A definite departure from the hip cleavage championed by the likes of Kim Kardashian or the thong dress worn by Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa, butt cutouts are decidedly more kitschy. They're also widely open to interpretation. First witnessed by way of Anitta's unconventional Mugler dress at the 2022 American Music Awards, the paisley-shaped, sparkly-lined cutaway made headlines as a divisive red carpet trend. Fast forward to summer 2023, and the look has trickled down to Ashley Graham's street style (she coordinated a Jean Paul Gaultier ribbed sweater set with Gucci slingbacks and a quilted Chanel purse just one day after the Met Gala - and if there's ever a time to make a statement, it's in the days surrounding fashion's prom night).
Meanwhile, Cardi B's strappy, butt cheek-revealing catsuit followed one month later at the Hot 97 Summer Jam music festival in New York. It could be classified as costume garb designed for a performance, but it was comparably polarizing - forcing onlookers to consider the inevitable question, "Hmm . . . would I wear that?" If you're on the fence, something like Chloë's sheer-paneled design could be an option. And Lizzo's Yitty shapewear collection now includes the above mesh dress, to be worn with or without briefs or biker shorts underneath, depending on your own level of comfort. Unsurprisingly, Julia Fox one-upped the entire roster in a leather ensemble by TheUncommunist while attending shows during New York Fashion Week in February. Her own butt cutouts were, lo and behold, highlighted by a horse's tail.
Ahead, see several instances of celebrities fully embracing the butt cutout trend and making it their own, whether they were onstage, attending an event, or just hanging out at home - thereby proving the obvious: we could all be rocking butt cutouts as early as next week.