Just months after Angelina Jolie's leg stole the show at the Oscars, a new area of flesh is claiming the spotlight: the 'side cleavage'. This zone, spanning from armpit to mid-rib and often revealing a small semi-circle of bare breast, has become the main event on red carpets, with the Daily Mail recently dedicating a spread to the look.
The most successful side cleavages are otherwise discreet, as seen on Gwyneth Paltrow in her ice-blue Prada minidress at the Met Ball. Her high halter-neckline left little to the front but revealed a faint ripple of ribcage. Similarly, Nicole Scherzinger at the Grand Prix wore a side-cleavage playsuit with black trim marking the zone.
Gabriele Hackworthy, fashion director at Harper's Bazaar, advises wearing a halterneck to keep the front covered. She suggests a C-cup limit for elegance, noting that 'you have to have really amazing pert breasts to carry off the look in a chic way'. The trend shows no sign of fading, with Yves Saint Laurent and Roberto Cavalli pushing the silhouette next season, and American Apparel offering a high-street version with their extra-scoopy vests.
The trend is likely driven by a desire to up the ante. While surgery can enhance front cleavage and gym dedication can produce a leggy flash, side flesh unaided remains a challenge, with not even toupee tape helping.
