Cleavage (breasts)

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Cleavage is the cleft created by the partial exposure of a woman's breasts, particularly when exposed by low-cut clothing. The neckline of a garment that exposes cleavage is known as décolletage. Exposure of the "down under" side of the breast such as below an extremely short crop top is known as Australian cleavage (see example).

A brief history of cleavage

Cleavage as we know it became fashionable in Europe in the late 15th century with bodices and corsets that flattened the lower part of the breast and pushed up the upper part. Cleavage fell out of fashion during the 1920s in favor of the flat-chested flapper look. The full figured look returned in the 1940s with the sweater girl look popularized by actresses Lana Turner and Jane Russell.

Technical terminology

"Intermammary sulcus" or "intermammary cleft" are the terms adopted by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists for female cleavage

Trivia

Brassiere marketer Wonderbra maintains a campaign in Britain and South Africa (but not the United States) to encourage women to wear cleavage-revealing clothing. Called National Cleavage Day and held on the first Friday in April, the promotion is marketed as a women's empowerment initiative.

References

"Put your best breast forward" (PR Newswire) [link]

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