A short, incomplete, but completely valid cultural history of the g string
Some trends never really die, they just wait for a new generation to rediscover them.
The 90s Knew Exactly What They Were Doing
For many of us, the first time a g string caught our attention wasn’t in a store or on a hanger, but somewhere in pop culture. It showed up on TV screens, in music videos, and in movies that have somehow stayed in our memory much longer than they should have.
You saw it in Versace and Cavalli campaigns, waistbands peeking out from hip-hugging denim or silk slips. And of course, it was impossible to escape Sisqó’s Thong Song - a whole track dedicated to the barely-there piece of fabric that somehow became an anthem.
The g string or the thong was intended to be attention grabbing and create a statement. It was front and centre - or at least, just above the waistband of your Juicy tracksuit.
Then We Tried to Move On
As the early 2000s rolled in, the trend seemed to lose its grip. We swapped out visible waistbands for high-waisted briefs, boy-shorts, and seamless underwear that promised to disappear under clothes. It felt like the g string had been retired, a relic of a louder era.
But somehow, it never really went away. It just waited quietly in the background.
TikTok Brought It Back (Not That It Really Left)
Lately, the g string has found itself in the spotlight again. You’ll see it on runways, woven into red carpet looks and styled into TikTok outfit videos with oversized cargos or low-rise skirts. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Kylie Jenner have all brought the waistband moment back into focus, reminding us that sometimes the smallest details make the biggest impact.
Why We Still Reach For It
There’s something about women’s g string lingerie that feels timeless in its simplicity. It doesn’t try to offer more coverage than you need, and that’s part of its charm. Whether you wear it for the way it disappears under clothing or for the confidence it gives you when you know it peeks through the top of your outfit, the g string is one of those pieces that stays relevant because it does exactly what it’s meant to do.
Years later, it still holds up as one of the most iconic, barely-there pieces in any lingerie drawer.