Cleavage is the partial exposure of a woman's breasts, and/or the vertical line created by them, particularly when exposed by low-cut clothing. The fashion industry describes the cleavage created by particular outfits using fashion lines for key points on the body. The relevant fashion lines in cleavage are the neckline (distance from the neck), armhole (distance in from the armpit), and cutoff line (distance from the point below the breasts). Image File history File links Anonymous-cleavage. ... The term breasts can refer to: Plural of breast. ...

Cleavage as we know it first appeared in Europe in the late 15th century with bodices and stiffened stays that flattened the lower part of the breast and pushed up the upper part. By the 16th century women were stuffing silk handkerchiefs into bodices to enhance cleavage and apparent size. Technology did not significantly advance until the 1820s with the invention of 'mechanical' corsets, enabling women to tighten them without the assistance of servants. It reduced in size during the 1920s with the flapper fashion, only to return with a vengeance with the sweater girl look popularized by Lana Turner. The term flapper, which became common slang in the 1920s, referred to a new breed of young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered decent behavior. ... A look popularised in Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s by actresses such as Lana Turner and Jane Russell, basically the wearing of a tight sweater in order to emphasis the bustline. ... Lana Turner Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American actress famed early in her career for tight sweaters and smoldering sensuality and later in her career for sudsy romance films with maximum tragedy and glamorous gowns. ...

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Types of cleavage are recognized in the fashion industry:

• Cleavage Décolleté - Décolletage is cleavage produced by a low-cut neckline that exposes the neck, shoulders and parts of the breasts. Décollatage evolved in Europe during the late middle ages, and was the first exposure to evolve with swimwear. Push-up bras aim to maximise cleavage by forcing the breasts together and providing lift.
• Cleavage Centros - Also of European origin, this type of cleavage is primarily a function of the neckline, plunging down toward the breaks in a "V" like style. This style is different from décolletage in that décolletage focuses on the top side of the breasts, while centros on the space between the breasts. Extreme examples would include partially open shirts.
• Cleavage Côté - This style of cleavage is exposure of the side of the breast and is mostly controlled by the armhole in an article of clothing. Halterneck tops are a good example of this type of breast exposure.
• Cleavage Underside -- This style is commonly seen in instances of breasts becoming exposed below a bikini top. Crop-tops and other clothing that expose the abdomen have potential for this.
• Cleavage Cleavy - Cleavage occurring from all directions.
• Leanover - In this style, the breast lies exposed below the soutien-gorge or croptop. Leanovers are not necessarily a style of cleavage, but more of an action that leads to the exposure of cleavage. It is often manifested by a wearer of a bikini-top, or similar garb, leaning forward, thus exposing a larger than normal amount of décolletage.

Brassiere A brassiere or bra is a foundation garment for women consisting of shoulder straps, two cups, a center panel, an underbust band, sides, and a back. ... Halterneck refers to a type of womens clothing with one strap around the back of the neck instead of two over the shoulders. ... The human abdomen Footballer John Arne Riise flashing his abdominals The human abdomen (from the Latin word meaning belly) is the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax. ... The croptop (also cropped top), is a blouse that ends above the waist, called the cutoff line, and exposes some of the wearers abdomen. ...

External links

• Bikini Science