# Why were boobs so pointy in the 50s **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832 "2010-07-15T20:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/21 "2010-07-16T14:04:55Z")
Remember when ice cream cones had that same pointy shape? Advertisers are sneaky. Been years since I had a cone like that. Most ice cream today are in flat, level bottom cones. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/22 "2010-07-16T14:19:48Z")
I think it started with Dior’s [New Look](http://www.fashion-era.com/1950s_glamour.htm#Dior's%20New%20Look%201947) in 1947. It was a fashion revolution after the wartime styles, and women wanted to feel feminine again. Fabric had been rationed and suddenly skirts were full again; Dior made waists tiny and busts big. Also, as **JuliaSqueezer** points (ha!) out, the cone shape was made by the spiral stitching, plus synthetic fabrics were more readily available. The excess of the '50s, as reflected in tailfins and populuxe architecture, just took things to the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/23 "2010-07-16T14:23:37Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > It’s why you see so many old-timey people with eye patches. My first spittake of the day . . .😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/24 "2010-07-16T14:39:09Z")
> [@JuliaSqueezer](#): > > As one whose breastesses started forming in the late 50’s, I remember there wasn’t a big array of choices in brassieres. At least not in the price range I needed. > > They were cotton, quite stiff, and the cups usually had some sort of spiral stitching that forced whatever mammary tissue was available into a cone shape. Of course, we all wanted to look like Jayne Mansfied, so pointy cone tits and sweaters buttoned up the back were the look to have. And sissy blouses and Ben Casey shirts. Oh, this has to get nominated for the post/username combo award! … Growing up just shortly after the trend faded, I tend to associate them with Nurses [Ratched](http://www.littlereview.com/goddesslouise/art/cuckoo/cuckoo11.jpg)and [Diesel](http://www.cinemaretro.com/uploads/NURSEDIESEL.jpg). :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/25 "2010-07-16T15:08:25Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > It’s why you see so many old-timey people with eye patches. Because there were no antibiotics. Really it’s the truth. People would get blood or skin poisoning. Then the arm would be infected. Since there were no antibiotics the only way to stop the spread was to amputate the hand or forearm Then they replace the hand with a hook, 'cause that was the best they could do back then. Then the people with the artificial hook hands would forget and either scratch their own eyes or bump into people and their hook hand would poke out the eye of the other person, or poke their own eye out. See how easy it is to explain things if you just think about it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/26 "2010-07-16T15:51:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Most ice cream today are in flat, level bottom cones. What? Not around here. Those cake cones (the flat-bottomed ones) are only popular for children’s soft serve. Most adults prefer sugar cones (the pointy ones) or the waffle cones (which look like flat waffles twisted into a cone shape). I always hated the cake cones because of that tough grid at the bottom – probably it was there to reinforce the cone and to some degree prevent messes from children’s ice cream cones’ falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/27 "2010-07-16T15:57:10Z")
> [@JuliaSqueezer](#): > > As one whose breastesses started forming in the late 50’s, I remember there wasn’t a big array of choices in brassieres. At least not in the price range I needed. > > They were cotton, quite stiff, and the cups usually had some sort of spiral stitching that forced whatever mammary tissue was available into a cone shape. Of course, we all wanted to look like Jayne Mansfied, so pointy cone tits and sweaters buttoned up the back were the look to have. And sissy blouses and Ben Casey shirts. These things are still sold in stores, in boxes, Playtex cross yr heart or whatever. I’ve tried a few on, out of desperation, and cannot imagine who would wear such a thing other than someone’s grandma, who’s been wearing the same style since the 50’s. They look horrifying under a knit top, like your boobs have some kind of bumpy disease. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/28 "2010-07-16T17:15:33Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > My mom’s passport foto dress and wedding dress have no boobs. Just sort of a boob “area”, a single, pyramidal rectangle, in the appropriate area. Always reminded me of the costumes from “The Lost Saucer”, if you want to take it to a ridiculous extreme. I always tell people who see the foto – my mother does have two breasts. That’s just a '50’s style. > > [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/\_D1ZZyTOG7tQ/SweZ5qtSH\_I/AAAAAAAAGJM/YPTXL\_xBU5g/s1600/The+Lost+Saucer.jpg](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D1ZZyTOG7tQ/SweZ5qtSH_I/AAAAAAAAGJM/YPTXL_xBU5g/s1600/The+Lost+Saucer.jpg) No, she only had one, but she wore it parted in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/29 "2010-07-16T17:36:30Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Oh, this has to get nominated for the post/username combo award! Why thank you! I’m honored. I think. Wait. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/30 "2010-07-16T17:38:21Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > These things are still sold in stores, in boxes, Playtex cross yr heart or whatever. I’ve tried a few on, out of desperation, and cannot imagine who would wear such a thing other than someone’s grandma, who’s been wearing the same style since the 50’s. They look horrifying under a knit top, like your boobs have some kind of bumpy disease. Yes. They were and still are, horrid. They do, however, do quite a good job of “hoisting”! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/31 "2010-07-16T18:23:05Z")
Found this following Sigmagirl’s link: [This page shows some conical shaped bras](http://www.fashion-era.com/1950s/1950s_5_corselettes_girdles.htm), specifically [this one](http://www.fashion-era.com/images/1950s/conebra.jpg) and [this one](http://www.fashion-era.com/images/1950s/1953klinebrasadvert.jpg). It’s interesting to compare that pointy silhouette with today’s bra style, [like this bra](http://www.herroom.com/Bali-3320-No-Poke-Wire-Lined-Underwire-Bra.shtml) which are smooth and rounded. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/32 "2010-07-16T18:27:19Z")
Although as I looked around the lingerie site I linked above, you can still find some pointy bras, like [this one](http://www.herroom.com/Rago-2202-Lacette-Long-Line-Bra.shtml). I have no idea why anyone today would want their boobs to look so pointy. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/33 "2010-07-16T19:17:43Z")
> [@JuliaSqueezer](#): > > Yes. They were and still are, horrid. They do, however, do quite a good job of “hoisting”! 😃 But the seams! They make you look like Igor put you together. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/34 "2010-07-16T20:02:43Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > WAG: The standards of the day forbade women from showing their breasts. The bullet bras and tight sweaters were a way of skirting (sorry) the regulations, by calling attention to what was underneath. I think that was also the rationale behind codpieces. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/35 "2010-07-16T20:08:15Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > But the seams! They make you look like Igor put you together. Hey, some people like that look.:o ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832/36 "2010-07-16T20:32:53Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I think that was also the rationale behind codpieces. As a raging heterosexual male, I have no opinion on the matter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-boobs-so-pointy-in-the-50s/546832.md?page=1)