Many of us (men and women alike) tune in to the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show to see the lovely angels that strut the runway (in outlandishly large wings) as well as the current batch of sexy undergarments that they’re sporting. And a perennial favorite for critics and crowd alike is the aptly named Diamond Fantasy Bra. With a pretty hefty price tag attached, this over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder is indeed a brilliant fantasy that just a handful of women could afford to wear. But still, it doesn’t hurt to dream, right?
Ever since the original “Million Dollar Miracle Bra” graced the runway at the 1996 VS fashion show with over 100 carats of gorgeous diamonds attached, the glittery girding has dazzled and delighted viewers, so much so that subsequent versions have made an appearance in their show each year. Most notable by far was the 2000 iteration of the blingy brassiere, the “Red Hot Fantasy Bra”, which was worn by Gisele Bundchen and came in at a whopping $15,000,000 dollars (yes, you read that correctly…there are six zeros attached to that number). And getting to wear this amazing undergarment is an honor that is coveted each year.
This year’s lucky model is Brazilian beauty Adriana Lima (just a year after the birth of her daughter she is back in fighting shape and looking miraculously fit for a mom). Although the 2010 fantasy bra only comes in at around $2.5 million (clearly they’ve scaled back in keeping with the recession), this chest-supporting garment boasts a crusting of 2,000 brilliant diamonds (at just over 1,500 carats) in an organic and spider-webby design that is utterly uplifting (pun intended). Designed by Damiani, the bra features white diamonds, blue sapphires, blue topaz, and 18-carat white gold, making it sleek, stunning, and yes, a complete fantasy.
But that’s what Victoria’s Secret is all about. Let’s face it, most women don’t look like Adriana Lima (no matter how many VS undergarments they buy) and while many will certainly drool over this diamond-studded underwear, few have the funds (or desire) to buy it. What Victoria’s Secret provides to the public is a glimpse of something unattainable (whether in the form of their models’ perfect bodies or the bejeweled bras they create each year). The fantasy is what drives their sales. And in these trying economic times, they are sure to capitalize on the fact that what consumers want is anything but reality. On this score, the fantasy bra delivers admirably.
