Forget the visible thong! A slip of the thigh is predictable, exposed nipples have become blasé, and a butt cheek—or two—is sigh-worthy. But an unexpected sliver of hip has a more pared-back, sensual sex appeal—a new erogenous zone. Take it from Gigi Hadid, who last night stepped out in a shimmering canary-yellow dress from the Spring 2018 Prabal Gurung collection that showed off her toned abs via an adjustable cut-out that revealed a small section of the hip area.
The region had a high-octane moment back in 2005 thanks to Sheryl Crow, who hit the Grammys red carpet in a bejeweled yellow Roberto Cavalli dress with a half-moon cut-out that exposed the better part of her torso. For a more subtle way of nailing the sweet spot, look back to the Fall 1996 Gucci show, where Tom Ford sent out a slinky white maxi dress that had a circular cut-out that dipped around the hip bone and upper thigh, complete with a bull’s-eye piece of hardware strung through the middle. (The dress was featured prominently in the label’s campaign that season.)
A little over 20 years later, the look is making a comeback: In addition to Gurung, Marques’Almeida and Loewe both showed off some devil-may-care cut-outs on the sides of dresses. How to pull one off? Think low-key rather than over-the-top, and go easy on the embellishments and statement accessories. “An exposed hip cut-out is a great new way to do formal wear. It’s sexy without being overt. Just a little peek at your most feminine part,” says Vogue market editor Alexandra Gurvitch. “The dress should be body-conscious and minimal. You’re revealing enough, so no need to overload the trend.” In other words, the best way to look hip is to keep the focus exactly there.
