Is Cleavage Really Over? 'Vogue' Says It Might Be

In the December issue of British Vogue, writer Kathleen Baird-Murray makes a bold observation: cleavage may be out of style. But don’t hide away your “girls” just yet; it’s still just a theory.

In the feature “Desperately Seeking Cleavage,” the author bemoaned the absence of “pertinently pushed-up breasts everywhere from runway to red carpet.” She pointed to high-necked fashions that seem to be emerging everywhere, including “Gucci’s modern spin on the prim pussybow blouse.”

For those who haven’t been watching the Presidential debates — where Melania Trump wore a pussybow blouse not once but twice — the suggestive-sounding bow became famous back in 1960s, when it was brought to the forefront by designers like Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. In the 1980s, the pussybow saw a resurgence, with influencers like Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana wearing the style that came about when women were entering the workforce and needed a feminine interpretation of a man’s tie.

Baird-Murray posited that because the pussybow is back, it could be contributing to the decline of décolletage. She also referenced “Alicia Vikander at the Golden Globes in a high-necked Louis Vuitton this year” as an example of the end of the plunging neckline. She even noted that sales of the bosom-enhancing Wonderbra are down, “and even the corset has had a cleavage-free makeover at Prada.”

Baird-Murray added, “The tits will not be out for the lads. Or for anyone else, for that matter.” She suggested that social media might have some influence on the changing tide, pointing out that fashionistas and models are opting instead to bare their shoulders, stomachs, or legs. She claimed this is being done in an effort to avoid “creepy” comments online.

Though she makes no mention of it, we can’t help but wonder if the rise of the Kardashian-style derriere has taken the emphasis off of women’s breasts and placed it squarely on their bums, leading to the decline of cleavage-glorifying fashion.

And another obvious question lingers: how can body parts go out of style? Model (and daughter of Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed) Sophie Tweed Simmons, 24, wondered this aloud — well, on Instagram. She posted a pic of her own generous endowment, saying, “Vogue said boobs are out… What am I supposed to do with these? Im not in style because of a body part? How is that possible? Do I put them on Craig’s list? Cut them off? Wtf?”

One fan suggested, “You should bring out a necklace line. Those boobs could sell anything.” Another simply stated in solidarity, “Boobs for life.”

Plenty of cleavage-baring celebrities would probably happily defend Simmons’s stance of mammary liberation. Count Emily Ratajkowski, Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Upton, and Kat Dennings among the droves of famous women who proudly flaunt their cleavage regularly.

And fashion trends — though influential — don’t necessarily dictate what the general public believes when it comes to everything. In a Twitter poll, Vogue U.K. asked, “Is The Cleavage Over? As @KathleenBM explores the topic in #decembervogue, what’s your take on covering up?” At the time of this article’s publication, a resounding 67 percent expressed “If you have it, flaunt it,” while a paltry 11 percent agree that cleavage is indeed over. Surely that means it’s safe to strap on your push-up bra today and proudly show those babies off.

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