Madonna corseted: 1984-Present.Ever since she busted out, Madonna popularized underwear as outerwear. Don't talk to me about Cherie Currie and Vanity in their teddies...because nobody saw those bytches on a daily basis or cared. So, here's what I mean when I say popularized. Meaning girls were actually wearing it off stage. CATCH IT! Starting with the peek-a-boo bra from Lucky Star but mainly with the Virgin (Whore) bustiers, or as my mother called them, Merry Widows. 'Merry Widows' can either fasten in the back or zip up in the front and pull in the waist (early days with inserted whale bone, now plastic panels) and enhance the bust (with quilted cup pads) and give the illusion of an hourglass figure.
Madonna had the opposite effect on the lingerie business than the proto- Blonde Bombshell, Jean Harlow, had in the 1930's. Harlow eschewed brassieres therefore her slinky dresses just melded to her sinuous curves. Hollywood legend has it that Jean would ice her nipples before filming scenes so they were erect. So popular was Harlow and her fashion that look-alikes started popping up and the lingerie business plummeted.
Jean Harlow in rare photo.
Madonna, on the other hand, had lingerie sales flying through the roof in the 1980's (till date), donning vintage corsets or The Merry Widow - named after the Lana Turner 1952 film of the same name. The Merry Widow corset was produced by Warner's fashion corporation in 1955.
Warner's 1955 Merry Widow ad.
In 1987, Madonna appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and educated an eager public on these vintage wonders but christened them, to a new generation, as bustiers - a name that has stuck since. Corset, bustier, or whatever but cmon, you know Merry Widow is the best name.
vintage merry widows.
1989 MTV Music Awards
Madonna had the opposite effect on the lingerie business than the proto- Blonde Bombshell, Jean Harlow, had in the 1930's. Harlow eschewed brassieres therefore her slinky dresses just melded to her sinuous curves. Hollywood legend has it that Jean would ice her nipples before filming scenes so they were erect. So popular was Harlow and her fashion that look-alikes started popping up and the lingerie business plummeted.
Jean Harlow in rare photo.Madonna, on the other hand, had lingerie sales flying through the roof in the 1980's (till date), donning vintage corsets or The Merry Widow - named after the Lana Turner 1952 film of the same name. The Merry Widow corset was produced by Warner's fashion corporation in 1955.
Warner's 1955 Merry Widow ad.In 1987, Madonna appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and educated an eager public on these vintage wonders but christened them, to a new generation, as bustiers - a name that has stuck since. Corset, bustier, or whatever but cmon, you know Merry Widow is the best name.
vintage merry widows. The one on the left is identical to the one Madonna wore on Johnny Carson in 1987 (sans garters) and then again in '89 (with garters) for her MTV performance of Express Yourself. In her typical rebellious fashion, Madonna added men's slacks, blazer and suspenders (to the corset) for her androgynous male/female beat down. The spawn of what Jean Paul Gaultier would later create for The Blond Ambition Tour.
1989 MTV Music Awards
