Have you heard about the bullet bra? This was a rather unique and cone-shaped bra that was very popular among Hollywood actresses of yesteryear, particularly in the 1950s.
Looking back now, they kind of look ridiculous but they were one of the most popular fashion items during their heyday.
So how did the bullet bra come into existence? And who were the famous actresses who wore these bullet bras for the cameras?
The bullet bra has had a fascinating history and it’s time to take a trip down memory lane to learn about how they became so popular.
Join FactsVerse to learn about the Hollywood actresses who wore bullet bras for the cameras…
WHAT IS THE BULLET BRA?
The Bullet Bra is a cone-shaped bra that separates each breast and accentuates them more. They were often worn under tight tops such as sweaters and made the breasts look more pointed.
Naturally, for the conservative attitudes of the time, this was very controversial. It became very popular among Hollywood actresses, and it wasn’t long until it caught along with the general populace.
But who were some of these actresses who wore the bullet bra? One of the first ones was someone you probably expected…
Before we tell you more about different Hollywood actresses who were bullet bras for the cameras, please like this video and subscribe to FactsVerse for more pop culture stories and interesting documentaries. Now, back to the video…
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MARILYN MONROE
Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1st, 1926, in Los Angeles. She began her modeling career in the 1940s and appearing everywhere from advertisements, to postcards, to magazine covers. By the 1950s, she was one of the most prominent sex symbols in America – and was the first woman to grace the Playboy Magazine cover on its very first issue.
She also began her film career during this decade. While she appeared in a few small roles in the 1940s, she first gained mainstream attention in the 1950 film The Asphalt Jungle. While this was another small role and she only appeared at the end of the film, it was enough to garner her more roles.
Marilyn Monroe went onto have one of the most successful film careers of any actress of her generation. She remains a popular sex symbol to this day and she was one of the first actresses to popularize the bullet bra.
She popularized wearing it under tight sweaters and these photos of hers are likely just as popular as her bikini and lingerie photoshoots.
Her notable film roles included:
- All About Eve
- Clash By Night
- We’re Not Married!
- Monkey Business
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
- How to Marry a Millionaire
- The Seven Year Itch and
- Some Like It Hot
Marilyn Monroe’s life was tragically cut short when she died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962 at the age of 36. She lives on, however, as one of the most beautiful women to have been in front of a camera lens – and one of the first to introduce us to the bullet bra!
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LANA TURNER
Lana Turner was born as Julia Jean Turner on February 8, 1921, in Wallace, Idaho. She began her career as a pin-up model and soon became one of the most enduring sex symbols of her era.
There are many fantastical tales of how Lana eventually made it to Hollywood. One account that she discussed was when she was at the Top Hat Malt Shop to buy a Coca-Cola. She was apparently spotted by the publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, William R. Wilkerson who asked her if she was interested in acting in films.
Her film debut was when she was only 16 in the film They Won’t Forget. Released in 1937, she played a teenage murder victim. Though she had little acting experience, she immediately caught the public’s attention and the rest was history.
Lana Turner went onto becoming one of the most popular sex symbols of her time. In many of her films and in photoshoots alike, she wore the bullet bra. This added to her sexiness and sultriness – as she was also lauded for her curvaceous figure, silky hair, and her dazzling smile.
Her notable roles were in films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice, Marriage Is a Private Affair, The Bad and The Beautiful, The Rains of Ranchipur, Peyton Place, Madame X, Persecution, and Witches’ Brew.
She also had a short-lived career on television and was often invited on talk shows and news programs. She was one of the most endearing actresses of her time and is still regarded as an icon for many aspiring actresses today.
Lana Turned passed away on June 29, 1995. She was 74 years old.
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ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Of course, we couldn’t talk about the bullet bra and not mention Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor is arguably one of the greatest actresses of all time. She was also a sex symbol and one of the many actresses who wore bullet bras for the cameras.
She began her acting career as a teenager, and it wasn’t long until the offers from film producers poured in. It wasn’t long until she was also asked to model and to partake in photoshoots.
Elizabeth Taylor was also one of our first starlets – as her personal life, particularly her relationship with Richard Burton. She also influenced an entire generation of women to wear elegant dresses and have stylish hairstyles. She also influenced sales of the bullet bra – especially with one of her most famous photoshoots, where she wore her bullet bra underneath her turtleneck.
There are so many great Elizabeth Taylor roles that it’s impossible to mention them within one video. But some of her most notable roles that also showcased her beauty and charm, include films such as:
- Little Women
- Father of the Bride
- The Big Hangover
- Ivanhoe
- The Last Time I Saw Paris
- Giant
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- Cleopatra
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- Reflections in a Golden Eye and
- The Comedians
Elizabeth Taylor lived a rich, if sometimes tormented life. But she lived a full life and she’ll be remembered as one of our greatest actresses and sex symbols. Her films and photoshoots will live on as was her influence on the sale of the bullet bra!
She died on March 23, 2011, at the age of 79.
JAYNE MANSFIELD
Jayne Mansfield was born as Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. While not coming from an entertainment background she knew from a young age that she wanted to become a star!
She studied acting underneath Baruch Lumet and worked a bunch of odd jobs as she tried to pursue a career as an actress. Around this time, she also began pursuing modeling and took part in photoshoots to earn some extra money.
Around this time, she participated in a few photoshoots where she modeled the bullet bra. She also was one of the early models who posed for Playboy Magazine.
Her first film role was in a 1955 feature film called Female Jungle. While the film wasn’t a particular success, it did open doors for her to find more roles. One of her first major roles was in the film Illegal. This helped launch her career and she got more roles. Some of her most notable roles were in films such as:
- The Girl Can’t Help It
- The Wayward Bus
- The Sheriff of the Fractured Jaw
- It Takes a Thief
- The George Raft Story
- Primitive Love
- The Fat Spy and
- Las Vegas Hillbillys
Her career was sadly short-lived. She died of a road accident on June 29, 1967 in Slidell, Louisiana, at the age of 34.
She’s remembered as a great actress as well as a beautiful model and one of the early proponents of the bullet bra.
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JANE RUSSELL
Jane Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minnesota. Upon graduating high school, she worked as a receptionist but also worked as a model to make some extra cash for her family after her father died.
She later studied acting and drama and decided to pursue a career as a screen actress. One of her earliest film successes was in the Howard Hawks’ film The Outlaw. By this time, Jane had become a well-known model and was popular due to her voluptuous figure.
Her bust was often used to market movie posters and she became one of the earliest actresses to don the bullet bra. She was likely one of the earliest examples of a great actress who also wasn’t afraid to flaunt her sexuality – challenging the social norms of the time.
Her filmography includes great films such as:
- The Paleface
- His Kind of Woman
- Double Dynamite
- The Las Vegas Story
- Macao
- Road to Bali
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
- The French Line
- The Tall Men
- Hot Blood
- Fate Is The Hunter
- Waco
- The Born Losers and
- Darker than Amber
She’s remembered as one of the most iconic actresses of her generation and she’ll likely continue to serve as an inspiration for actresses today. She died on February 28, 2011, at the age of 89.
Are you a fan of these Hollywood actresses? Did you know about these bullet bras before?
Now, here’s what we’d like to hear from you:
Do you think that fashion in cinema today still influences the general public? Or has this space been taken over by social media influencers and new media stars?
We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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