Cleavage RIP
In a rebellion against the flesh-baring habits of social media women are covering up, says fashion bible Vogue
IT has long been the go-to look for celebrities looking to ramp up the glamour factor.
But cleavage, it seems, has finally gone bust. Daring outfits that expose too much chest are no longer in fashion, Vogue has declared in this month’s edition.
The magazine said models are choosing to show off their shoulders, stomach or legs rather than go for a plunging neckline in a bid to outwit ‘creepy’ online comments.
The fashion bible said: ‘The cleavage – those magnificent mounds pushed together to display sexual empowerment, to seduce, to inspire lust or even just to show off – is over, or at least, taking a well-earned break.
‘The t*** will not be out for the lads. Or for anyone else, for that matter.’ Stylist Elizabeth Saltzman added that she now has to
‘Physical and personal comfort’
consider how models will be perceived by the public because of online harassment, with comments on social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, leaving even the most glamorous of stars vulnerable to abuse.
In reference to one top-heavy actress, she said: ‘On those occasions where her cleavage is more visible, I see what happens on her Instagram feeds afterwards, and out of about 100,000 comments, 90,000 will be about her boobs. ‘That’s not healthy, that’s creepy.’ While Vogue may has declared the era of cleavage to be over, the market itself has seen a shift in women’s attitudes to their bust.
Recent bra sales show that softcupped natural shapes have overtaken the push-up bra synonymous with the 1990s and Eva Herzigova’s 1994 Wonderbra advert.
In recent years stars like Emma Watson have led the A-list revolt on cleavage and have been seen on the red carpet in more conservative outfits. Online fashion retailer Asos has even launched a ‘side boob bra’ as an alternative to the low-cut top. Marshal Cohen, an industry analyst, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Comfort is a dominant theme throughout the fashion world, and today’s bra consumer... is seeking both physical and personal comfort.
‘Seamless bra styles are increasingly top of mind for consumers of all ages, and can no longer be an afterthought for manufacturers and retailers.’
As if to support Vogue’s edict, many of the women who appeared at Monday’s Harper’s Bazzar Women of the Year Awards decided against showing off large amounts of cleavage. Pride and Prejudice actress Kiera Knightley attended in an emerald green dress which, while it betrayed a hint of her legs underneath the sheer skirt, featured a high neckline.
Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael chose a metallic blue Christopher Kane jumper to the awards.
The Vogue article, titled ‘Desperately Seeking Cleavage’, claims: ‘Rejecting the stereotypes of gender has been brought sharply into focus, with the days of women as eyecandy, their sexuality positively smouldering rather than subtly played out, officially over.’
The December issue of the magazine is out now.