This Controversial Bra Trend Is Reportedly Making a Comeback

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Blame it on being behind the scenes at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but quite unexpectedly I feel (fear?) the push-up bra may be back on the agenda. No, I've not been brainwashed by the candy-pink Angel brigade (push-ups are a 24/7 essential here, I know), but a conversation I had months ago with Agent Provocateur's creative director, Sarah Shotton, was ringing in my ears as I chatted to Stella Maxwell backstage. 

When I asked Sarah what she thought the next major lingerie trend would be, she said, "I think the push-up bra is going to come back. … I think there's still a huge '90s thing going on, and that was all push-ups," she said. 

Placating any night terrors you may experience thanks to that bombshell, she went on to explain if the push-up tries to return in 2017, it would receive a modern makeover. "It might be a pad that's a half-pad and almost like a balconette with lace over the top… If you have large breasts, padding is actually extra support for us—so that's actually quite good."

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(Image credit: Rex Features)

Model Stella Maxwell was in agreement: "I love push-up bras, I think they're great," she said succinctly. So are we destined for another circa-1994 Hello, Boys phase where car crashes happen because of racy road-side Wonderbra adverts and all celebrities start showing their padding from underneath a vest-top? Unlikely. But with a longstanding love affair with bralettes and no-bra fashions perhaps coming to a cyclical end—maybe those plunging necklines could start to celebrate cleavage once more, and perhaps the controversy that has courted a whole heap of under-boob and nipple action this year will shift its focus. Stranger '90s trends have been wholeheartedly adopted… Right?

If you're in the mood for a flashback, see the '90s movie that's influencing your wardrobe right now.

Opening Image: Collage Vintage

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits. Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.