A love-hate for this garment that has lasted for over 30 years.
It’s one of those trends that always seems to come back, but which never really goes away… Some consider it vulgar, others sexy. It always arouses strong criticism when it is in windows. Rehabilitated by celebrities and renowned fashion houses, it is now seen on the red carpets of high-prestige events, such as the Golden Globesin the United States. However, we believe it was a technical incident when it came out… nope! The trashy aesthetic is intentional, meticulously chosen. Indeed, if the thong is clearly visible and sticks out from the bottom of the outfit, it’s because we want it. Because yes, the “visible thong” trend, once considered in bad taste, is now making a comeback on the red carpets.
In November 2025, Hailey Bieber brought it up to date in a luxury designer version Gucci : transparent black dress, with double GG logo with rhinestones on the top of the underwear. She had already made the move at the MET Gala in 2019, in a powder pink creation byAlexander Wang. At the start of 2026, it’s the turn of actress and dancer Teyana Taylor to show off with a dress by Schiaparelli, which blurs the usual lines of this piece of lingerie. Its pleated skirt, which features a neckline and a bow tie at the buttocks, perfectly imitates the shape of a thong.
If the trend was already worn on the streets and by pop culture figures in the 90s – 2000s, it is propelled into the spotlight thanks to the impetus of a well-known designer. Jean-Paul Gaultier lived up to his reputation as the “enfant terrible of fashion” by giving it a prominent place in his Spring-Summer 1997 show.
The relevant look features a silhouette with orange tanga, yellow fishnet tights, gray low-waisted pants. This is where all the couture credibility of this provocative look was born. Since then, iterations have proliferated: Givenchy on Kim Kardashian, Jacquemus on Tyla, Versace on Dua Lipa… The trend is going well on the stars’ behinds. SO “Long live the string” !
