Breastplates are back and more popular than ever.
The garment was traditionally used in Ancient Greece as a piece of armor made from bronze and leather, according to the fashion publication L'Officiel USA. These days, breastplates are designed as replacements for traditional shirts and many resemble the bodies of those wearing them.
It wasn't until the late 1960s that the breastplate was used on the runway, according to L'Officiel, and in 2020 the garment made a resurgence when Zendaya was photographed wearing one at the Critics' Choice Awards.
Angela McRobbie, a cultural theorist and commentator, told The Guardian in 2021 that the rising trend reflected "our current sense of being 'embattled' as women." She added that it provides the opportunity to "escape from the normative" body expectations set by society.
The trend reached new heights in 2023 when it was worn by Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, and most recently, Jennifer Lopez.
But if you want to recreate the red-carpet look, be prepared to spend anywhere between $1,300 and $29,900 if purchasing from the same major designers including Grace Ling, Tom Ford, and Gabriela Hearst.
More affordable alternatives are currently being sold on Etsy for less than $1,000.