Handbra
A handbra is a technique wherein a woman, or another person, hides her nipples and areolae by covering both breasts with hands.[1] [2] It may also apply to a brassiere that is fashioned in the shape of hands as a parody of the technique. [3]
The handbra technique is common in visual media and entertainment to imply toplessness without actually revealing nudity, which could result in an unwanted rating or the product being banned for sale.
Modern prevalence
The handbra gained peak exposure with Janet Jackson's appearance on the September 1993 cover of Rolling Stone, which later named it their "Most Popular Cover Ever" in 2000. [4]
The handbra was the subject of a pointed parody advertisement for Holding Your Own Boobs Magazine performed by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Will Ferrell on the May 15, 1999 episode of Saturday Night Live.[5]
The handbra technique is prevalent in lad mags, such as Maxim, Zoo Weekly, and FHM, that prominently feature photos of scantily clad actresses and models.[1] [6]
See also
References
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Citations
- [2] Nuts sexiest pictures, What's a hand-bra then? Well, the clue is in the name - it's a lady brassiere, formed by the hands of the lady in question because she just doesn't seem to have an actual bra to hand..
- [3] Handbra: Tired of the Wonderbra?.
- [4] Capitalizing On Jackson Tempest, New York Times, February 4, 2004, In 1993 she posed topless for the cover of Rolling Stone. Then, her nipples were obscured by a pair of male hands, not a silver broach..
- [5] Saturday Night Live: Sarah Michelle Gellar/Backstreet Boys.
- [1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1596384,00.html, Turner, Janice, Dirty young men, 2005, October, October 22, 2005, The Guardian, The cover model's breast is partially concealed by her cupped hand. 'We call that shot "hand-bra",' says Paul Merrill, launch editor of Zoo and now in charge of international editions, 'We use that a lot.' He flicks to a cover showing a model whose hair extensions cover her nipples: 'This is hair-bra,' he says..
- [6] News from Paul Merrill - Editor, Zoo, Online Press Gazette, The deal has fallen through over a suggestion she do 'hand bra'..