Push-up bra voted the 'greatest fashion invention ever'

The cleavage-enhancing underwear, which has become a staple item in every female's wardrobe, beat boot cut jeans to claim the title.

Pull-in pants, which allow ladies to hide a wobbly stomach, came third followed by stilettos, as worn by a string of celebrities including Victoria Beckham. Other everyday essentials to make the list included the little black dress, stockings, kitten heels and strapless bras.

Push up bra sales were boosted by Eva Herzigova's 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra ad

Caroline Adams for Debenhams, which polled 3,000 female customers on their fashion favourites, said: "Push-up bras have become a wardrobe weapon for millions of women across the world.

"The underwear item not only makes women feel incredibly sexy but it creates the ultimate cleavage. I'm not surprised to see it in the top spot, push-up bras have revolutionised women's lingerie and remain a best-seller in-store.

"It's interesting that more innovative products like chicken fillets and support-tights feature in the line-up too."

The little black dress, worn by Audrey Hepburn, mini skirt worn by Twiggy, Sarah Jessica Parker in stilettos and Bridget Jones known for her pull-in pants

Despite being first introduced at the start of the twentieth century, it wasn't until the 1990s that push up bras really became popular by Eva Herzigova's 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra ad.

 

The bra scooped almost 20 per cent of the vote in the poll. Boot cut jeans, which fit perfectly over shoes and flatter any shape of figure, became trendy in the 1990s.