Twin airbags as standard! (Gossard Underwear in general)

Member Name: kimgraham

Product:	Gossard Underwear in general
Date:	14/08/02 (879 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good range of styles, good quality

Disadvantages: a bit pricy

This started off as a music review,I must admit. I have been trying to write it for ages but am struggling. What do you do when most of your favourite top ten albums could not really be classified as the greatest?!

Whilst pondering this problem I got hotter and hotter. First of all I put my hair up. Long hair is a pain in the heat. I still couldn't concentrate and found myself absentmindedly tweaking a strap. That was it! The bra had to go!
So, having changed into something a little cooler I came back to my trusty computer to have another bash at the elusive music op.

Inspiration didn't come. Actually, it did, but not in the way I expected. I decided that I would write an opinion about bras! Is there a connection there? I wonder!

It is only in the last ten years that I have taken bras remotely seriously. Prior to that I was a fried egg job. The only time I had anything that could be even considered a bust was when I was pregnant or feeding. It always disappeared again after. Can you imagine the shame of being a 32AAA?

After my stillborn baby 10 years ago, my bust remained. It was very odd suddenly being relatively well endowed. Dolly Parton I am not (thank goodness)but I am certainly not the shape I used to be! It has taken a bit of getting used to!

I have three daughters, two of whom are somewhat statuesque and the other a more average size.As you can imagine in a house of females there is often talk of bras or the latest fad in underwear.

When I was about seventeen I can remember going into the Army and Navy Stores in London to buy a Gossard Wonderbra. The assistant, sorry, corsetiere, scathingly said that she would see if she had one "that small". I ask you, surely little squirts like me were the most in need of the wonderful push up cleavage? Our bigger busted friends could manage it without help, I would have thought!

The lady came back, and yes, she had one! I blew a large
amount of that month's grant on it and eagerly took it home. It was too big.
You can imagine my chagrin!
So there I was with my cotton wool, padding myself up to go to a party. Honestly, the things you do when you are young! At least I felt feminine and not the butt of my friends jokes.

After that I gave up wearing bras, unless a blouse was especially see through, until about ten years ago.

Once I developed a bust I realised that going bra-less was really not an option. Jogging became highly uncomfortable for one thing and I realised if I did not do something that everything would travel south very quickly.

I returned to Gossard. I have worn many other makes, but something draws me back to Gossard. They are an interesting company with an long history. They also make extremely good underwear.

The company goes back as far as the 1900's and was founded by the American Henry Williamson Gossard. Apparently he was inspired to make underwear by the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt. She was playing Napoleon 2nd dying of consumption. A special corset was designed to flatten her acouttrements. Gossard thought the corset would be popular and decided to market it. He was right, it was popular! He used the finest French materials and travelled to Paris twice a year to get them.

Gossard came to the UK in 1922 and had an office in Regent Street.

In the first UK catalogue there were bras, corsets and all in ones. They were made to fit the short, the stout and the elderly.

The early materials were interesting and mostly sumptuous. They included satins, cotton, brocades, surgical and hand knitted elastic ( I find that quite fascinating!) and suede. I must admit, I can't imagine wearing a suede bra. It would surely be too rigid?

The range was entirely pink but if you were
lucky they might be able to make you one in black or white. How things change!

In 1925 they changed the de
sign of the corset and moved the lacing to the front. This was to make dressing easier. Have you ever tried a back lacing corset? They are impossible without help! I have had to wear one a couple of times when I have been in an opera. believe me, you only have to get some mean sos and so on the end of the laces and you are in trouble!

In 1926 the first British factory opened in Leighton Buzzard. It is still there today.

By the 1930's Gossard became a British public company and bras in their present format came into being.

In the 40's Gossard did a wonderful job helping the war effort. The factory made sails, distress flags, single seater fighting dinghies, life belts, balloons, bras for the WRENS and 639,306 parachutes. Did they use Dolly Parton's bra? No! She wasn't around then!

After the war the construction of bras improved. They became lighter due to the invention of nylon.Good old Dupont! The first lightweight girdles were also brought in. Their slogan was " you are as old as your corset shows!"

