One of this summer’s most popular fashion trends is one that returns every few seasons, filtered to the wider public through social media influencers, fashion campaigns and celebrities who treat a decorated bra as a legitimate outerwear item. Against a backdrop of growing conservatism and modesty trends in Israel and worldwide, fashion houses are once again putting one of the most charged, intimate and provocative items in women’s wardrobes back in the spotlight: the bra.
In recent fashion weeks in Milan and Paris, a clear return of bras worn as outerwear was evident. Dario Vitale’s debut collection for Versace featured several strong looks, with models wearing embellished bras styled with colorful striped trousers in a nod to the early 1990s, the brand’s golden era, or paired casually with low-rise skirts and knits tied loosely around the waist.
At Prada and Jil Sander, more refined and elegant versions of the trend appeared. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons presented a colorful bra collection with a sophisticated edge, worn under outer layers or as standalone pieces. In some designs, inverted cups stripped the bra of its functionality in favor of an aesthetic statement about femininity and form, arguably among the strongest pieces in the collection. At Jil Sander, new creative director Simone Bellotti highlighted sequined bras in rounded necklines with a direct and unapologetic approach.
12 View gallery
Sveta Mordvoskaya at Prada's Fall-Winter 2026-27 show
(Photo: AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Also on the runway, Hermès showed leather harnesses worn like sculptural bras; McQueen placed bras under military-inspired Napoleon jackets; Balmain opted for khaki bras in an urban nomadic aesthetic; Fendi concealed bras under sheer tulle shirts; and Sarah Burton at Givenchy designed sculptural leather bras paired with sensual leather skirts. Perhaps bourgeois clients of the house will embrace this public display of sex appeal. Who knows.
As noted, the bra as visible fashion is not a new idea. In the 1940s and 1950s, the bullet bra became a symbol of the Hollywood feminine ideal, worn by stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. In the 1980s and 1990s, it took on a more subversive and sexual meaning thanks to Jean Paul Gaultier’s cone bra created for Madonna’s iconic “Blond Ambition” tour.
The current comeback arrives in a particularly charged social and political moment marked by increasing restrictions on women’s bodies and freedoms worldwide, from abortion bans to renewed religious regulations. Yes, also in Israel. Instead of burning bras, fashion now suggests making them a deliberate, visible and provocative presence in public space, a kind of visual statement of resistance.
For those not interested in going out in just a bra, it can be styled as a solid fabric version peeking out under a blazer paired with high-waisted tailored trousers. Another option is a corset-like top with thin straps, a hybrid between a bra and an elegant tank top. For a more casual look, a sports bra can be worn under a semi-sheer shirt or a slightly unbuttoned blouse. If anyone comments, you can always say you just came from the beach.
12 View gallery
Margot Robbie at Chanel's Spring-Summer 2026 show
(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)