Chain Bras Are the Fashion Trend You'll See Everywhere This Holiday Season
Chainmail was certainly popular in the '90s and 2000s, with Paris Hilton quite literally owning the dress trend after sporting a memorable silver mesh birthday dress that Kendall Jenner recreated in 2016. But a piece of jewelry that acts as a bra — with nothing underneath — is something else entirely, and it changes the conversation about wearable materials in fashion. In 2021, Bella Hadid stepped out at the Cannes Film Festival, a vision in a Schiaparelli black dress with a gigantic cutout circling her bust. But rather than go bare, the look was completed with a massive brass necklace in the shape of branched lungs to cover her breasts and seemingly present the idea of artfully-constructed hardware as a top.
Two years later, we're seeing more playful iterations, with simpler designs dripping in crystals and rhinestones. Tyla's metallic bra on "The Tonight Show" is one such example, teamed with a star-adorned micro-miniskirt. Saweetie's Hello Kitty bra by Laser Kitten had a DIY aesthetic about it, with dangling cat charms, pastel dice, bubblegum bows, tiny pearls, and diamond strands sewn on haphazardly. And leave it to Kim Kardashian to nearly unveil her nipples in just a few Gucci chains strapped tightly across her chest. The Skims founder and reality TV star shot photos of herself in a campaign for the brand, meaning this fashion trend has now achieved icon status.
While jewelry-as-clothing isn't something we see every day, the red carpet appearances, street style moments, and Instagram selfies are multiplying in Hollywood. Scroll to see our favorite collection of examples so far, then review other similarly-bold trends such as the visible bra, villain corsets, and boob windows.
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Irina Shayk Wearing a Gucci Crystal Chainmail Bra Top
Irina Shayk stunned in a Gucci crystal chainmail bra top, pairing the sparkling style with a microminiskirt and a jacket draped over her shoulders.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Gucci Crystal Chainmail Bra Top
Kardashian shot herself in her own Gucci campaign in this glitzy chainmail bra top that barely covered her nipples. Posted to Instagram on Oct. 2, 2023, the piece was styled under GG logo pajamas.
Rita Ora Wearing a Chainmail Fringe Top
Ora used her chain bra top as a bikini cover-up in an Oct. 11, 2023 post on Instagram. The fringe that decorated the bust line extended to the tops of her thighs, and layered body chains were visible just below the bellybutton.
Saweetie Wearing a Hello Kitty Chain and Charm Top
At the "RapCaviar Presents" premiere on Mar. 23, 2023, the musician proudly flaunted her Laser Kitten bralette decorated in gold chains and bedazzled charms. A larger Hello Kitty bauble was affixed to the center of the design, providing the "drip" effect. "i luv this top 🦦," she captioned her Instagram post, showcasing her distressed flare jeans and Chanel bag.
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Tyla Wearing a Crystal Rhinestone Bra
South African singer and songwriter Tyla made her Oct. 2023 "Tonight Show" debut to sing "Water" in this glimmering set consisting of a Retrofête bra top dripping in crystal rhinestones and a matching sequined miniskirt with mirrored stars reflecting off the light.
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Bella Hadid Wearing a Gold Schiaparelli Breastplate
This trend can be traced all the way back to the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, when Hadid tried out jewelry as a top in this Schiaparelli number. Her necklace-turned-breastplate was shaped like branched lungs and covered in rhinestones, so she needed little else but a cutout dress with exaggerated shoulders and Giuseppe Zanotti sandals to steal the spotlight.