In 1956 the "Perma-lift" was born. This was the forerunner of the Wonderbra. Apparently it had a magic insert.This was a shaped support within each cup. It was made of a soft and cool fabric which was specially treated to give permanent uplift.

In 1959 Gossard became part of the Courtaulds Group.

Now we come to the 1960's and the beginning of liberation! Gossard had to develop an extensive range of bras in response to a growing demand. Then came the launch of the pantie girdle and bra slip. This was considered very daring and quite shocking, but not as shocking as the mini skirt.

With the advent of the mini skirt, roll ons, girdles and suspenders all had to go for the sake of decency. I have never fully understood this as I have never had any problems wearing suspenders with a mini skirt, but there you go!

In 1968 the Wonderbra came into existence. It
was an immediate success, and no wonder! It is a truly wonderful bra, especially for the less well endowed! It was, and still is, very low cut and exuded sex appeal and glamour.

I have just had a heated argument with my family who would not believe that Gossard had ever had anything to do with the Wonderbra, which is now out on its own!

In the late 60's and 70's the "burn your bra" campaign was at its height, spearheaded by feminists such as Germaine Greer. You see I was not by any means alone in giving up my bra!

As time went on figures began to change. Women became taller and fuller figured. (Didn't notice me getting any taller, more's the pity!)

This prompted a change in the design of bras. Boning was no longer as popular, although personally I have always preferred boned bras. Instead,a more natural line was aimed for. Gossard developed the "Glossies" range and women went for shimmering, sheer bras and briefs in young styles. Underwear had to be inconspicuous under clingy clothes. The largest cup size increased to DD in the seventies as ladies were becoming heavier busted. They also extended their range of colours.

By the 80's co-ordination was in vogue. In the early 80's they introduced the Basque, which is basically a corset, only with hooks and eyes (also a pain to do up by yourself)instead of laces.

In 1985 Gossard bought out Berlei, which were another excellent manufacturer of bras.

Gossard had a particularly good period in the 1990's when they were awarded a BS Quality award, being the first UK lingerie company to do so. They were also given the Queen's Award for Export Achievement several times.

Who can remember the advert "Lock up your sons?" It was where a mother locked her son in his bedroom when she saw the girl next door coming home with a Gossard bag!

In 1994 Wonderbra became a separate company and the Ultra
bra was launched. It promised your biggest cleavage or your money back.

Personally I have always thought the Ultrabra was just an extension of the Wonderbra.
By now Gossard had increased the maximum cup size to an F. Have we really grown that much in 50 years, girls?

So here we are at the present day. Gossard is still the UK's favourite brand, and one of mine,too.

You can now buy bras to pump you up with twin airbags as standard, which will increase your boobs by 2 cup sizes! Perish the thought. I would have been delighted 20 years ago though! Why are things always too late!

Gossard currently have a massive range. You can choose from plunge bras, balconette, strapless and multiway. You can get all the bits and pieces to match!

Prices start at about £8 for a thong and go up to to about £28 for a bra. Gossard is stocked by all good lingerie shops. I usually get mine from Debenhams or Contessa as they have so much of the range.

Well, I have done it! I never thought I would see the day whan I was waxing lyrical about bras. I hated bras for many a year finding them cumbersome, hot and un-necessary. If truth be told, I would still prefer to go without, but there is little choice these days! If I must be thus incarcerated then Gossard is one of the best, and at least they look a bit glam!

One has to have a modicum of decorum as one approaches middle age you know! So they tell me....

To finish then, a few things about buying a bra.

It would appear that over 70% of women are waering the wrong size of bra.Did you know that wearing the wrong size of bra could damage delicate breast tissue?

It is important to be re-measured frequently by a trained corsetiere. Remamber to be checked after pregnancy, and especially when you stop breast feeding, as the size fluctuation can be quite dramatic.

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BRA FITS:

Do you have red marks on you shoulders or ar
ound the rib cage? If so the bra is too small.

Do you have four boobs? If so your cup size is too small!

Does the band come up at the back? The bra is too big

Are there wrinkles in the cups that hang below the breasts? The bra is too big.

I hope this has been at least a little helpful!

Happy measuring

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