Backless: Everything you should know about the hottest fashion trend and what it means

As the models walked the runway at London Fashion Week, there was one detail that captivated everyone: the Move. Then backless fashion According to the designers, it is currently booming. You can see as far as the eye can see backless dresses, skimpy cut-out tops and low-rise jeans (including G-string and butterfly details) that prove: What matters this season is the (sight) from behind. It is ideal for making a stunning finish or adding drama to a simple look. Below you can find out everything about the influences of the Backless Trends as well as the psychological level that lies behind it.

“Sexy is back”: Backless fashion is the hottest trend of the season

There’s no denying that the influence of Y2K fashion on the catwalks still lingers. This is particularly noticeable in backless fashion, which can be seen as an echo of our fashion obsession with nostalgic styles. Because backless pieces are always seen in combination when garments with cut-away details or low waists appear. Especially the street styles of the fashion weeks and the feeds on social media are full of such stylings.

But established brands such as Burberry, David Koma, Christopher Kane or newer labels such as KNWLS and Masha Popova are also showing rows of backs for spring/summer 2023. And of course the high-street brands have been inspired by their collections and are already showing a large one A selection of backless styles that just beg to be paired with baggy jeans or low-rise skirts.

Backless fashion: How inclusive is the trend really?

Fashion (but especially society in general) has a long history of fetishizing and displaying all kinds of body parts, which vary from era to era. The back is currently in vogue. However, both glorifying certain body shapes and focusing on a body part can have problematic effects. Think back to the Wonderbra-inspired aesthetic of the ’90s, when big breasts and flat stomachs like those of stars like Britney Spears and Xtina were considered the ideal. The fact that this was of course not accessible to everyone and caused toxic role models in fashion shows: Body types should never be a fashion trend!

The return of focus on the back may mark a departure from all of that, as it is all about the natural aesthetic of nudity it symbolizes. And all this regardless of clothing size, skin type and color. So it remains to be seen if this 2023 trend will establish itself as a testament to how inclusive fashion can be and how ridiculous it is to place specific requirements on individual body parts that are then supposed to conform to an unattainable ideal.

Where is the trend coming from?

If we look at the levels behind the trend, the following question arises: Why do designers (depending on their era and the prevailing zeitgeist) feel attracted to certain parts of the body? The answer lies in the definition of sexuality and how the focus of erogenous body zones changes. What may have been considered scandalous in the past (the best example of this: the miniskirt) is completely normal years later and vice versa. But subjective feelings also play a role: Because every person reacts differently to touch or (visible) body zones. And the fashion industry seems to have mastered the art of using the power of touch (including looks) to create clothing and accessories. Nothing seems to be left to chance, and so the look at the back is also a deliberate staging.