Years ago, when perimenopause began to make itself known—mostly through a low libido and the persistent feeling that my best years were behind me—I dreamed of Aphrodite. She had lost her girdle. And I had to go find it. That turned out to be difficult. I didn’t even know what I was looking for, and in the dream I was quite overwhelmed by her presence. Needless to say, I didn’t find anything. I stored the dream away and didn’t do anything with it. Until early 2019. The menopausal symptoms intensified again, and suddenly I thought of that girdle.

After hours of searching online, I found all kinds of theories: a belt, worn low on the hips. But I also came across another interpretatation— one that immediately resonated with me.

That embroidered girdle could also be a bra.

In ancient Greece, there was the strophion: a long strip of cloth worn by female athletes to bind their breasts. Later, it became a fashion item, worn over the tunic and often richly embroidered. The strophion worn by Aphrodite was said to be adorned with “those fascinating charms, the spells of which bring all things mortal and immortal to your feet.”
I decided I needed exactly such a bra.

The embroidered bra and images of me wearing it, inspired by Aphrodite’s bra.