Outward, Upward, and Inward

This chapter explores polyurethane foam’s corporeal applications in padded foundationwear, falsies, and cosmetic surgery. It begins with an analysis of external shaping devices used to achieve this look, such as the bullet bra and padded girdles. It discusses different types of bombshells and the role foam plastics R & D had in shaping fashions, including falsies, butt pads, and padded girdles. Body-contouring designs appealed to a range of consumers and were featured in the wardrobes of celebrities of stage and screen, breast cancer survivors, drag ball contestants, and sex workers. Foam’s soft pliable properties also attracted cosmetic surgeons who crafted implants that resembled the fashionable conical silhouette. Examples from visual and material culture are used to illustrate the close resemblance between these implants and foundationwear and prostheses worn externally on the skin.