Thongs are back – but not in the way you expect

From the conceptualisation of the first official thong or g-string in 1974 (that is other than loin cloths) to Sisqo’s Thong Song in 1999, this stringy panty has always been just a bit controversial.

Image: Buzzfeed

Recently Tokyo Fashion Week gave us the denim g-string. According to Vogue, designer Meiko Ban of Thibaut featured a jean thong of a more loose-fitting nature in his show at Tokyo.

Read: Can I just dress naked in peace, please?

It subsequently went viral on social media as it was so unexpected in denim form.

Is this a game of homeless or hipster? No it's an actual pair of trousers.

Of course it’s no surprise when humans are titillated by garments with very little fabric, it’s kind of like a ‘flesh is always the new black’ situation.

Are we naturally intrigued by the show of skin or has it just been so sexualised that we simply cannot even see nakedness without adopting a slightly frisky mindset?

And the way flesh and fashion play together is so often questioned, be that a sheer dress or ripped jeans. Why wear it? What is the intent?

In this case I think it's about deconstructed fashion on such a level that it almost makes us uncomfortable. Not just uncomfortable because the mere thought of thin strips of denim fabric rubbing between our legs give us pause, but as it's conventionally more expected to wear a thong as undies or on the beach, not on the street.

And it changes the meaning of 'the classic white tee and jeans combo' - and that shit is sacred, yo. 

I think we are definitely more open to accepting shows of flesh in everyday life today, but when it is introduced in an untraditional manner we still say 'no'. Not no to the flesh, but no to the flesh teasing through strips of denim resembling a g-string.

So, are we going to work on accepting unconventional ways of showing flesh or just scrutinise such a trend until people lose interest and toss the thong, thong, thong, thong, thong...?

From people's Twitter reactions I think the majority believes it belongs in the trash: