Wonders of the World: Most Famous Bras

Exciting bra styles that made the headlines of several decades

In the name of vanity, utility, even shining brilliance: These creations are hardly for the faint of heart.  Here is a list of revolutions throughout evolution:

The Cone Bra, 1950s   This era’s silver-screen “sweater girls” aka Jane Russell, Lana Turner sported tight garments with high-perched bustlines.  Postwar lingerie labels designed the cone-cupped intimates as longline versions, in new nylon for a lighter feel.

YSL: Burn It, 1960s   Lycra was introduced, making for perfected fits under tight-fitting current fashions.  Soon enough, Yves St. Laurent, the king of vixens, debuted the transparent blouse on the runway, braless.  Despite the feminist image, brassieres weren’t really burned but did inspire smaller gals to go braless underneath sweaters and more opaque tops.  Mostly, this era was about new shapes and fabrics which made for lighter-weight garments with visual appeal.

Wonderbra:  Introduced by Gossard,  1968-Present  This campaign was first launched in 1968, for C-cups and under who desired for their assets to “pop”.  Well not literally, we hope.  Padding and inserts added fullness, and this label peaked again in 1990 (when silicone became controversial)  and went international. 

Lace, Cleavage and Cones, 1990s  John-Paul Gaultier based his fashions on conical shapes, made infamous by Madonna’s 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour.  While this look might have lacked practical, mass-market appeal, it helped inspire major labels from La Perla to Victoria’s Secret to create sexy, dare-to-bare bra and panty sets in a lace to suit all tastes. 

Supermodels:  Breaking Bras Worth Millions  Intimates won international attention with several-million dollar price tags and unbelievable detail.  In 2005, Victorias Secret adorned a bra with over 2900 diamonds, including a 101-carat flawless pair shaped stone.  The Sexy Splendor Fantasy Bra  retailed for $12.5 million dollars and was featured in the company’s holiday catalog. 

Supermodels were delighted when more comfortable pieces were made for following years, sporting $1M, $6.5M and $8M price tags.  Heidi Klum accidentally burst out of the $8 million dollar bra she was set to strip to on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show in 2003.  While the piece needed quick repair with sticky tape, the $3 million matching bottom was unharmed.  
    
Technical Innovations For: Function  The past few years have been about comfort, hyper-charged support and function (when it’s not a million-dollar holiday, of course).  The Victoria’s Secret Angels line consists of lightweight, ultra-smooth and miraculously shaping undergarments with collections to suit any shape and taste. 

The company’s IPEX, proclaimed as The World’s Most Advanced Bra, uses graduated padding for what claims to be the most lightweight lift ever.  Seamless makes it virtually non-detectable under nearly any style fashion.