The Best Backless Dress Moments in Fashion History
Created by a deep neckline that slips down the backside to touch the hips, backless dresses offer a duality to its wearer: chaste in front and transgressive behind. Often lingerie is exposed—as was the case of Tom Ford's now infamous 1996 runway moment at Gucci or Hailey Beiber's whale tale at the 2019 Met Ball. Most recently, Matthew Williams offered his own version of the iconic dress for his first collection for Givenchy: a generous back neckline and cherry red thong, first worn by Kim Kardashian and then Bella Hadid in the brand's Spring/Summer 2021 campaign. The back neckline, however, has two great predecessors: first, Vikki Dougan, the seductive actress who inspired the character of Jessica Rabbit, and, second, Mireille Darc. Alain Delon's famous companion is still remembered today for her magnificent black velvet dress designed by Guy LaRoche that she wore in the film The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe. Find more backless dress inspiration below.
