultier designs a golden, pointy cone bra for Madonna to wear on her Blond Ambition concert tour. "The design itself is brilliant," says Apsan, "but Madonna made it famous. She took shapewear out of the bedroom and onto the streets of America."

1990

A protest of the 1968 Miss America Pageant gives rise to the legend of feminist bra burning. Though women at the Atlantic City protest filled a "freedom trash can" with bras, girdles, high heels, makeup and hairspray, it was not set alight because no fire permit could be obtained.

1968

Lisa Lindahl, a 28-year-old grad student at the University of Vermont, sews an athletic bra out of two jock straps and takes it for a test jog with fit friend Hinda Miller. The sports bra is born.

1977

Katy Perry froths up America with her “California Gurls” video, featuring the pop star wearing a bra equipped with whipped-cream shooters.

2010

such supermodels as Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks and Molly Sims stalking the runway) for the first time.

2001 2014

Janet Leigh raises eyebrows when she appears in just a bra and slip in “Psycho.” Two years later, the brassiere goes high-tech when Dupont introduces Lycra. “As far as innovation and fabric, that was probably the biggest thing to happen. [Manufacturers] were able to make cups that retained their shape,” says Luciani.

1960

Maidenform launches its iconic “I dreamed ...” ad campaign. Among the depictions: women dressed

“I dreamed I was a jack-in-the-box ...”).

1949

YEARSOF THEBRA

100 Underwear technology takes a futuristic turn, as PC Magazine predicts a “smart” bra that tracks fitness activity and Spanx debuts its Booty Bra — which promises to lift and separate butt cheeks. But the classic black bra prevails, as NYC-based intimates boutique Journelle reports that the color is their best seller.3-19-14 AM