Of all of Madonna's signature looks throughout her career, this is definitely the most widely recognized. Just the two words "cone bra" summon up images of the pop star — no photo necessary. This bra made its most iconic appearance on her Blond Ambition Tour in 1990 (via CNN). The pink, belted, satin corset worn over black tights was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, who had been working on similar conical designs for his runway shows in the 1980s.
The cone bra didn't only serve the purpose of shock value — it also made a statement of the singer's unwillingness to bend to criticism in her career. The Blond Ambition Tour started off the heels of intense heat for Madonna over her risqué "Like a Prayer" — which even had Pope John Paul II calling for people to boycott the pop star. Just before the "Like a Prayer" album's release, Madonna told The New York Times, "art should be controversial, and that's all there is to it" — and what a way for her to double down on that!
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