As for choosing Jenner, Selman said it was because she was a “cultural powerhouse.”
“Kylie really extends beyond fashion, beyond culture, beyond television, beyond a singular thing,” he continued. “It’s exactly the same thing we do. The show is so great, it’s real entertainment, and I think she’s a great catalyst for that. She’s really created her own culture, which – how many people can say that? I think it’s an interesting duo that we’re giving the fans: we’re giving them what they want with this incredible Fantasy Bra, and we’re going to put it on an unexpected talent who has a huge audience and a huge cultural impact. I think it’s fun. I think it’s fun. it’s really joyful, and I think it’s fun to celebrate in a different way that people don’t expect.
To ensure the bra was filled with an impressive amount of sparkling cabochons, Selman enlisted the help of a longtime stalwart of the jewelry trade, Jacob Arabo of Jacob & Co. “Victoria’s Secret represents confidence, beauty and the freedom to express yourself,” Arabo said in an interview. “They built a brand that became part of American culture and changed the way people viewed the lingerie category. That’s what makes American fashion so special. There’s this freedom to dream big, take risks, and create something that’s never been done before.”
When Victoria’s Secret contacted Arabo, it was an immediate “yes” for the designer who has made trinkets for everyone from Madonna and Rihanna to Elton John and Victoria Beckham. “Victoria’s Secret transformed something as simple as a bra into a fine jewelry piece,” he said. “No one was doing anything like this at the time. It brought two worlds together – fashion and fine jewelry – in a way I had never seen before.” Arabo said he studied previous versions to see how he could evolve the concept. “My vision,” he says, “was to create a piece of fine jewelry that could be worn like a bra. No fabric, just gold and diamonds.” These more than 4,400 diamonds were rendered in seven cuts (angel, heart, pear, marquise, oval, radiant and round brilliant) and used four setting techniques intended to enhance the diamonds’ brilliance.
The Fantasy Bra has a long history, dating back 30 years. The tradition began in 1996, when the first style was worn in a print magazine advertisement by Claudia Schiffer and cost $1 million. Other highlights include the 1999 Millennium Bra, valued at $10 million and worn by Heidi Klum; the 2000s Red Hot Fantasy bra, worth $15 million, worn by Gisele Bündchen (the most expensive until this year); and the latest Fantasy Bra, the Atelier Swarovski Fantasy Bra, which cost $1 million and was worn by Elsa Hosk in 2018.
Gn entert
