Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      From the casts of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever  and The Walking Dead  to Chris Pine and Regé Jean-Page, see who dropped by EW's Comic-Con headquarters at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Read More
    • Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Go behind the scenes of Amazon Prime Video’s ambitious fantasy epic, which hopes to introduce J.R.R. Tolkien to a new generation. Read More
    • Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be more to learn about the high-profile defamation trial, more than 6,000 pages of court docs were released over the weekend. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. Madonna's Cone Bra turns 25: How this Gaultier lingerie's legacy lingers

Madonna's Cone Bra turns 25: How this Gaultier lingerie's legacy lingers

From Lady Gaga to Weird Al, the stage costume the Material Girl unveiled on April 13, 1990 has continued to echo through pop culture through to its Silver anniversary
By Nina Terrero Updated April 13, 2015 at 08:55 PM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

The Original

The Original
Credit: AP

Madonna birthed a major fashion moment when she performed in a pink cone bra corset in Chiba, Japan, on April 13, 1990—the first stop on her Blonde Ambition Tour. Created by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier (first seen on his runway in 1982), the controversial concert outfit was inspired by 1950s bullet bras and ‘80s underwear-as-outerwear street style—a show-stopping combination that played to Madonna’s counterculture sensibility. EW breaks down some of the fantastic, questionable, and downright fun lingerie looks inspired by Gaultier’s original cone bra design.

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Booming Bust

Booming Bust
Credit: MFIT

This shirred, orange crushed velvet dress—with cone-shaped cups—was one of the jaw-dropping designs Gaultier showed at a 1987 fashion show in Paris.

2 of 18

3 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

The Original Sketch

The Original Sketch
Credit: Alain Benainous/Getty Images

Gaultier’s original design—as seen in this sketch—introduced an edgy take on traditional lingerie and has since influenced numerous fashion designers and pop stars alike.

3 of 18

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

'Hocus Pocus'

'Hocus Pocus'

Imagine if your mom dressed up as Madge for Halloween. That’s the premise of this garish getup worn by Stephanie Faracy in the 1993 cult classic Hocus Pocus.

4 of 18

Advertisement

5 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

The Bear Necessities

The Bear Necessities
Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Madge wasn’t the first to wear one of Gaultier's cone bra creations. That honor goes to the designer’s teddy bear, for whom he designed a cone-shaped bra as a child growing up in suburban Paris.

5 of 18

6 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Lady Gaga, part 1

Lady Gaga, part 1
Credit: Rick Madonik/Getty Images

The singer proved the bra’s enduring appeal as pop star fashion staple during a performance at the Much Music Awards in 2009.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz

The actress channeled Madge in a black-and-white photo shoot for V magazine in 2009.

7 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Katy Perry showed off a pair of whipped cream cans in her 2010 "California Gurls" video

8 of 18

Advertisement

9 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Lady Gaga, part 2

Lady Gaga, part 2

Gaga brought out the big guns in a music video for her hit single "Alejandro" in 2010.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

'Glee'

'Glee'
Credit: Fox

Jane Lynch looked busty in an oversized black velvet version for her rendition of Madonna's "Vogue" on Glee in 2010.

10 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue

The Aussie pop star promoted her “Aphrodite” album in 2010 dressed in an updated version of Gaultier's bullet bra-inspired bustier.

11 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Weird Al

Weird Al

The parodist donned head-to-toe gold for his “Perform This Way” video in 2011.

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

'Toddlers and Tiaras'

'Toddlers and Tiaras'

This sassy little blonde named Mia dressed as mini-Madonna in a 2011 episode.

13 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

MDNA Tour

MDNA Tour
Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

More than 20 years after she first shocked audiences with her provocative stage style, Madonna wore this black cone bra contraption—worn over a starched white blouse and men’s tie—for her 2012 MDNA Tour.

14 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Rihanna

Rihanna
Credit: Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Rihanna’s take on the iconic top had fans seeing spots in 2012.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Runway Fashion

Runway Fashion
Credit: Jacques Brinon/AP

Gaultier’s cone-shaped creation continued to influence later designs, including this frothy, floor-length gown from his Spring 2013 collection. 

16 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Ellie Kemper

Ellie Kemper

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star combined a few elements of Madonna’s early style—including lace gloves and a tulle headband—for an homage to the Queen of Pop on “The Ellen Show” earlier this year.

17 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

18 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Cones on the Road

Cones on the Road
Credit: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage

The famous cone bra costume hit the road 23 years after Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour as part of the Hard Rock Cafe's Hard Rock Couture exhibition on August 29, 2013 in Manchester, England.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Nina Terrero

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 The Original
    2 of 18 Booming Bust
    3 of 18 The Original Sketch
    4 of 18 'Hocus Pocus'
    5 of 18 The Bear Necessities
    6 of 18 Lady Gaga, part 1
    7 of 18 Cameron Diaz
    8 of 18 Katy Perry
    9 of 18 Lady Gaga, part 2
    10 of 18 'Glee'
    11 of 18 Kylie Minogue
    12 of 18 Weird Al
    13 of 18 'Toddlers and Tiaras'
    14 of 18 MDNA Tour
    15 of 18 Rihanna
    16 of 18 Runway Fashion
    17 of 18 Ellie Kemper
    18 of 18 Cones on the Road

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    Madonna's Cone Bra turns 25: How this Gaultier lingerie's legacy lingers
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.