We should be used to the fashion world surprising us by now, but the way metal breastplates have taken off was not on our 2023 bingo card.
When you were looking ahead to this year's upcoming trends back in January you might have spotted low-rise waists, cobalt blue, scarlet red and XXL peplums, but breastplates have been something of a curveball. But just one glance at Jennifer Lopez's Grace Ling look and we're sold.
Worn on the red carpet for an event in Hollywood earlier this week, J.Lo paired the silver sculptural piece with a floor-skimming black skirt and similarly statement silver earrings.
A nostalgic aesthetic reference to ancient armour, it is the juxtaposition between this innate masculinity and the exaggerated spotlight it puts on the female form which continues to fascinate and appeal to the world's most creative stylists and muses.
Of course, one of the original breastplate icons of the current trend is none other than Zendaya, whose magenta pink, metallic breastplate by Tom Ford - worn to the Critics' Choice Awards - remains one of our favourite red carpet looks ever.
And if you were wondering how they fit such a rigid material to the body, Zendaya previously explained to British Vogue: “[The Tom Ford team] came to my house, and I stood topless in my living room while they had this machine that scanned my boobs.”
Another recent red carpet look which nailed the trend for breastplates came courtesy of Sydney Sweeney at British GQ's Men of the Year Awards last year.
Wearing a one-sleeve, high-neck black gown by LaQuan Smith that featured a train and a cut-out midriff, the dress featured a gaping space at the chest which was filled by a metallic, reflective bustier complete with mirror nipples. Need we say more?
‘Obsessed’ is a term used too often these days, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't absolutely obsessed with this trend. Even if we are slightly wary of trying it ourselves…
For more from Glamour UK's Fashion Editor Charlie Teather, follow her on Instagram @charlieteather.
