600-year-old bras found in Austrian castle

A FIND at an Austrian castle is giving archaeologists a peek under history's skirt - and revealing women have worn lingerie for 600 years.

The University of Innsbruck said that archeologists have found four linen bras dating from the Middle Ages in an Austrian castle.

Fashion experts describe the find as surprising because the bra had commonly been thought to be only little more than 100 years old as women abandoned the tight corset.

Instead, it appears the bra came first, followed by the corset, followed by the reinvented bra.

One specimen in particular "looks exactly like a (modern) brassiere," says Hilary Davidson, fashion curator for the London Museum. "These are amazing finds".

culled from news.com.au