Sexy Is Back In Fashion—The Cleavage Is Now At The Forefront Of Bridal Style

The bridal look for 2025 is evolving. It is far less demure, as seen in the biggest celebrity and runway moments. Sobhita Dhulipala, who married Naga Chaitanya in December last year, wore a Tarun Tahiliani sculpted gold gown with a plunging neckline for the cocktail party.

Similarly, actor Priya Banerjee opted for a crystal-studded corset blouse and fishtail skirt for her wedding with Prateik Babbar. More recently, Gen Z star Ananya Panday was spotted in a dusty pink Itrh sari paired with a sparkling corset at a friend’s wedding.

Even Priyanka Chopra’s recent Rahul Mishra moment at her brother’s wedding featured a vibrant floral lehenga with a blouse that played up the bust.

Our takeaway? Sexy is (officially) back in fashion—and the cleavage is at the front and centre. Look to the runway. At India Couture Week 2024, everyone from Dolly J to Falguni Shane Peacock had itty-bitty cholis on display. Sabyasachi’s latest bridal couture collection also abandoned high necklines for blouses that were décolleté. New-age bridal designers are also cashing in on the currency of hotness.

Tamannaah Bhatia in Torani’s campaign, Leela and Qbik’s bralette blouses are all eye-catching examples. The return of the cleavage also stole the spotlight at The Grammys this year. Current It-girl Sabrina Carpenter channelled old Hollywood glamour in a gold crystal mesh Versace column dress. As did Cardi B in a sparkling Roberto Cavalli.

Beyoncé, who won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, wore a custom Schiaparelli dress with a plunging neckline. Her gold dress, which matched her platinum blonde hair, made it to almost all the best-dressed lists. Much like the new-age bride, the red-carpet looks are both provocative and playful.

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Historically, fashion, art and pop culture have been obsessed with this glimpse of flesh. During the Renaissance period, when elaborate, multi-layered ruffs were in style, portraits of Queen Elizabeth often showed her ruff open to reveal her bosom. Similarly, in Victorian times, despite a culture of prudery, evening dresses frequently featured décolletage. During the 16th and 17th centuries, abbreviated cholis were a big part of miniature paintings from Rajasthan. And in popular shows like Bridgerton, the cleavage was used as its plot point to show a woman’s age and social currency.

But what’s the difference now? The cleavage is for the female gaze. Armour-like breastplates are becoming a haute alternative to cage-like bras. Consider Sonam Kapoor’s ballet-inspired tulle tutu worn with a metallic breastplate or Misho’s jewellery-like version on influencer Amrita Thakur in December last year. Pro-age glamour is taking centre stage—women in their 50s and 60s

ruled the Golden Globes red carpet this year. Bridal designers aren’t limiting themselves to one cup size (think Varshita Thatavarthi in Sabysachi’s campaigns).

The message: in 2025, anyone can be sexy—and what’s hotter than that?

Cover photo credits:

Styling: Palak Valecha; Photography: Nitin Sadana; Hair and Make-Up: Bobby Uppal; Model: Ayesha Siddiqui, Dimple Bajwa; Fashion Assistants: Tanushi Goswami and Smriti Mishra; Production Editor: Neha Ahuja; Location Courtesy: D'Monde Members Club

This story appears in Manifest India’s Issue 02. Subscribe here for more stories like this.