Hello again, boys

It has been 90 years since a New York debutante called Mary Phelps-Jacobs sewed two silk handkerchiefs together, attached two lengths of ribbon straps and thus invented the world's first patented bra.

The bra has since gone through endless transformations, from industrial-strength undergarments to bras so flimsy they are barely there at all.

None has ever gained the fame achieved by the Wonderbra, the engineering triumph that lifts, separates - and made a household name out of Eva Herzigova.

Invented in 1964 by Canadian designer Louise Poirier, it was launched in the UK four years later. At the height of its success in the mid-Nineties, one Wonderbra was sold in the US every 15 seconds.

Ten years later, it is getting a makeover. The new Deep Plunge is said to use a "revolutionary structure" to "redefine sexiness" - but some fashion commentators believe the brand has lost some of its lustre and is facing tough competition.

The new bra, which comes in two styles, Clearly Daring and Beyond Belief, costs £22 and will be in the shops in November.

A spokeswoman said: "The minimum coverage cups and deeper centre gore make this bra perfect for wearing under plunging necklines."