(RealSimple.com) -- Why shoes are called "pumps" and other strange-but-true stories behind the clothes and accessories you know and love.

So, how did the trend for pointed-toe shoes start?

Manolo who? Long before they ever made an appearance on the TV show "Sex and the City," pointed shoes were favored by Polish nobles, who introduced the fashion to England on a diplomatic visit in the 1300s.

The shoes, dubbed "crackowes" or "poulaines" -- after Kraków, Poland -- were so long that a chain running from the toe to the knee was often required to keep them from dragging.

In 1363 the English attempted to rein in the look by law, assigning shoe spans to social classes. Commoners could sport footwear with toes of up to six inches, while those in the royal ranks were allowed a full two feet in length.

Who invented the sports bra?

In 1977 University of Vermont student Lisa Lindahl was running 30 miles a week -- and her bra wasn't holding up. With the help of two classmates, Lindahl sewed together two jock straps and -- presto! -- the sports bra was born.

The coeds founded the company Jogbra a year later, garnering eternal gratitude from exercise-loving women everywhere. Almost 40,000 sports bras are now sold annually. Real Simple: Best bras for every figure

Is there a real Mary Jane behind Mary Jane shoes?

Not quite: The most widely held theory is that the single-strapped footwear was named for a character in "Buster Brown," a children's comic strip that was popular in the early 1900s. Mary Jane was either Buster Brown's sweetheart or sister, depending on which source you consult.

What's the connection between Shakespeare and raincoats?

Gabardine, a water-repellent fabric invented by Burberry, got its first mention from Shakespeare. The Bard used the word in The Merchant of Venice to refer to a coarse cloak worn as protection from storms.

During World War I, British officers on the front lines kept warm and dry in a uniform coat made of the material -- the original Burberry trench.

Who was the first person known to have pierced ears?

No one knows who originated the style, but there's evidence that as early as 2500 B.C. Sumerian women wore pierced earrings -- gold half-moon hoops.

And guys tired of defending their diamond studs can rest easy: Men have been wearing earrings since ancient Egypt, where the jewelry was introduced in 1500 B.C. Real Simple: Best way to clean jewelry

What was the inspiration for Lilly Pulitzer's colorful printed dresses?

Bored Palm Beach socialite Lilly Pulitzer opened a juice stand in 1959 to pass the time, but she found one drawback: The citrus concoctions discolored her clothes.

She instructed her dressmaker to create a uniform that would camouflage the bright stains, and the "Lilly" design -- sleeveless cotton shifts in vibrant prints -- was born. The style was an instant hit with customers, who soon began placing more orders for dresses than juice.

How did pumps, stilettos, and sneakers get their names?

The term pump first popped up in 1550 in England, where male servants sported the style. It is said that the noise they made while wearing the loose-fitting shoes resembled the sound of a water pump.

The word sneaker entered the language in the 1870s; the rubber soles made the shoes quiet and therefore "sneaky."

The modern usage of stiletto, a Renaissance-era Italian word for an assassin's narrow-bladed knife, made its debut in 1953. The word turned out to be especially appropriate, because the shoes' pointy heels were murder on wooden floors.

When did folks start toting around umbrellas?

For thousands of years, in such places as Egypt, China, Japan, Mesopotamia, and India, umbrellas were used exclusively to shade the heads of dignitaries from the broiling sun. (When it rained, the well-to-do stayed dry in covered carriages and sedan chairs.)

Umbrellas weren't employed in inclement weather until
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two jock straps Polish nobles, since ancient Egypt, where the jewelry was introduced since ancient 1300s. Lisa Lindahl Lisa Lindahl sports bra Polish nobles, Polish nobles, earrings 1300s.
question: What was the first sports bra?, answer: two jock straps | question: Who brought pointed shoes?, answer: Polish nobles, | question: In the 1500 did men wear earrings?, answer: since ancient Egypt, where the jewelry was introduced | question: Did men wear earrings in Egypt in the 1500's?, answer: since ancient | question: When did pointed shows come to Britain?, answer: 1300s. | question: Who made the first sports bra and how?, answer: Lisa Lindahl | question: Did a woman invent the sports bra?, answer: Lisa Lindahl | question: A female runner created the first what?, answer: sports bra | question: Who brought pointed shoes to britain, answer: Polish nobles, | question: In Britian where did the pointed shoes come from?, answer: Polish nobles, | question: What did men wear in Egypt in 1500s?, answer: earrings | question: When did the pointed shoes was brought?, answer: 1300s.