Legend has it that one of the most famous Chinese Four Beauties, Yang Yuhuan, the concubine of the Emperor of Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 907), invented Dudou. A lot of ancient paintings depict her in this sexy lingerie. These ancient bras were a common undergarment during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and also in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Dudous are cut very simple - just a square or rhomboidal piece of silk with ribbons that tie around the neck and the back.

Traditional dudous were mostly made of silk yarn or crepe edged with brocade. Young women would use bright-coloured brocade of red, pink or green. They would also embroider flowers, butterflies or mandarin ducks which symbolize love on the front of dudous.

This colourful lingerie would be completely concealed beneath abundant outer layers by "decent" women, though some daring dressers might allow a small edge to show through - anything more and they would be considered a loose woman.
 

This Chinese version of corset is making a comeback. People all over the world are wearing it as fashion, not only as an underwear, but also outdoors as a top. This trend has caught on in both men and women. The dudou that was a hidden part of women's attire in the ancient times has become the daily wear of the bold and vanguard young ladies in summer. Two thin strings are tied behind the neck and a knot is also casually tied on the back. The navel is discernible at one moment and gone the next behind the diamond-shaped cloth.

Foreign fashion designers have taken the dudou to the catwalk - Versace presented a traditional Chinese version, Versus designed a dudou of pink leather and Miu Miu unveiled a summer collection with many garments that had hints of the dudou. Rush Hour 2 movie star, Zhang Ziyi, has worn this sexy lingerie as an evening wear to a couple of occasions, including the MTV award ceremony in Los Angeles (see picture).