Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski And Dua Lipa Can't Get Enough Of Midriff Floss

If you think the word “floss” refers to that swinging-pendulum Gen Z dance move or a piece of minty dental string, allow us to introduce another definition to your vocabulary — midriff floss, otherwise described as the tie fastenings that criss-cross around your torso to reveal a slice of stomach (chiselled abs optional) à la Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Kendall Jenner and more.  

Having soared in popularity in the early 2000s thanks to stars such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Lucy Liu, as with many noughties fashion trends, midriff floss is now back with a vengeance, snaking its way onto everything from red carpet-worthy gowns to straight-fit midi skirts to next-level bikinis. The sultry style crept back onto the runways of established and emerging brands alike last season, including Gucci, Tom Ford, Supriya Lele and Christopher Esber, and judging from the Fall/Winter 2020 and Spring/Summer 2021 collections by Jacquemus, Victoria Beckham, Dion Lee, Maximilian Davis, Musier Paris and the like, it’s going to be around for a while longer.

Less risqué than the whale tail but edgier than the crop top, midriff floss can easily transform a simple outfit into a statement look — depending on your ab-flashing comfort levels, the options run the gamut from minimal to more-is-more. Not sure where to begin? Keep scrolling to see how some of your favourite celebrities, influencers and models are rocking the floss.