Those with conservative fashion tastes were in for a rude awakening when the 1960s rolled around. Riding atop a wave of newly discovered sexual liberation, the styles that followed were sure to not only turn heads, but also drop jaws. First the skirts became shorter than conceivably possible, showing enough bare skin to make the preceding generation stop in their tracks. But that was only the beginning, things were about to get far more shocking.

Much of this new style can be attributed to avante-garde designer, Rudi Gernreich, who first stunned the world with his “monokini”, the first topless swimsuit (and later the “pubikini” which featured a bikini with a window in front that revealed a woman’s pubic hair.)  If that weren’t enough to give conservatives an aneurysm, he went for broke with the ‘no-bra’ bra. Forget those boned bustiers and pointed bullet bras of the past with their constrictive shapers; this device featured sheer and soft cup, with no wiring or padding to be found. It was actually a very simple device, but one that would be viewed just as shockingly as not wearing any bra at all.

The style was perfect for the slim and sleek styles that were emerging, which were quickly replacing the once-beloved hourglass figure of yesteryear. Models such as Twiggy were bringing the adolescent, flat-chested look to the forefront of fashion and the ‘no bra’ bra helped achieve that look by merely containing the breasts, rather than shaping and thrusting them into the spotlight. Mom and dad most certainly did not approve, but at least it eased them into what would come next, when young women decided to ban the bra altogether. Once that started happening, the ‘no bra’ bra didn’t look so bad by comparison.