When a fashion trend is lauded by the celebrity style set, it’s guaranteed to be a hit. The most recent look? The 17th-century chic breastplate adored by Zendaya and Lorde, because who said protection of our cleavage couldn’t be high fashion?
In 2019, Tom Ford sent a metallic fuchsia breastplate down the runway for his Spring 2020 ready-to-wear collection, changing the way we look at brassière’s forever. The lacquered lingerie was donned by certified fashion icon Zendaya at the Critics Choice Awards later that year, showcasing her enviable body, with its tight fitting design.
The bustier was then spotted on Gwyneth Paltrow on the February 2020 cover of Harper’s BAZAAR US, but seemingly disappeared from our collective memory soon after.
That was until Paris Fashion Week.
In October, luxury legacy brand LOEWE showcased their self proclaimed “neurotic, psychedelic and completely hysterical” Spring/Summer 2022 presentation, with Creative Director Jonathan Anderson taking cues from the structural, yet sensual world of renaissance art.
In the collection, protrusions emerge unexpectedly from simple maxi dresses, household items are reinvented as the heel on a stiletto, but the overall standout (and seemingly celebrity favourite) was their asymmetrical metal plates, integrated into coats and dresses that augmented the body.
Zendaya, styled once again by the incomparable Law Roach, sported the gold and grey jersey dress for the Woman in Film honours, completing the look with shaped drop earrings and matching Christian Louboutin pumps, a mere five days after it was shown on the runway.
Now, New-Zealand born songstress Lorde has followed suit and worn the pastel version, with matching strappy sandals at the W Magazine ‘Originals’ issue launch party.
This isn’t the first time that Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, has shown her love for the international runways of the four fashion capitals, with the singer styling looks from Collina Strada’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection shown at New York Fashion Week.
Following the 2021 Met Gala, Lorde stepped out in an animal print bodice with matching flouncy skirt, complete with lime green tennis trainers. Then, at Variety’s Power Of Women event donned a lilac gown and cape adorned with the hottest vegetable of the season: mushrooms.
With both two verified fashion favourites making a case that the breastplate is back (and better than ever), we’re certain we will see this look crop up again in the near future.
