Purpose of a Bra

 What is the purpose of a bra? 

The most obvious purpose of a bra is to hold the breasts in place for comfort while the person is moving. This has been accomplished over time with binders - wrappings to hold the chest flat in place. These developed eventually to the corsets, which were back and front support for working people. The corsets developed into fashionable things that became associated with less use and more expression.

At a point, coverage in the form of a bra formed by handkerchiefs was developed. I can imagine this worked lovely for a small bust on a hot day, or perhaps as an addition to bedroom clothes. The changes in fashion may have been what necessitated the invention.

Eventually, structural developments and stretch fabrics were made such that larger busts could be cantilevered off the stomach and up into a position for the back to support. At some point, wires were added to give definition around the mounds. 

Also, the bra seems to be to lend a silhouette that aids the fashion of the day. There are styles to “minimize” the size that shove the breasts out and back, or just hold in place for wider set busts. There are bras that shift the tissue towards the front and lift for presentation. There are sports bra that compress the tissue and are supposed to keep it from shifting during active times.

A bra serves the bust if it fits.