1952 - Lilly Dache gives even more sensuality to the evening dresses, other designers followed.

The word bra, which was not even in Webster's dictionary until 1939, has so quickly become the subject of unabashed advertising and general conversation that it was only a matter of time until the bras themselves came out in public. A spectacular step in this direction has been taken by  Lilly Dache, who concoted the styles, shown in the image below, to be worn with no clothing over or under them. Standard in construction and sizing, these ornamental bras are sold in lingerie departments. They are worn here with evening skirts built high enough to meet them, can also be worn with velvet slacks, shawls or as a showy underpinning for dresses with scooped necklines. Their designer anticipates an interesting, if limited, future for this dressiest entrant in the $225 million brassiere business, for, says she, "They magnetize the eyes."

Decorated slip made of opaque satin has camisole top trimmed with lace and sequins (John Norman, $30).

Visible half of the slip shows beneath theater suit. With jacket off it becomes a standard bare evening top.