The Rise of Visible Underwear: A Fashion Trend Making Waves in Pop Culture
From Britney Spears to Saint Laurent: The Evolution of the Exposed Thong
In the early 2000s, Britney Spears shocked the world with her daring fashion choices, including wearing a pair of tiny hot pink bikini bottoms over low-slung, metallic green flares in her music video for “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Fast forward to the present day, and the exposed thong trend is making a comeback, but with a modern twist. Celebrities are now embracing the trend of wearing their underwear completely visible, marking a shift in fashion norms. This article explores the resurgence of visible underwear in pop culture, its historical roots, and its impact on celebrity branding and media attention.
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A Brief History of Lingerie as Outerwear
Fashion historian Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell explains that visible underwear as a fashion statement has been decades in the making. In the past, a visible panty line, slip, or bra strap was considered a fashion faux pas. However, Madonna’s underwear as outerwear in the ’80s and Kate Moss’s sheer dress over briefs in the ’90s challenged these norms. By the early 2000s, bra tops and visible thongs became more mainstream. The public’s increasing desensitization to these daring fashion choices has paved the way for the current trend of fully visible underwear.
The Celebrity Appeal and Media Attention
According to Chrisman-Campbell, the enduring appeal of visible underwear among celebrities lies in its ability to guarantee attention and media coverage. In today’s fast-paced media landscape, where the hunger for celebrity content is insatiable, wearing provocative garments has become a way for celebrities to break through the digital noise and dominate the news cycle. Celebrities like Ashley Graham, Irina Shayk, and Dua Lipa are among the proponents of lingerie dressing, using it as a tool to generate free press and maintain relevance in the public eye.
The Changing Impact and Personal Branding
Jessica Morgan, co-founder of celebrity fashion site Go Fug Yourself, believes that the shock value of visible underwear has diminished over time. While these daring looks may no longer be as impactful in terms of clickbait, they still serve as a means for celebrities to tweak their personal branding. Morgan explains that wearing barely-there dresses can be a way to upend conservative perceptions and revamp one’s image. As a result, celebrities can strategically use this trend to their advantage, especially when in need of an image overhaul.
The Future of Celebrity Fashion
Chrisman-Campbell predicts that the trend of increasingly nude celebrity fashion will continue to evolve. Traditionally, fashion cycles between naked and covered-up styles, but recent years have seen a rise in highly embellished or structured versions of the naked dress. This hybrid approach allows celebrities to embrace both trends simultaneously. However, Morgan believes that while fully visible thongs may be popular among A-list celebrities, it is unlikely to become mainstream outside of the celebrity sphere. For most people, keeping their underwear under wraps remains the norm.
Conclusion: The resurgence of visible underwear in the form of fully exposed thongs and sheer dresses marks a shift in fashion norms and the evolving landscape of celebrity branding. While these daring fashion choices may no longer shock the public, they continue to serve as a means for celebrities to generate media attention and strategically shape their personal image. As fashion trends evolve, the future of celebrity fashion is likely to embrace a balance between nudity and embellishment, catering to the ever-changing demands of the media and public fascination with celebrity culture.