Breast in Show: 127 Years After It Was Invented, the Bra Is Still Ready for Its Close-Up Inline

  • Debbie Harry
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    Photo: Michael Brennan / Getty Images
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    Debbie Harry, 1977

    American singer and actress Debbie Harry of punk band Blondie in New York City, February 1977. (Photo by Michael Brennan/Getty Images)

  • Studio 54
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    Photo: Rose Hartman / Getty Images
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    Studio 54, 1980

    Portrait of an unidentified party-goer at the nightclub Studio 54, New York, New York, 1980. She is wears a transparent black top over a bra with a green snakeskin design and leather pants with green snakeskin accents. (Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images)

  • Madonna 1985
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    Photo: Mark Downey / Lucid Images / Corbis via Getty Images
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    Madonna, 1985

    Madonna on stage for her 1985 Virgin Tour. (Photo by Mark Downey Lucid Images/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • Annie Lennox
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    Photo: Lynn Goldsmith / Corbis / VCG via Getty Images
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    Annie Lennox

    Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

  • Donna Summer circa 1985
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    Photo: Dave Hogan / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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    Donna Summer, circa 1985

    Disco performer Donna Summer dazzles in a red suit and black lace bra, circa 1985. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

  • Sarah Jessica Parker
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    Photo: Jim Smeal / WireImage
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    Sarah Jessica Parker, 1987

    Sarah Jessica Parker at the The Palace in Hollywood, California (Photo by Jim Smeal/WireImage)

  • Iman
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    Photo: Rose Hartman / Archive Photos /Getty Images
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    Iman in Jean Paul Gaultier, circa 1990

    Somali-American fashion model Iman showing a Jean Paul Gaultier designed cone bra, USA, circa 1990. (Photo by Rose Hartman/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

  • Madonna
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    Photo: Jean-Claude Deutsch / Jacques Lange / Paris Match via Getty Images
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    Madonna at Cannes, 1991

    44th Cannes Film Festival 1991: Madonna. Le 44?me Festival de CANNES se d?roule du 9 au 20 mai 1991 : MADONNA, aux c?t?s de son producteur Dino DE LAURENTIIS et du r?alisateur du film 'In bed with Madonna', Alek KESHISHIAN (? droite), d?voile ses dessous Jean-Paul Gaultier. (Photo by Jean-Claude Deutsch/Jacques Lange/Paris Match via Getty Images)

  • PJ Harvey
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    Photo: Rune Hellestad / Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images
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    PJ Harvey

    P.J. Harvey Playing Tambourine at the Roskilde Festival (Photo by �� Rune Hellestad/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • Jennifer Lopez
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    Photo: Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic, Inc.
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    Jennifer Lopez, 1998

    Jennifer Lopez during 1998 MTV Video Music Awards at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

  • TLC 1999
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    Photo: Brenda Chase / Online USA, Inc.
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    TLC, 1999

    9/9/99 New York, NY. TLC at the MTV Video Music Awards. Photo by Brenda Chase/Online USA, Inc.

  • Courtney Love
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    Photo: J. P. Aussenard / WireImage
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    Courtney Love, 2001

    Courtney Love during "An American Rhapsody" Los Angeles Premiere at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by J. P. Aussenard/WireImage)

  • rihanna
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    Photo: Kevin Mazur / WireImage
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    Rihanna, 2007

    Rihanna performs ?Umbrella? (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

  • Lady Gaga
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    Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Accessories Council
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    Lady Gaga, 2009

    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Singer Lady Gaga attends the 13th Annual 2009 ACE Awards presented by the Accessories Council at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Accessories Council)

  • Gwen Stefani
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    Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images
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    Gwen Stefani, 2012

    UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - DECEMBER 08: Singer Gwen Stefani makes a surprise appearance, performing onstage with Bush at the 23rd Annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at Gibson Amphitheatre on December 8, 2012 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

  • Grimes
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    Photo: Mike Windle / Getty Images for Coachella
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    Grimes, 2016

    INDIO, CA - APRIL 16: Singer-songwriter Grimes performs onstage during day 2 of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Club on April 16, 2016 in Indio, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Coachella)

  • zendaya
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    Photo: Todd Williamson / Getty Images for DCP
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    Zendaya, 2016

    LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Actress Zendaya attends the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for dcp)