LONDON—Though Madonna, in the 1980s, might have repopularized the 1950s-style “pointy bra” made famous by Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, women today are snapping up this fashion accessory like they’ve never seen it before.
Originally designed by billionaire eccentric Howard Hughes, the pointy bra first saw success in the 1950s, with a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s. Now, the conical brassiere is back again, popping up in collections from London designers like Louise Goldin and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Not only do the bras make the most of a busty woman’s assets, they also mark a trend by designers in recognizing that real women have curves. According to an article in the Daily Mail, British store John Lewis has seen a surge in sales of the bras in recent months.
“Sales have shown that women are no longer hiding their breasts under minimizer bras but embracing their assets and using them to their advantage,” a store spokesman told the paper.
The store’s head buyer of lingerie, Helen Spencer, said, “We are selling more conical bras this year than last as our customers take influence from designers such as Louise Goldin, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana who have rediscovered the bra as outerwear in their Spring/Summer ’10 collections.”
Sales of various styles of the pointy bra have increased by as much as 10 percent in a week, store officials said.
