Since their inception, thongs have been unmatched as vogue’s most controversial accent. And although the garment has provided many polarizing moments through the years (learn: Britney Spears’ thong-over-pants look and Manny Santos’ whale tail second on Degrassi), one particular thong stands alone as essentially the most notorious. Enter: Gucci’s emblem G-string.
The Delivery Of A Lingerie Icon
One in all Gucci’s most fun (and most infamous) eras was Tom Ford’s reign as artistic director, beginning in 1994. All through his decade-long tenure, Ford injected a sensual new edge into the model. Although he was chargeable for controversial campaigns and nip-baring runways, his most enduring Gucci legacy is rebranding the thong as a high-fashion garment.
His Spring 1997 assortment was important on this motion. On October 6, 1997, Ford despatched fashions down the runway in varied thong ensembles. On the time, the undergarment had hardly ever been seen throughout the confines of the luxurious market — except Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1996 vogue present.
Evidently, Ford’s underwear-forward assortment was revolutionary and completely polarizing. Some fashions wore their lingerie jutting out of refined units, some rocked “no pants” thong appears to be like, and others had been clad in undergarments solely.
Ford’s stringy designs ran the gamut, together with sheer monogram choices and essentially the most iconic of all of them: Gucci’s double-G {hardware} thong.
Placing vogue’s most-hated undergarment on a design runway garnered shock, and consequently, media backlash. Former New York Occasions vogue critic Suzy Menkes, for instance, wrote a scathing assessment, claiming Gucci’s controversial assortment “relied on gimmicks as an alternative of artistic power.”
Naturally, Celebs Love It
Although hated in its time, the GG-string has develop into a coveted piece of vogue historical past within the 27 years since. Not too long ago, the type has made its manner onto the bums of a few of the brightest fashionistas, Kim Kardashian amongst them.
In 2018 — years earlier than the Y2K-era whale tail returned to vogue’s zeitgeist — Kardashian helped set the pattern in movement. She wore a neon yellow two-piece set with the notorious G-string on full show. Her thong-focused styling made the classic piece seem like physique jewellery.
She’s not the one Kardashian to like the blinged-out lingerie. In 2021, Kourtney was noticed carrying a modern-day swimsuit model whereas on the seashore with Travis Barker.
It Prices How A lot?!
The unique merchandise’s value has spiked within the a long time since its launch. Per a 2022 Vogue UK article, one Gucci thong of yore bought for £4,435.20 (roughly $5,640) on classic e-tailer 1stdibs.
At the moment, Gucci sells an almost equivalent model, however in bikini kind. Lingerie aficionados can declare the piece for slightly below $700.
Trend historical past, individuals.