Naked dresses and boob-window cutouts are slowly taking a back seat to the next big fashion trend on the rise: backless silhouettes. Celebrities are fuelling the craze by wearing open-back outfits at red carpet events, fashion shows, and beyond. The phrase "business in the front, party in the back" has never been more applicable.
Backless dresses were a popular pick at the 2023 MTV VMAs in September, with singers including Shakira, Kelsea Ballerini, and Dove Cameron wearing gowns that dipped so low, they nearly showed bum cleavage. The trend has popped up a lot during Fashion Month, too; Irina Shayk modelled a metallic halterneck dress with a completely open back on the Mowalola runway at London Fashion Week, while Hailey Bieber, Emma Chamberlain, and Cara Delevingne attended shows in back-exposing looks.
Stars aren't only choosing backless outfits for fancy red carpet outings. Just take it from Dua Lipa, Jordyn Woods, and Jennifer Lopez, who've all repped the growing trend in their day-to-day lives this year. Lipa wore hers to eat gelato in Milan, Woods wore hers on holiday in the Philippines, and Lopez wore hers to celebrate her 54th birthday. Now that is what we like to call versatility.
To be clear, backless dresses and tops are by no means a new trend. The sultry silhouette cycles in and out of style every few years in various iterations. This time around, a bare back has seemingly become an accessory in its own right, eye-catching enough to replace flashy necklaces or statement heels. With fashion feeling more risqué and liberating following the pandemic, it's hardly surprising to see open-back designs come back in full force alongside similarly sexy style trends like sheer materials, ab-baring cutouts, and plunging necklines.
Read ahead to relive some of the best backless fashion moments celebs have treated us to in recent months.