[url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ct/20010410/cr/new_bra_holster_is_equal_parts_victoria_s_secret_guns_ammo_1.html[/url]
Tuesday April 10 06:44 PM EDT
New bra holster is equal parts Victoria's Secret, Guns & Ammo
By Matt Bean, Court TV
Look out Victoria's Secret. A new bra made for hold-ups, not push-ups, is offering women a level of security never before seen in undergarments.
The Superbra, made by California-based personal protection expert Paxton Quigley, allows women easy access to a canister of pepper spray, a .38 caliber snub nose revolver or more — depending on the wearer.
"It all depends on how big you are," says Quigley.
Made of durable elastic, Velcro and a soft plastic holster, the Superbra fits around the ribcage below the breasts and comes in only two sizes, small and medium, and two colors, black and white.
Quigley, who worked as Yoko Ono's bodyguard, got the idea for the bra when she realized most women put their weapons in a purse or fanny pack.
"When they're attacked, the purse is the first thing taken away from them," she says. "I thought a good place to conceal a weapon would be in the chest area."
Though she only just released the bra, she says it has been well received by those who have used it. "They like the idea of comfort and ease of access," says Quigley.
"A woman can't go around thinking that the police will protect her or that a male will protect her," says Quigley, who has taught more than 7,000 women how to use handguns for self-defense.
The Superbra is the latest in a long line of bra advancements. Over the past decade, designers have gone to elaborate ends to boost the confidence — and more — of wearers.
First came the Wonderbra. Then the Miracle Bra. Then the Water Bra. Then came a bra laced with $1 million dollars worth of jewels. But while these and other bras may bolster busts and spirits alike, the Superbra might be said to outdo them all.
"Women now make good money, they're independent, they travel a lot, and because the world has changed, they have to know how to protect themselves," Quigley says.
And although carrying a concealed weapon is illegal in some states, there are now 31 states that would allow women with a gun permit to use the Superbra.
Quigley says she "most definitely would wear the Superbra," if it were legal in California. Still, she says, a weapon's not all there is to safety. "Being aware — not paranoid, but aware — at all times is the most important thing to keep in mind."