Fromance: The Trend of Using Cleavage as a Tool

Source: Facebook

By Olumide Labulo

Cleavage in fashion refers to the visible exposure of a woman's décolletage, especially the area between the breasts, often created or emphasized by specific cuts, fits, or styling of garments. To explain better, we can say it is what visually emphasizes the bust, a physical feature linked to traditional ideas of femininity and attractiveness.

Cleavage has appeared in fashion for centuries, from the corseted gowns of the Renaissance and Baroque eras down to the low-cut dresses of the 20th century. In the early 2000s, cleavage was often emphasized with push-up bras and deep necklines like V-shape, sweetheart, off-the-shoulder and halter and keynote styles with pieces that fit together and help create a balanced look. Now, trends are more varied — some celebrate natural cleavage (like side-boob or under-boob styles), while others favor modest or androgynous looks: a complete shift from personal comfort and style to personal mission. I don’t know if you get the drift.

Recently, among many fashion enthusiasts, cleavage has become a visual tool; maybe sexual, too. Or how else would one describe the intentional use of cleavage to attract attention, convey sensuality, or exert influence, often in social, romantic, or even professional settings? In fact, in marketing, brands usually use models in cleavage-baring outfits to grab attention and sell products because it’s been proven in psychology that exposure to cleavage (and other sexual cues intentionally used or not
) can unconsciously influence perception, memory, and behavior. I can guess it's also the same reason you're reading this right now. Lol.

Although cleavage was originally a fashion tool used to challenge social norms around modesty or shame, command attention and stand out in social settings, it has also become an artistic tool for painters, designers, photographers and stylists who use it as a focal point to explore human form, sensuality and cultural ideals of beauty. Performers aren't left out either. In drama, cleavage is thought to express persona and engage the audience visually and emotionally.

Below is an array of random pictures (mild and raunchy) sourced from the internet, but I have funny captions for each. Let's see if they tally with what you will tag them.