Something spectacular about the ‘90s and early aughts makes both eras unforgettable. More than two decades later, we still live in some trends that ruled both times, for example, the whale tail. This isn’t surprising as the fashion industry works in cycles.
At first glance, the name brings to mind the tail of a popular sea creature. But it’s beyond that. It’s a mega fashion trend on its own. Perhaps the least favorite of many, possibly because of its revealing nature, this retro look is making a huge comeback. It’s been revived by influencers, models, and celebrities alike.
Style icons like Kylie Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Kim Kardashian, Bella Hadid, and Dua Lipa have been spotted sporting the trend. The idea is simple: let your thongs peek through your outfits shamelessly.
But it goes beyond simply exposing your thong. Rocking this trend is an art that requires dexterity and style; otherwise, it becomes an obscene eyesore. To further buttress this point, let’s see how the whale tail trend came to be.
A Peek into Whale Tail Fashion
The whale tail trend involves wearing G-strings or thongs so they’re partly visible underneath your low-rise trousers and skirts or backless dresses. When exposed above the pants ‘ waistline, it gives the thong or G-string a Y-shaped rear view that resembles a whale’s tail in water.
This fashion became popular in the late 90s and early 2000s, when low-rise jeans, thongs, and G-string panties were in vogue. Beyond being a trend, it was a way of flaunting your body without conforming to societal standards of decency. However, the fad waned within the first decade of the ‘00s, as many people deemed it too revealing or unprofessional. But here’s how it all began.
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Origin of the Whale Tail Trend
It first started in the 1930s as part of the performance costumes of the burlesque dancers. However, the whale tail trend debuted in fashion during Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 1997 runway show, which featured bared thongs, briefs, and other underwear.
That same year, Tom Ford’s Spring Summer collection for Gucci had male and female models strutting in only G-strings on their lower bodies. And in 1998, Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer collection featured thin thong straps with clothes over them.
Whale Tail & Pop Culture
In the ’90s and early 2000s, exposed thongs became popular among music and movie stars. They took the look into mainstream media by regularly donning low-rise pants and skirts with thong panties pulled up visibly high over the waistband. Also, when Sisqo dropped his 1999 “Thong Song,” the underwear got its big moment in pop culture, becoming a staple among women looking to channel their inner seductive power.
Then came the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, and the whale tail trend’s popularity burgeoned, thanks to Britney Spears, who performed her hit song “Oops I Did It…Again” in a gold two-piece set with a bedazzled built-in G-string. As though that wasn’t enough, Christina Aguilera and Halle Berry stunned the 2000 VMAs red carpet with the high-waist g-string straps peeking through their outfits. Similarly, Paris Hilton jumped on the trend the following year, wearing an exposed pink thong at the New York Lloyd Klein Fall/Winter 2001 fashion show.
Exposed Thongs in the 2010s
But by the mid-2000s, the whale tail fad gradually ended when the low-rise cut and thongs went out of fashion. But like all trends, it returned as designers brought back the look to the catwalk and at the Met Gala. For instance, in 2018, Kim Kardashian posed in a neon green two-piece with the archival Gucci thong peeking out while she promoted KKW Beauty on Instagram.
Also, Hailey Bieber turned up on the 2019 Met Gala red carpet in a revealing low-back pink gown with a built-in thong. Similarly, Hailey Baldwin turned up on the red carpet in an Alexander Wang dress with a built-in whale tail. Alexa Demie wore a similar look at the premiere of Euphoria in 2019. Bella Hadid sported the reemerged trend around Miami in 2019.
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The Whale Tail Trend in the 2020s
At the start of the 2020s, we saw Dua Lipa walking in New York City in her high-rise thong peeking through her jeans. Kim Kardashian was also sported in Matthew Williams’ Givenchy exposed thong dress. Furthermore, exposed high-waist thongs have trended on the catwalks of top brands like Jacquemus, Givenchy, Versace, and others. For instance, during the Versace SS21 collection, models donned hip-strap details on the runway.
In 2023, England goalkeeper Mary Earps became the talk of the Internet when she wore a beautiful lacy black dress to BBC’s SPOTY with her undergarment peeking out. And in 2024, Katy Perry flashed her thong and backside in a lace-up skirt at the Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Exposed Thongs: To Try or Not?
While we may not completely dump high-waist denim for low-rise cuts, the edgy trend is going mainstream again. Some wear whale tails intentionally, while others do so without realizing their thong is out. However, some people still consider it controversial and off-putting, while others find it attractive and wouldn’t hesitate to jump on it.
From its controversial look, you can tell it’s not for the faint-hearted, as you need to put your undies—or at least the waistband—on full display. Hence, it’s for daring fashionistas who aren’t afraid to express themselves and flaunt their bodies in ways society would typically frown at.
Furthermore, with social media platforms like TikTok encouraging the resurgence of past trends, we might soon be creating GRWM content and walking around flaunting our G-strings and thongs for the perfect shot for the gram.
Ultimately, whether or not to wear a whale tail depends on your style and preferences. If you’re daring enough and wouldn’t mind potential disdainful reactions from onlookers, by all means, go ahead. But first, ensure your whale tail outfit suits the occasion; save it for red carpets, parties, or any event that requires a sultry look instead of formal events.
